The frequency of the HOH bending fundamental in solids and liquids

A survey has been made of HOH bending frequencies in water-containing solids and liquids, using data from the literature and from the author's laboratory. After the effects of hydrogen bonding and dynamic coupling have been allowed for, HOH bending frequencies are found to be lowered by cation—water interactions. This frequency lowering increases statistically with increasing cation charge and with decreasing cation size.