Infrared and Raman Spectra of Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate Hexahydrate (Struvite) and its Isomorphous Analogues. VIII. Spectra of Protiated and Partially Deuterated Magnesium Rubidium Phosphate Hexahydrate and Magnesium Thallium Phosphate Hexahydrate

The infrared and Raman spectra of magnesium rubidium phosphate hexahydrate MgRbPO4 • 6H2O and magnesium thallium phosphate hexahydrate, MgTlPO4 • 6H2O were recorded at room temperature (RT) and the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen (LNT). To facilitate their analysis, also recorded were the spectra of partially deuterated analogues with varying content of deuterium. The effects of deuteration and those of lowering the temperature were the basis of the conclusions drawn regarding the origin of the observed bands which were assigned to vibrations which are predominantly localized in the water molecules (four crystallographically different types of such molecules exist in the structures) and those with PO4 3– character. It was concluded that in some cases coupling of phosphate and water vibrations is likely to take place. The appearance of the infrared spectra in the O–H stretching regions of the infrared spectra is explained as being the result of an extensive overlap of bands due to components of the fundamental stretching modes of the H2O units with a possible participation of bands due to second-order transitions. A broad band reminiscent of the B band of the well-known ABC trio characteristic of spectra of substances containing strong hydrogen bonds in their structure was found around 2400 cm–1 in the infrared spectra of the two studied compounds.