Knowledge Bank

The infrared spectra of the air sensitive $POCl3$ and the $VOCl3$ gaseous molecules have been obtained from $400cm-1$ to $4000cm-1$ at $0.125cm-1$ resolution. Since the stainless steel vacuum IR cell used for this investigation was attached directly to vials containing the liquid, varying partial pressures of the oxychloride vapor could be added to the cell without exposing the sample to air. This resolution was sufficient to resolve the band contours and identify the chlorine isotopic frequencies for each band. Several overtone and combination bands have been identified and the fundamental vibrational frequencies have been established. The Wilson FG method was used to determine the force field for each molecule.