The emprical general harmonic force field of ethane

A total of 175 spectroscopic data, accumulated from 10 isotopic species of ethane, are used to define all 22 parameters of the harmonic potential function within narrow limits. Before calculation, numerous Fermi resonances have been identified and quantified through infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies of CH ₃CD ₃ and its ¹³C isotopic species. This is an essential prerequisite to such an investigation, without which a self-consistent empirical data set cannot be achieved from which to determine physically meaningful force constants. Comparison of the empirical force constants with those predicted by scaled ab initio calculations shows an excellent degree of correspondence in all force constants, and confirms that both approaches can lead to essentially identical results. Calculated values of spectroscopic data of reliable quality are listed. These should be of value to future spectroscopic investigation of isotopic ethanes and for resolving the many resonance perturbations which are present.