A study of the bonding in some compounds of aluminium using Al-Kβ1,3X-ray emission spectra

Abstract

The aluminium Kα and Kβ_1,3X-rays have been studied in the following compounds, alumina, microcline, kyanite, cryolite, aluminium trifluoride, aluminium trichloride, topaz, aluminium acetylacetonate, aluminium 8-hydroxyquinolinate, and the metal itself. The relative intensities of the two peaks can be related to bond length and the degree of ionic character. It is proposed that the fine structure of the Kβ_1,3 peak is due to varying Al 3p participation in different molecular orbitals. Evidence for both σ and π bonding between the metal and the ligands is discussed.