The hydrogen bond energies of the bihalide ions XHX and YHX

Abstract
Experimental measurements of the gas phase ion equilibria X + HX = XHX, X(HX)n−1 + HX = X(HX)n, and X + HY = XHY where X, Y = Cl, Br, I, with a high pressure mass spectrometer, combined with the recent determination of F + HF = FHF by Larson and McMahon, provide a very complete set of hydrogen bond dissociation enthalpies and free energies for the hydrogen bihalide ions. The bond energy trends in the different XHX and XHY are discussed. The data can be used also for the evaluation of lattice energies of salts containing the bihalide ions and for determinations of the solvation energies of these ions.