Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
Alanate anion, AlH4(-): photoelectron spectrum and computations
J D Graham1, A M Buytendyk, X Zhang
1Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.
Abstract:
The alanate anion, AlH4(-), was generated in the gas phase using a pulsed arc cluster ionization source. Its photoelectron spectrum was then measured with 193 nm photons. The spectrum consists of a broad feature, spanning electron binding energies from 3.8 eV to over 5.3 eV. This band reflects the photodetachment transitions between the ground state of the AlH4(-) anion and the ground state of its thermodynamically unstable neutral counterpart, AlH4. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of AlH4(-) was measured to be 4.4 eV. Additionally, VDE values were also computed in a comprehensive theoretical study and compared both with the previously computed value and with our experimentally determined value.
More Related Videos
09:40Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C2, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown
Published on: February 14, 2014
11:54Growth and Electrostatic/chemical Properties of Metal/LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures
Published on: February 8, 2018
Related Concept Videos
π Molecular Orbitals of the Allyl Cation and Anion
π Molecular Orbitals of the Allyl Radical
The allyl systems have identical molecular orbitals but differ in the number of π...
Atomic Spectroscopy: Absorption, Emission, and Fluorescence
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
Alkali Metals
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals