Ab initio thermochemistry of some geochemically relevant molecules in the system Cr-O-H-Cl

Abstract

A complete theoretical model chemistry algorithm (TMCA) for the prediction of thermodynamic properties of geochemically relevant gaseous and aqueous complexes, based on molecular quantum mechanics, is presented and discussed. Cr species are selected as a case study due to the high nuclear mass and the complex electronic structure of this transition metal. The various derived magnitudes are internally consistent and sufficiently accurate to warrant comparison with the existing (and often conflictual) experimental data and literature estimates. The TMCA is based on density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) gas phase computations followed by computation of solvation effects by the integral polarized continuum model approach at HF/STO-3G level. Energy corrections due to relativistic effects and electron-electron correlation are accounted for by a newly developed periodic function based on computed ionization potentials and electron affinity of the central metal. Electrostatic entropy contributions to the bulk solvation entropy are accounted for by a Born-model equation based on the electrostatic component of the Integral Equation Formalism—Polarized Continuum Model (IEFPCM) coupling work. As an ancillary result, the TMCA model confirms the validity of the absolute solvation energy terms of the aqueous proton. The TMCA model is of general validity and could be eventually adopted as a standard procedure in the ab initio assessment of gas-phase and aqueous-phase energetics of geochemically relevant species.