A Critical Appraisal of the Experimental Data on the Molecular Structure and Spectra of Halides, Oxides, and Hydrides of the s-, d-, and f-Block Elements.

Abstract

Evidence for unusual shapes of simple MX(n) molecules that are not stable under normal conditions is critically appraised in this review, which assesses current knowledge of the spectra and structures of many simple binary halides, oxides, and hydrides. It emphasizes the need for more high-resolution gas-phase spectroscopic data, summarizes the current state of knowledge in many fields, and suggests key experiments that should be carried out to resolve conflicting results obtained in earlier studies.