Interactions in lanthanide systems. Part 2.—Raman study of aqueous cerium(III) nitrate

Abstract

Raman spectra of aqueous cerium(III) nitrate solutions, and complementary infrared spectra, have been obtained for a wide range of compositions. The intensities of the 718 cm^–1 line of solvated nitrate ion have been measured and used to evaluate the average ligand number n. The data yield stability constants β₁= 1.68 and β₂= 1.17 for Ce(NO₃)²⁺ and Ce(NO₃)⁺₂. Spectral features suggest that the most prevalent structure of the dinitratocerium(III) species involves one nitrate ion bound in monodentate fashion and one nitrate ion bound in bidentate fashion. Band assignments are suggested for the nitrate ligands assuming C_2v symmetry.