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Title: Why are the Elemental Nonmetals (F 2 , Cl 2 , Br 2 , I 2 , S 8 , P 4 ) of so Many Hues or of Any Hues and Where is the Chromophore? Insight into Intera ‐X–X Bonds
Abstract

A unique approach is used to relate the HOMO‐LUMO energy difference to the difference between the ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA) to assist in deducing not only the colors, but also chromophores in elemental nonmetals. Our analysis focuses on compounds with lone pair electrons and σ electrons, namely X2(X = F, Cl, Br, I), S8and P4. For the dihalogens, the [IP – EA] energies are found to be: F2(12.58 eV), Cl2(8.98 eV), Br2(7.90 eV), I2(6.78 eV). We suggest that theinterahalogen X–X bond itself is the chromophore for these dihalogens, in which the light absorbed by the F2, Cl2, Br2, I2leads to longer wavelengths in the visible by a π → σ* transition. Trace impurities are a likely case of cyclic S8which contains amounts of selenium leading to a yellow color, where the [IP – EA] energy of S8is found to be 7.02 eV. Elemental P4with an [IP – EA] energy of 9.09 eV contains a tetrahedral and σ aromatic structure. In future work, refinement of the analysis will be required for compounds with π electrons and σ electrons, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

 
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Award ID(s):
1856765
NSF-PAR ID:
10456866
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Photochemistry and Photobiology
Volume:
96
Issue:
5
ISSN:
0031-8655
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 1140-1143
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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