Determination of Electron and Molecular Radial Distribution Functions for Liquid Carbon Tetrachloride by X-Ray Diffraction

X-ray diffraction patterns obtained from liquid carbon tetrachloride along the vapor pressure curve at temperatures of 25°, 51.8°, and 115°C were used to calculate the corresponding electronic and molecular radial distribution functions. The electronic distribution functions show peaks at 1.81 and 2.92 Å, and the areas associated with these peaks are in good agreement with those reported by Bray and Gingrich and Eisenstein. The difference between the observed peak areas and the theoretical areas at room temperature was investigated. Because there has been little experimental information available concerning the molecular distribution in polyatomic liquids in which all the constituent atoms have considerable scattering power, the most significant result of this work is the calculation of molecular radial distribution functions for liquid carbon tetrachloride. Peaks were observed in the molecular distribution functions at 3.95, 6.4, and 12.4 Å at all three temperatures. These peaks decreased in amplitude and increased in breadth and the number of molecules represented by these peaks decreased as the temperature increased. Ideal peak calculations were used in all area assignments.