Acid Dissociation in (HX)n(H2O)n Clusters (X = F, Cl, Br, I; N = 2, 3)

11 July 2019, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

The interactions between two or three hydrogen halide molecules and the same number of water moieties are investigated through a systematic exploration of the corresponding potential energy surfaces using a stochastic methodology in conjunction with density functional theory computations. Our results indicate that HF, the weakest acid in the series, is partially dissociated. Similarly, HCl, HBr, and HI undergo dissociation in the presence of three, two, and two water molecules, respectively. The decrease in the number of water molecules required for dissociation, when compared with clusters with one single HX molecule, suggests cooperative effects. Interestingly, the hydrogen-bridged bihalide anions (XHX-) are present in the global minimum of (HX)n(H2O)n clusters with X = Br, I and n = 2, 3.

Keywords

microsolvation effects
acid dissociation

Supplementary materials

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HXn-H2On-clusters final
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