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arXiv · 2606.09011

Static Electric Fields as a Model for Hydrogen-Bond-Induced Dissociation of HF and HCl

Megan Grace·Avdhoot Datar
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Abstract

The influence of static electric fields on the electronic structure and dissociation behavior of the polar diatomics \ce{HF} and \ce{HCl} is investigated using quantum chemical calculations. Ground- and excited-state potential energy surfaces (PESs) are computed as a function of bond distance and external electric field strength to examine field-induced modifications of chemical bonding. The calculations reveal pronounced bond softening and progressive destabilization of both molecules with increasing field intensity. Notably, the ground-state PES of \ce{HCl} becomes entirely dissociative at field strengths of approximately 450 MV/cm, whereas \ce{HF} requires a substantially stronger field of nearly 700 MV/cm to induce dissociation. This difference reflects the greater polarizability and weaker bond localization in \ce{HCl} relative to \ce{HF}, providing a molecular-scale perspective on the contrasting macroscale acid strengths of the two species. Field-dependent dipole moments further demonstrate the stronger electronic response of \ce{HCl} to external perturbations, highlighting how molecular polarizability drives electric-field-induced bond activation. Ultimately, these results map out a detailed picture of field-controlled dissociation in hydrogen halides, supporting the view that local electric fields generated by surrounding hydrogen-bonding networks play a key role in modulating bond activation and condensed-phase acidity.

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Megan Grace, Avdhoot Datar. 2026-06-08. Static Electric Fields as a Model for Hydrogen-Bond-Induced Dissociation of HF and HCl. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.09011

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