High Valent Mercury Fluoride Ions.

Abstract

Mercury fluoride ions formed during the laser ablation of HgF2(s) show the formation of six different cluster ion series viz., HgFn ± , Hgn Fn-2 ± , Hgn Fn-1 ± , (HgF)n ± , Hgn Fn+1 ± , and Hgn Fn+2 ± . Among the different ion series, the observation of high valent HgFn ± (n ± =3,4; n - =6-8) indicates the existence of corresponding molecules which signify the remarkable participation of 5d Hg electrons in the chemical bonding with F atoms and thus make Hg a truly transition metal. Further, molecular orbital calculations show a large HOMO-LUMO energy gap (≥3 eV) and high electron affinity (≥5 eV) that indicates highly stable HgFn=3,4,6,8 with super halogen properties.

• Authors: Thankan Jayasekharan
• Journal: Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry (Chemphyschem) Vol. 24 Issue 13 Pg. e202300036 (Jul 03 2023) ISSN: 1439-7641 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 37042684 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.