Pascals’ constants are numbers used in the evaluation of the magnetic susceptibilities ofcoordination compounds. The magnetic susceptibility of a compound is the sum of the paramagnetic susceptibility associated with the unpaired electrons and the opposing diamagnetic susceptibilities for the other components of the material, including the core electrons of the very centres carrying the unpaired electrons.^[1] Typically, the paramagnetic susceptibility greatly exceeds in magnitude the diamagnetic susceptibility. Thus, the diamagnetic correction is not considered for many purposes. For more precise analyses, however, the diamagnetic corrections are calculated by summing the contributions from the components of the molecule. These group contributions are Pascal’s constants. This analysis assumes that these group contributions are identical in all molecules. In general, the magnitude of Pascal’s constants correlates with the number of electrons in the groups. Groups with extended pi-delocalization have larger diamagnetic corrections compared to related saturated ligands.

These correction factors were first described by Pascal in 1910.^[2] The values and the method of analysis have been revised several times.

Representative Pascal Constants
group	Pascal constant
F–	–9.1
Cl–	–23.4
Br–	–34.6
I–	–50.6
pyridine	–49
phthalocyanine	–442
Zn2+	–15.0
Cd2+	–24
Hg2+	–40.0
NH3	–18
ethylenediamine	–46.5

[edit] References

1. ^ Gordon A. Bain, John F. Berry “Diamagnetic Corrections and Pascal’s Constants” Journal of Chemical Education 2008, Volume 85, page 532.
2. ^ Pascal, P. Ann. Chim. Phys. 1910, volume 19, page 5