Electrical anharmonicity of the OH group vibration

Abstract

The intensities of the fundamental and overtone vibration bands of the OH group in some phenols and alcohols have been determined. Variations in the relative intensities of the fundamental and overtone for different molecules are explained by differences in electrical anharmonicity. Using reasonable approximations, expressions have been derived for the relation between bond dipole and bond length in the region of the equilibrium position, and a theoretical consideration of the O—H bond in water has been used to decide between alternative solutions.