Interactions and structure in aqueous NaNO3 solutions

Abstract

Two concentrated (5 and 7 mol l−1) aqueous solutions of NaNO3 were investigated by x-ray diffraction. The features of the total radial functions calculated from experimental intensity data show that the positional correlation is not very strong in the systems investigated. However, it is possible to account for experimental data only by using models in which hexahydrated Na+ ions have definite correlations with NO3− ions, even if not through formation of isolated ion pairs. The compatibility of our observations with spectroscopic results is also discussed.