Water in melts: Raman spectral investigation of the molten Ca(NO3)2·4H2O?KNO3 system

The Raman spectra of molten mixtures of Ca(NO₃)₂\4H₂O–KNO₃ have been examined, covering the concentration range of 0–70 mole% KNO₃. The frequencies in the spectra of the mixtures have been found to change slightly with concentration. Striking variations in the band shapes have been observed in the regions corresponding to the O–H stretching mode (2850–3850 cm^–1) and the v₄-NO ₃ ^– mode (700–750 cm^–). The results are discussed in terms of perturbed quasi-lattice structure for the melt, in which there could be a displacement of water molecules in the first coordination sphere around Ca²⁺ by the NO ₃ ^– ion.