Abstract
The LI and LIII edges of Hg and the K edge of Rb in liquid Hg-Rb alloys were measured by the absorption spectroscopy of X-rays. On increasing the Rb concentration, the absorption edges of Hg show an opposite behavior each other, the decrease of LI and the increase of LIII compared with the case of pure liquid Hg. This difference was discussed from the polyanion formation of Hg atoms on alloying. With the increase of alkali concentration, the p like state or polyanion seems to be situated on the lower energy side than that of s band. The electronic structure of this polyanion was discussed based on a simple LCAO analysis. Such an existence of polyanions may be responsible to the curious phenomena of liquid Hg-alkali alloys, the maximum of the electrical resistivity at 60 at% alkali and the positively enhanced tendency in the intermediate alkali concentration range of the magnetic susceptibility in the overall negative deviation.
