Unstable intermediates. Part L. The NO32– impurity centre in irradiated calcium carbonate

Abstract

The radical NO₃^2–, prepared by the action of γ-rays on calcium carbonate doped with nitrate, has been identified by its e.s.r. spectrum and is found to be remarkably stable in this host lattice. The results are used to obtain a 2p/2s value of 7·8 for the molecular orbital of the unpaired electron on nitrogen. This is compared with the results for the isoelectronic radicals CO₃^3–(5·25) and CF₃(∼3) and reasons for the marked differences are proposed.