Molecular Spectroscopy by Means of ESCA II. Sulfur compounds. Correlation of electron binding energy with structure

Electron spectra from an extensive series of sulfur compounds have been studied. A correlation has been established between the observed position of inner electron lines of sulfur and structure. The influence of structure on the electron binding energies is discussed in terms of a calculated atomic charge, based on the concepts of electronegativity and partial ionic character of bonds. The results are useful for the study of bonding and structure in sulfur chemistry, and are applied particularly to the discussion of the sulfur-oxygen bond (S=O).