Comments on the molecular structure of B 2O 2(g), Al 2O 2(g) and other chalcogenides of the aluminum family

Abstract

Thermochemical evidence relating to the structure of the aluminum-family chalcogenides M 2X 2 is reassessed. Contrary to the conclusion of Maloney et al.[1], this evidence suggests that M-X-M-X is not the only plausible structure. We cannot eliminate the X-M-M-X form for B 2O 2 and the cyclic form for Al 2O 2 and heavier chalcogenides. Other evidence is needed to resolve the question. The structural ambiguity contributes potential uncertainty to the published thermodynamic tables[1].