Structural and electronic evolution of the As(OH)3 molecule in high temperature aqueous solutions: an x-ray absorption investigation.
The geometrical and electronic structure of the arsenious acid molecule As(OH)(3) in aqueous solutions has been investigated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) within extended x-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS) and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), using realistic first-principle calculations in the latter case. This investigation was performed on aqueous solutions of arsenious acid from ambient to supercritical conditions (P = 250 and 600 bars, T <or= 500 degrees C) using a new optical cell. The analysis of the XAS spectra is consistent with (1) a constant As-O distance, (2) an opening of the O-As-O angles within the C(3V) pyramidal structure in the range 30-200 degrees C. This structural evolution comes along with a small decrease of the partial charges of the atoms in the As(OH)(3) molecule. The explanation invoked for both structural and electronic modifications observed is the weakening of the interactions, through hydrogen bonds, between the As(OH)(3) complex and water molecules. This is a fingerprint of the similar weakening of hydrogen bonding interactions in the solvent itself.
Testemale
Denis
D
Laboratoire de Cristallographie CNRS-Grenoble, UPR5031, 25 avenue des Martyrs, BP 166 38042 Grenoble Cedex 09, France. denis.testemale@esrf.fr
Hazemann
Jean-Louis
JL
Pokrovski
Gleb S
GS
Joly
Yves
Y
Roux
Jacques
J
Argoud
Roger
R
Geaymond
Olivier
O