Mercury dihydride forms a covalent molecular solid.
Atomic mercury in solid hydrogen reacts when subjected to mercury arc irradiation to form the linear HgH2 molecule with strong IR absorptions at 1902.3 and 772.8 cm(-1). Annealing leads to HgH2 dimer and trimer and warming above 7 K allows hydrogen to sublime and solid HgH2 to form. This covalent molecular solid is characterized by strong IR absorptions at 1802, 739 and 673 cm(-1) and by decomposition at 150-170 K. Solid para-hydrogen gives sharper HgH2 absorptions at 1905.8 and 774.3 cm(-1) and forms a more amorphous HgH2 solid with bands at 1813, 741 and 683 cm(-1).
Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, PO Box 400319, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4319, USA.
Xuefeng
X
Wang
Lester
L
Andrews