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The entropies and probable symmetries of the gaseous thorium and uranium tetrahalides

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.460111· OSTI ID:5589696
; ;  [1]
  1. SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025 (US)

The sublimation entropies of the thorium and uranium tetrahalides (except UI{sub 4} ) have been evaluated from torsion--effusion vapor pressure measurements and the results have been analyzed for compatibility with the spectroscopic and molecular constants of the gaseous molecules. New effusion pressure measurements are reported here for UCl{sub 4}, UBr{sub 4}, and ThI{sub 4}. For UF{sub 4}, UCl{sub 4}, and ThF{sub 4}, where thermal data are available for the solid phases, the experimental entropies of gaseous UF{sub 4} and UCl{sub 4} are incompatible with regular tetrahedral symmetries, while that of ThF{sub 4} is in close accord with a {ital T}{sub {ital d}} structure. A comparison of the entropies of sublimation shows that ThCl{sub 4} most likely has {ital T}{sub {ital d}} symmetry, while UBr{sub 4}, ThBr{sub 4}, and ThI{sub 4} probably do not; less-reliable total entropy data for the species are in full accord with these conclusions. The results are discussed in terms of structural information in the literature.

OSTI ID:
5589696
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics; (USA) Vol. 94:12; ISSN JCPSA; ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English