Small Mercuride Clusters

In contrast to the cationic [Hg3]2+ (linear) [2] and [Hg3]4+ (triangular) [17] iso-steric anionic [Hgs]15- clusters are unknown. 

In general an evaluation of the DOS calculations for various amalgams with respect to an electron transfer from alkali metal to mercury shows a net transfer of approximately 0.5 electrons per mercury atom for alkali metal rich amalgams [4,19]. This value is the result of a donation from the alkali metal atoms to mercury (major component) and a simultaneous back donation (minor component). 

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