Structure
The structure of "xenon hexafluoroplatinate" is probably not Xe+−. The main problem with this formulation is "Xe+", which would be a radical and would dimerize or abstract an F atom to give XeF+. Thus, Bartlett discovered that Xe undergoes chemical reactions, but the nature of his initial mustard yellow product is complex. Further work indicates that Bartlett's product probably contained −, −, and . The title "compound" is a salt, consisting of an octahedral anionic fluoride complex of platinum and various xenon cations.
It has been proposed that the platinum fluoride forms a negatively charged polymeric network with xenon or xenon fluoride cations held in its instices. A preparation of "XePtF6" in HF solution results in a solid which has been characterized as a n polymeric network associated with XeF+. This result is evidence for such a polymeric structure of xenon hexafluoroplatinate.
Read more about this topic: Xenon Hexafluoroplatinate
Famous quotes containing the word structure:
“When a house is tottering to its fall,
The strain lies heaviest on the weakest part,
One tiny crack throughout the structure spreads,
And its own weight soon brings it toppling down.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)
“Vashtar: So it’s finished. A structure to house one man and the greatest treasure of all time.
Senta: And a structure that will last for all time.
Vashtar: Only history will tell that.
Senta: Sire, will he not be remembered?
Vashtar: Yes, he’ll be remembered. The pyramid’ll keep his memory alive. In that he built better than he knew.”
—William Faulkner (1897–1962)
“A special feature of the structure of our book is the monstrous but perfectly organic part that eavesdropping plays in it.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)