Formation and thermochemical properties of oxychlorides of niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta); Towards the gas-phase investigation of dubnium (Db) oxychloride

Chiera, N. M.; Sato, Tetsuya   ; Tomitsuka, Tomohiro; Asai, Masato  ; Suzuki, Hayato*; Tokoi, Katsuyuki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Tsukada, Kazuaki  ; Nagame, Yuichiro 

The formation of NbOCl and TaOCl and their adsorption behavior on quartz surfaces was explored by applying an isothermal gas-chromatographic method. Trace amounts of short-lived Nb and Ta isotopes were used. Adsorption enthalpy values () at zero surface coverage of -(NbOCl) = 102 4 kJ/mol and -(TaOCl) = 128 5 kJ/mol were determined by analyzing the chromatographic behavior of the Nb andTa complexes with a Monte-Carlo simulation method based on an adsorption-desorption kinetic model.By applying an empirical correlation, the experimental values were successively related to the macroscopic standard sublimation enthalpy, , as a measure of the volatility of each substance. The inferred sublimation enthalpies are in agreement with tabulated thermochemical values. Thus, the linear empirical correlation between and for metal-oxychlorides was updated with the inclusion of the present data. According to the predicted (DbOCl), a (DbOCl) value of 135 2 kJ/mol was extrapolated. The future accomplishment of comparative studies with DbOCl under the same experimental conditions will provide valuable information on the volatility trend in Group-5 elements, together with an indication on the magnitude of relativistic effects on the electronic structure of dubnium.