Physicochemical Studies on Thorium Soaps in Solid State

Department of Chemistry, Agra University, Agra-282 004 Manuscript received 21 October 1986, revised 24 February 1987, accepted 21 April 1987 The thermal decomposition of thorium soaps is kinetically of zero order and the energy of activation for the decomposition process lies in the range of 6-11 kcal mol-1. Infrared spectral data indicate that the fatty acids exist with dimeric structure through hydrogen bonding between the carboxyl groups of acid molecules whereas the metal soaps have an ionic character. The X-ray diffraction studies of these soaps revealed that thorium soaps have double layer structure with molecular axes slightly inclined to the basal plane.