Complex formation in dimethyl sulphoxide. Part II. Mercuric iodide and potassium iodide
Abstract
The stepwise formation of the ions Hgl2– and Hgl42– in solutions of mercuric and potassium iodides in dimethyl sulphoxide has been inferred from a study of the conductance and spectrophotometric properties of the solutions. At low concentrations (<10–4M) the autoionisation process 2Hgl2= Hgl++ Hgl3– occurs in dimethyl sulphoxide. Raman spectrophotometric measurements are consistent with a linear structure for the Hgl2 molecule and a tetrahedral structure for the Hgl42– ion in this solvent. The heat of formation of the Hgl42– ion from the Hgl2 molecule and I– ions in dimethyl sulphoxide was –10·5 kcal./mole Hgl2.