Arsenate substitution in lead hydroxyl apatites: A Raman spectroscopic study.

A total of seven compounds of the hydroxylpyromorphite Pb10(PO4)6(OH)2 - hydroxylmimetite Pb10(AsO4)6(OH)2 (HPY-HMI) solid solution series were synthesized at 80°C from aqueous solutions and characterized using Raman spectroscopy. The positions of the bands in all spectra of the series depend on the content of arsenates and phosphates shifting to lower wavenumbers with substitution of (AsO4)(3-) for (PO4)(3-). This shift results from the decreasing bond strength of X-O (where X=P, As) and higher atomic mass of As than P.