Solutions of aqueous nitrates are known to have multiple solvation geometries. The relative percentages of these geometries in theory should be susceptible to the ionic strength of solution due to the generated electric field. We have chosen to monitor aqueous nitrate solutions in the double peak area in the asymmetric stretch region (1310 � 1390 cm-1) of the infrared spectrum. The two peaks are assumed as two different solvation geometries and are shown to change relative intensities at different temperatures. By the use of van't Hoff plots, we are able to see a correlation in the change of relative peak height due to temperature. When the ionic strength of a solution is changed we see an impact on the relative energies (entropy and enthalpy) of the conversion between different geometries. Observing the impact may help us find a facile way to determine the ionic strength of aqueous nitrate solutions in real time using spectroscopic techniques.

Ionic strength and symmetry breaking in aqueous nitrate solutions

246th National Meeting (2013)

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