H Bonding Properties of Hydroxyl Held on the Surface of Silica

The H bonding properties of silica gel surface hydroxyl have been studied by adsorbing series of organic compounds which are weak H bond acceptors and by observing the OH stretching band. While the data are consistent with the charge transfer model of H bond, a critical examination shows that their support to this theory, as well as the support of similar data reported for solutions, is not really significant. All the results, and particularly relationships found between absorption coefficients, show a complete similarity between the characteristics of H bonds formed on the solid surface and in solutions.