Infrared spectrum of Hg(OH)2 in solid neon and argon

Xuefeng Wang; Lester Andrews

doi:10.1021/ic048673w

Infrared spectrum of Hg(OH)2 in solid neon and argon

Inorg Chem. 2005 Jan 10;44(1):108-13. doi: 10.1021/ic048673w.

Authors

Xuefeng Wang¹, Lester Andrews

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4319, USA.

PMID: 15627366
DOI: 10.1021/ic048673w

Abstract

Mercury(II) hydroxide molecules have been prepared upon mercury arc lamp irradiation of Hg, H(2), and O(2) mixtures in solid neon and argon. The strongest three infrared absorptions are identified through isotopic substitution (D(2), HD, (18)O(2), (16)O(18)O) and comparison to frequencies from DFT calculations. The isolated Hg(OH)(2) molecule is stable and has a linear O-Hg-O linkage in a C(2) structure with an 86 degrees dihedral angle. However, in aqueous solution Hg(2+) and 2OH(-) may form an Hg(OH)(2) intermediate, which eliminates water and precipitates solid HgO: The solid Hg(OH)(2) compound is not known.