Atomic capture of negative muons in hydroxides

Atomic capture of negative muons in Hsub(m)EOsub(n) compounds formed by the elements E of the 3-5 groups of the periodic table are studied. The capture probability is determined from μ--e--decay. The results obtained are analyzed in terms of the chemical increment W and compared to analogous data for oxides. It is noted that the dependence of W on the atomic number Z is similar for the both types of the compounds, W being systematically larger for hydroxides. Period analysis shows that in the third period W is independent of Z; in the forth period there is a tendency for W to increase with Z; in the fifth period, peaking is possible in the middle of the period, though the constancy of W along the period is not excluded. The analysis of the hydroxide and oxide data is carried out from the viewpoint of the relative probability of the muonic substitution of inner and valence electrons