The molar conductivity (Λ°) of hydrochloric
acid, potassium
hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide has been measured in both light and
heavy waters from 298 to 598 K at p = 20 MPa using
a high-precision flow-through alternating current (AC) conductance
instrument. The results were used to explore the deuterium isotope
effect on ionic transport by proton hopping mechanisms under hydrothermal
conditions. Extrapolations of published transport number data to elevated
temperature were used to calculate the individual ionic contributions
(λ°) for H3O+, D3O+, OH–, and OD–, from which
the excess molar conductivities due to proton hopping were calculated.
These are the first reported values for the excess conductivities
for D3O+ and OD– at temperatures
above 318 K. The excess conductivities indicate a strong deuterium
isotope effect whereby the transport of D3O+ by proton hopping is reduced by ∼33% relative to H3O+, and OD– is reduced by over 60% relative
to OH–, over the entire temperature range. A well-defined
maximum in the excess conductivities of D3O+ and H3O+ at ∼420 K suggests that the
Eigen cation (H2O)4H+ and the Zundel
transition-state cation (H2O)2H+ are
destabilized at elevated temperatures as the three-dimensional, tetrahedrally
hydrogen-bonded networks in water break down. The less pronounced
maximum for OD– and OH– suggested
that their Eigen and Zundel anions, (H2O)3OH– and (H2O)OH–, are less
destabilized in the two-dimensional networks and chains that dominate
the “structure” of liquid water under these conditions.