Mass spectrometric study of gas-phase clustering reactions: Hydration of the monovalent bismuth ion

Abstract

Gas‐phase hydration equilibria of the monovalent bismuth ion were investigated over the temperature range 10–160°C using high‐pressure mass spectrometry. The hydration enthalpies and entropies for the clusters, Bi⁺(H₂O)_n, n ≤ 6, were derived from appropriate van't Hoff plots. A comparison of the stability of bismuth‐ion hydrates with corresponding lead‐ion hydrates reveals further evidence of chemical bonding in these heavy metal‐ion clusters. The distribution of these metal ions, present in the atmosphere as the radon progeny, is assessed on the basis of the measured thermodynamic properties. In addition, the implication of the data to the molecular aspects of heteromolecular nucleation is discussed.