On formation of polyatomic mercury cations

This paper analyzes the effect of the increased number of electrons lying o n the 6s orbitals of Hg ions an the formation of polyatomic Hg-n cations, t heir structure, and Hg Hg distances. The critical role in the formation and structural characterstics of Hg-n cations is played by the degree of expan sion of the Hg5d atomic orbitals; when 6s electrons increase in number, thi s expansion is enhanced by relativistic effects. Formation of Hg, cations a nd the observed tendencies are explained in terms of the virial theorem.