INFRARED SPECTRA AND STRUCTURE OF SELENIOUS ACID

Abstract

The infrared spectra of selenious acid both crystalline and in solution in water and methanol were recorded from 2 to 30 μ. Assignment of the various frequencies is made on the basis of the crystal structure as determined from X-ray data. It is shown that the molecules have the symmetrical form (a), the asymmetrical one (b) proposed by Venkateswaran being[Formula: see text]ruled out. The spectra of solutions in H2O and D2O confirm the existence of discrete H2SeO3 and D2SeO3 molecules with no indication of uncombined SeO2 molecules even at high concentrations. This behavior is contrasted with that of SO2 solutions.