Knowledge Bank

The infrared spectrum of gaseous lithium metaborate in the frequency range from 2500 to $250cm-1$ has been observed in absorption and emission at temperatures near $1400\circ C$. Only two frequencies were observed---at 1935 and $600cm-1$ in $LiBO2$ vapor containing born in its natural isotope distribution, and at 2000 and $610cm-1$ for a sample containing 96% $B10$ enrichment. Within the resolution of the experiments, these frequencies coincide with those previously observed in sodium and cesium metaborate vapor, and must be assigned to the $BO2$ part of these molecules. The absence of any strong bands corresponding to the metal-oxygen vibrations in these compounds will be discussed.