Graphical Entry
Textual abstractThe selenite ion has an asymmetric hydration sphere with loosely electrostatically bound water molecules outside the free electron pair.
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AbstractStructure and hydrogen bonding of the hydrated selenite, SeO 3 2-, and selenate, SeO 4 2-, ions have been studied in aqueous solution by large angle X-ray scattering (LAXS), EXAFS and double difference infrared (DDIR) spectroscopy. The mean Se-O bond distances are 1.709(2) and 1.657(2) Å, respectively, as determined by LAXS, and 1.701(3) and 1.643(3) Å by EXAFS.These bond distances are slightly longer than the mean distances found in the solid state, 1.691 and 1.634 Å, respectively. The structures of The DDIR spectra show peaks for affected water bound to the selenite and selenate ions at 2491±2 and 2480±39 cm -1 , respectively, compared to 2509 cm -1 in pure water. This shows that the selenite and selenite ions shall be regarded as weak structure makers.
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IntroductionThe selenium oxo acids and their salts have many similarities with the corresponding sulfur oxo acids, including similar physico-chemical parameters as e.g. the acid dissociations constants; H 2 SeO 4 : pK a2 =1.70; H 2 SO 4 : pK a2 =1.99; H 2 SeO 3 , pK a1 =2.62, pK a2 =8.32, H 2 SO 3 ; pK a1 =1.85, pK a2 =7.20 . 1 The structure and hydrogen bonding of the hydrated sulfite and sulfate ions have previously been studied in aqueous solution using large angle X-ray scattering (LAXS) and double difference infrared spectroscopy as well as simulations on QMCF MD level. 2-4 Three water molecules are hydrogen bound to each oxygen atom for both ions. Furthermore, some water molecules are clustered outside the lone electron-pair of the sulfite ion at a reasonably welldefined distance. 4 In studies of other oxoanions it has been shown that the number of hydrogen bound water molecules seems to decrease when the central atom belong to the third and fourth series. The arsenate ions, independent of degree of protonation, and arsenous and telluric acid all bind approximately two water molecules to each oxygen. 5 The sulfate and sulfite ions are both weak structure makers, thus the hydrogen bond between the sulfate/sulfite oxygens and the hydrating water molecules is slightly shorter and stronger than between water molecules in the aqueous bulk. [2][3][4] It is of fundamental interest to compare the hydration of the selenite and sulfite ions as they have asymmetric hydration shells due to the presence of a free electron pair in the fourth tetrahedron vortex. Previously reported simulations of the water exchange dynamics of the hydrated sulfate and sulfite ions in aqueous solution showed significantly different mechanisms. 4 The hydrogen bound water molecules on the sulfate oxygen exchange directly with a bulk water. On the other hand, the asymmetrically hydrated sulfite ion exchanges almost all water molecules in close vicinity of the free electron pair with a transport path from the sulfite oxygens to this region. 4 The aim of this study is to determine the structures and the hydrogen b...