Determination of the Molecular Structures of AsF3 and AsCl3 by Gas Electron Diffraction

Abstract

Abstract The thermal-average distances and mean amplitudes of AsCl3 and AsF3 have been determined by gas electron diffraction. The sources of experimental errors have been discussed in detail. The observed molecular parameters are rg(As–Cl)=2.1621±0.0033 Å, θg(ClAsCl)=98°34′±34′, l(As–Cl)=0.0470±0.0024 Å, l(Cl–Cl)=0.0945±0.0063 Å, rg(As–F)=1.7089±0.0016 Å, θg(FAsF)=95°53′±22′, l(As–F)=0.0433±0.0022 Å, and l(F–F)=0.0689±0.0044 Å. The results have been compared with the structures of other trihalides of the Vb-group elements.