An X-Ray Study of the n-Aliphatic Alcohols, C10H21OH to C18H37OH

Abstract
An x‐ray study of the series of n‐aliphatic alcohols C10H21OH to C18H37OH has been made. Spacings along identity periods perpendicular to the 001 planes (c spacings) have been measured at room temperature and at —50°C. By plotting these c spacings against the number of carbon atoms in the chain, it is shown that there are two distinct crystalline modifications, the second appearing only in those members having even numbers of carbon atoms. The common (α) modification is shown to crystallize with the c axis approximately at right angles with the 001 plane while the other (β) has the c axis at an angle of approximately 51° 55′ with the 001 plane. The packing at the ends of the molecules is different in these two modifications. A spectrograph to make such x‐ray studies at low temperatures has been designed and constructed. These studies are the foundation of a calculation of the intensities of such c spacing reflections presented in a following paper.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: