The configuration of mercury(II) chloride in benzene

The configuration of mercury(II) chloride as a solute in benzene has been investigated through measurements of dielectric absorption, apparent molar weight (490±100), and specific Kerr constant [(2.3±0.3) x 10-12]. Tentative values for the polarizability semi-axes of the mercury-chlorine bond are deduced from the infrared stretching frequency of mercury(II) chloride. The experimental results are consistent with the presence of a non-polar dimeric solute species, or with an equilibrium mixture involving several polymeric forms.