Calculations of the Oxygen Isotope Fractionation between Hydration Water of Cations and Free Water

Abstract

The oxygen isotope fractionation factors between the hydration complex of the alkali ions in the gas phase and a free water molecule have been computed on the basis of the energy surfaces calculated by Kistenmacher, Popkie and Clementi for a water molecule in the field of an alkali ion. For comparison with recently measured oxygen isotope fractionation factors in aqueous alkali halide solutions, the gas phase values are multiplied with the corresponding separation factors between water vapor and liquid water thus relating the hydration complex in the gas phase with pure water. Qualitative agreement between computed and observed fractionation factors has been found for H₂O and D₂O even neglecting the isotope effect connected with the transfer of the hydration complex from the gas phase to the solution. This transfer effect is estimated for H₂O by a quantitative comparison of computed and observed oxygen isotope fractionation factors.