Solvent effects on the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of mercury atom

Absorption spectrum of mercury dissolved in hexane and heptane in the region 280–180 nm was found to consist of three bands. These bands were assigned to the 1S0 → 1P1 transition (A band, λ = 254 nm), to the 1S0 → 3P2 transition (B band, λ = 226 nm) and to the 1S0 → 1P1 transition (C band, λ = 190 nm) of a mercury atom placed into a liquid cell. The B and C absorption bands of mercury in liquid solutions were observed for the first time. It was found that the A band and the C band have, respectively, distinct doublet and triplet structure, while the doublet structure of the B band is only slightly seen. The oscillator strengths of all three bands of mercury in solutions were estimated. The structure of the C, A and B bands of mercury in solutions most probably results from the removal of the degeneracy of the excited states 1P1, 3P1 and 3P2 of a mercury atom, placed into a cell of low symmetry.