X-Ray-Diffraction Study of Carbon Tetrafluoride in the Liquid State

X-ray diffraction patterns obtained from liquid carbon tetrafluoride in equilibrium with its vapor at temperatures of −177°, −153°, and −122°C were used to calculate the corresponding electronic and molecular radial distribution functions. The electronic distributions all showed peaks at approximately 1.36 and 2.20 Å. The areas associated with these peaks are in good agreement with that expected from a tetrahedral model. The most significant result of this work is the calculation of molecular distributions within the liquid since very little experimental information is available concerning molecular distributions in polyatomic liquids in which all atoms in the molecule have appreciable scattering power. Peaks were observed in the molecular distributions at approximately 3.36, 5.20, and 9.00 Å at all three temperatures. In each of these the peaks decreased in magnitude and increased in width as the temperature increased. The number or molecules associated with each peak decreased as the temperature increased. Ideal peak calculations were carefully applied in the analysis. A study of the effects of data modification was also made.