Thermochemical stabilities of the gas-phase cluster ions of halide ions with rare gas atoms

Gas-phase clustering reactions of halide ions (X−) with rare gas atoms (Rg) have been investigated using a pulsed-electron beam high-pressure mass spectrometer. The thermochemical stability of the cluster ions X−(Rg)n has been determined. To evaluate bond energies that are difficult to obtain experimentally, ab initio calculations were also carried out. Among the cluster ions investigated, the interaction between the hardest F− ion and the softest Xe atom was found to be strongest (6.3 kcal/mol).