Neutral dimercury molecules exist in the gas phase and specific complexes
the verdict
INSUFFICIENT LEANING
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
2 sources for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Available scientific reference literature discusses research into mercury dimers and their interatomic potentials or electronic states, but does not fully establish all claims regarding specific chemical complexes containing neutral dimercury.
# Does a neutral dimercury molecule exist?
- Tags: bond, molecular-orbital-theory, allotropes
- Score: 20
- Views: 1,312
- Answers: 4
- Asked by: Jeppe Stig Nielsen (329 rep)
- Asked on: Jan 18, 2019
- Last active: Oct 26, 2019
- License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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## Question
Is a neutral $\\ce{Hg2}$ molecule possible, as a gas under extremely low (partial) pressures? What is the enthalpy of formation or similar?
It is my impression that usual mercury vapors are monatomic? I think it is well-known that a dimer ion $\\ce{Hg2^{2+}}$ exists under some conditions.
Somewhat related threads: [Is it possible to have a diatomic molecule of sodium in gaseous state?](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/32686/) and [Which elements can be diatomic?](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/32705/)
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## Answer 1 — Score: 17
- By: Nilay Ghosh (28,698 rep)
- Answered on: Jan 18, 2019
There has been recent research on mercury dimers in its ground state. Bond energies, transition energies, band spectrum and other spectroscopic parameters has been calculated. Here are the abstracts of two papers on mercury dimer:
1. > The potential energy curve of the ground electronic state of th
Photoassociation spectrum for the Hg2(XO g + )→Hg2(D1 u ) transition: The hund's (C) case | Journal of Russian Laser Research | Springer Nature Link
# Photoassociation spectrum for the Hg2(XO + g )→Hg2(D1 u ) transition: The hund's (C) case
- Published: July 1999
- Cite this article
- Volume 20, pages 342–348, (1999)
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## Abstract
Potential curves for the lower unbound Hg2(XO + g ) state and the upper Hg2(D1 u ), state of the mercury dimer are determined by multiply repeating calculations of the desired spectrum and comparing the results obtained with the experimental data. Initial Morse potentials are supplied with patches, making the potentials steeper on one of its wings and more flattened on the other wing compared to the usual Morse potential. The values of ω e and ω e x e for the Hg2(XO + g ) and Hg2(D1 u ) states are determined according to several lowest vibrational states of the terms. Coordinates of turning points are also given for the corresponding states. These data seem to be useful in studying the mercury dimer by the traditional method with a low vibrational exc
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