It has been demonstrated using isotopic substitution that the distinct inelastic and quasielastic incoherent neutron scattering spectra from N(CH,)i ions and the water in liquid and frozen solutions of tetramethylamm,onium chloride can be identified. The salt is weakly 'structure-making', as may be seen from the small changes in water spectrum with concentration. The intraionic torsional modes persist in solution. Their response and that of the highly overdamped but persistent whole-ion librations as well as the translational and rotational diffusion constants allow this tendency to be quantified The observed effects show that this ion is a useful probe for 'structure-making' conditions, e.g. at charged interfaces.

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