Diffraction pattern and models of liquid antimony trichloride

Abstract

Neutron and X-ray diffraction data for liquid SbCl₃ at 80 °C are presented and discussed. The liquid consists of discrete molecules with an Sb—Cl distance of 2.35 Å and a Cl—Sb—Cl angle of 96°. The diffraction data are analysed to yield structure and correlation functions for intermolecular Sb…Sb, Sb…Cl and C‥‥Cl interactions. These curves yield directly some valuable insight into the nature of the strong orientational correlations present in liquid SbCl₃. The data are also used to test site–site interaction models for molecular fluids. The relative role of repulsive and attractive forces for the structure of liquid SbCl₃ is discussed.