title: Infrared spectra of the group 2 metal dihydroxide molecules.
abstract: Group 2 metal atoms (Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) react on ultraviolet photoexcitation with O(2), H(2) mixtures in solid argon at 10 K to produce new absorptions in the O-H and O-M-O stretching regions. The effect of detailed isotopic substitution on these two absorptions identifies the M(OH)(2) molecules. The stepwise decrease in the O-H stretching modes in this chemical family demonstrates an increase in ionic character, which parallels the increase in base strength for the analogous solid compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 400319, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4319, USA. lsa@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang