Raman spectra in the libration region of concentrated aqueous solutions of lithium-6 and lithium-7 halides. Evidence for tetrahedral Li(OH2) 4 +

The Raman spectra of saturated solutions of⁶LiCl and⁷LiCl have been decomposed into Gaussian components, one of which is a polarized band that occurs at 360 cm^–1 when the ion is⁶Li⁺ and shifts to 335 cm^–1 when the ion is⁷Li⁺. Equivalent bands occur in the spectra of saturated solutions of⁶LiBr and⁷LiBr at 343 and 320 cm^–1, respectively. These bands are assigned to solvent-separated ion aggregates. The Raman spectra of 8.0 and 3.5 m solutions of the isotopic lithium chlorides have been decomposed into five Gaussian components, three of which are assigned to water librations. In addition, there is a polarized band at 440 cm^–1 independent of the lithium isotope used, and a depolarized band which occurs at 385 cm^–1 in the⁶LiCl solutions and 360 cm^–1 in the⁷LiCl solutions. We interpret these two additional bands as theA ₁ andF ₂ stretching modes of Li⁺ tetrahedrally solvated by water molecules.