THE EFFECT OF ADDED ELECTROLYTE ON HYDROGEN-BONDING EQUILIBRIUM IN DILUTE SOLUTIONS OF t-BUTYL ALCOHOL IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE

The effect of added tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide on the hydrogen-bonding equilibrium of t-butyl alcohol in 0.0 to 0.08 M solution in carbon tetrachloride has been studied by infrared investigation of the spectral range 2.5–3.5 μ. The observations have been interpreted in terms of specific interaction between the alcohol and the more polar species of the salt which are present in the complex electrolyte equilibria (for example, ions and ion pairs). It is suggested that these species function as nucleation centers for aggregates of alcohol molecules, the enhanced degree of hydrogen bonding permitted in these aggregates being reflected in the infrared spectral response.