The in situ IR spectra of H 3 PW 12 O 40 ‚nH 2 O (n ) 0-6.2) in the range 4000-1100 cm -1 were measured, and that of H 3 PW 12 O 40 ‚6H 2 O (i.e., [H 5 O 2 + ] 3 [PW 12 O 40 3-]) with planar H 5 O 2 + was investigated. The spectrum showed a broad continuum below 3700 cm -1 , with peaks at 3420, 2720, 2030, and 1640 cm -1 , and was deconvoluted into five bands at 3420, 2720, 2030, 1780, and 1640 cm -1 . These bands, except for 2030 cm -1 , were shifted by the deuteration and are assigned to the vibration modes of the planar structure. The vibration modes of the simplified model H 5 O 2 + ‚4OW(OH) 4 (OH 2 ) were calculated by the quantum chemical method with the B3LYP