Abstract
The vibrational spectra of crystalline halomercurate salts with anionic stoicheiometries HgX3-, HgX42-, Hg2X5-, Hg3X82- (where X = Cl, Br, I) have been studied. The cations Me4N+, Et4N+, Ph4As+, and pyH+ were used as necessary. The effect of crystalline symmetry and packing on the spectra of both anion and cation are discussed and the spectra are used to deduce the most probable crystalline packing for salts containing the Hg2X5- and Hg3X82- species. The spectra of the cations Me4N+ and Et4N+ are assigned and discussed.