X-Ray diffraction and electrolytic dissociation—I.

Summary

X-ray diffraction of the aqueous solutions of sulphuric acid, bisulphates and sulphates has been studied. 100% sulphuric acid gives only one sharp intense maximum with very little scattering on either side. On dilution with water the ring becomes broader and more diffuse. 50% solution of the acid gives only a bright corona surrounding the central spot, the diameter of the edge of the corona corresponding to that of the water ring. With further dilutions the halo again appears, the maximum of which coincides with that of water in very dilute solutions. 34% KHSO₄ and 30% H₂SO₄ give identical diffraction patterns. Dilute solutions of H₂SO₄ and KHSO₄ and solutions of the sulphates also give similar patterns. It has been pointed out that step-wise dissociation of sulphuric acid and bisulphates is responsible for the observed diffraction patterns. An attempt has been made to correlate the results obtained by X-ray diffraction experiment with those obtained from Raman effect studies of such solutions by the previous investigators.