Raman spectrophotometric studies of the dissociation of methylmercuric salts in concentrated aqueous solution. Part 1.—Dissociation of methylmercuric nitrate

Abstract

The degrees of dissociation of methylmercuric nitrate in concentrated aqueous solutions at 0°C have been determined from Raman intensity measurements on the 1048 Δcm^–1 band of nitrate ions. Corrections were made for (a) refractive index effects and (b) environmental effects on intensity. In devising an empirical method of correcting for the latter effects, it is suggested that they and the broadening of the 1048 Δcm^–1 band are related perturbation effects on the nitrate ion. Hydrolysis of methylmercuric ions has a negligible influence on the observed degrees of dissociation. There is a striking similarity in the degrees of dissociation of methylmercuric nitrate and nitric acid.