Knowledge Bank

The infrared and laser Raman spectra of the glassy material condensed at liquid nitrogen temperature from electrically dissociated water vapor show some new bands in the $400-900cm-1$ region. These have been identified as $O-O$ vibrations by means of $O13$ isotope shifts. Temperature and composition effects indicate that more than one new species is involved. One of them has a half-life of some five hours at -$-65\circ C$. The new spectra are ascribed to stabilized $H2O3$ and $H2O4$ molecules trapped in low concentration (some 5 mole %) in that material. The observed frequencies are suitable for $O-O$ stretching and bending modes of zigzag chain structures linked by single bonds, as in the hydrogen polysulfides.