Alessandro De Robertis

The determination of formation constants of weak complexes by potentiometric measurements: experimental procedures and calculation methods

Experimental and calculation procedures for the study of weak complexes by the pH-measurement technique are described. An algorithm for the calculation of formation constants, together with a computer program in FORTRAN and BASIC versions, is reported. The problems of studying weak interactions are discussed. Simulated titration curves and experimental data for K(+)-thiodiacetate complexation were used to check the proposed method.

Computer analysis of equilibrium data in solution. ES5CM FORTRAN and BASIC programs for computing formation enthalpies from calorimetric measurements

Abstract A computer program was written in FORTRAN and BASIC languages for calculating enthalpy changes of complex formation in solution from direct calorimetric measurements. The program (ES5CM) can deal with any system in which mononuclear, polynuclear, protonated, hydroxo, mixed metal or mixed ligand complexes are formed. Particular attention has been paid to the robustness of the algorithm and to the possibility of using the program ES5CM with different machines, including small personal computers. Some test systems were used to check the efficiency of the program, and execution times for different machines are reported.

On the possibility of determining the thermodynamic parameters for the formation of weak complexes using a simple model for the dependence on ionic strength of activity coefficients: Na+, K+, and Ca2+ complexes of low molecular weight ligands in aqueous solution

Alkali-metal and calcium(II) complexes of monocarboxylate A–(acetate and salicylate), dicarboxylate A2–(malonate, maleate, succinate, malate, tartrate, phthalate, and oxydiacetate), or amino acid HA (glycine or L-histidine) ligands have been studied potentiometrically, using a glasssaturated calomel electrode, at different temperatures and ionic strengths. The monocarboxylate ligands form [MA] and the dicarboxylates [MA] and [M(HA)] species (charges omitted) with both alkali metals and calcium. Glycine and L-histidine form [MA]+ and [M(HA)]2+{and [M(H2A)]3+ for L-histidine} complexes with Ca2+, whilst alkali metals form only [M(HA)]+ with glycine. Some interesting regularities in the formation constants are pointed out. From the dependence on temperature of formation constants, values of ΔH⊖ and ΔS⊖ have been determined. The function log β=f(I) has been carefully studied in the range 0.02 ⩽I⩽ 1 mol dm–3. The reliability of a new model for the dependence on ionic strength of formation constants (when dealing with weak complexes it is in practice impossible to use the constant ionic medium method) is widely discussed. Two methods of calculation are described and the more general method has been checked by simulated curves.

Thermodynamic parameters for the protonation of carboxylic acids in aqueous tetraethylammonium iodide solutions

The protonation constants of 21 carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, propionic, benzoic, phenoxyacetic, salicylic, oxalic, malonic, succinic, itaconic, malic, tartaric, oxydiacetic, thiodiacetic, thiodipropionic, phthalic, maleic, citric, 1,2,3-tricarboxylic, 1,2,4-tricarboxylic and 1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic), have been determined potentiometrically, by pH-metric measurements, at several temperatures and ionic strengths, 5≤T≤55°C, 0<1≤1 mol-dm−3, using tetraethylammonium iodide as background salt. General equations for the dependence on ionic strength of thermodynamic parameters have been found. The statistical significance of results and the possibility of using a simple model for the thermodynamics of carboxylic acids protonation, is discussed.

The calculation of equilibrium concentrations in large multimetal/multiligand systems

Abstract An algorithm for computing equilibrium concentrations by the “equilibrium constant” method is described. The main features of this algorithm are: (a) a damping procedure in conjunction with the Newton-Raphson technique that avoids divergence in dealing with very complicated (simultaneous presence of simple, mixed, protonated, polynuclear and hydroxypolynuclear species) and/or very large systems; (2) the use of devices to decrease core requirements, calculation time, and ill-conditioned problems; and (3) the calculation of errors in free and species concentrations from the uncertainties in analytical concentrations and in formation constants. Four systems are used for testing computer programs on calculation of equilibrium concentrations.

Salt effects on the protonation of ortho-phosphate between 10 and 50°C in aqueous solution. A complex formation model

Protonation constants of o-phosphate were studied potentiometrically, using the (H+)-glass electrode in aqueous NaCl, KCl and tetraethylammonium iodide solutions, at 0≤I≤IM and 10≤T≤50°C. The differences found in the protonation constants for different salt solutions are explained by a complex formation model. The formation of the species MPO42−, MHPO4−, MH2PO40, M2PO4− and M2HPO40 (M=Na+, K+) is hypothesized. In mixed NaCl-KCl solutions, it is possible to find the mixed metal species NaKPO4− and NaKHPO40. Ionic strength and temperature dependence parameters are reported for all species. The relevance of Na+ and K+ complexes is discussed in connection with speciation problems of natural fluids, such as marine water and urine.

Thermodynamic parameters for the binding of inorganic and organic anions by biogenic polyammonium cations

Thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of protonated biogenic polyamines with inorganic or organic polyanions were studied potentiometrically (H(+)-glass electrode) and calorimetrically, at 25 degrees C. No background salt was used in the measurements to avoid interferences, and the formation constants and formation enthalpies were extrapolated to zero ionic strength. Species formed are ALH(r) [L=Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), HPO(4)(2-), P(2)O(7)(4-) and P(3)O(10)(5-); tartrate, malate, citrate, glutamate, 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate], with r=1,2...(n+m-2) and r=1,2...(n+m-1) for inorganic and organic ligands, respectively (n, m=maximum degree of protonation of amine and ligand, respectively). The stability of the various species formed is a function of charges involved in the formation reaction. DeltaH(0) values are generally positive, and therefore these complexes are entropically stabilized. Results are discussed in connection with several previously reported data on similar systems. DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) follow a linear trend as a function of polyammonium cation and inorganic or carboxylic anion charges. DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) charge relationships are reported. In particular, mean values of DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) for single interaction were calculated: DeltaG(0)=7.0 kJ mol(-1) n(-1), TDeltaS(0)=9.1 kJ mol(-1) n(-1) and DeltaG(0)=5.7 kJ mol(-1) n(-1) and TDeltaS(0)=8.7 kJ mol(-1) n(-1), for the species of inorganic and organic polyanions, respectively (n=number of possible salt bridges). A linear relationship was also found for TDeltaS(0) versus DeltaG(0), whose equation is TDeltaS(0)=-7-1.39 DeltaG(0) (with r=0.9409; r, correlation coefficient). The body of correlations found for these thermodynamic parameters shows quite good predictive value.

Equilibrium studies in natural fluids: a chemical speciation model for the major constituents of sea water

AbstractThe speciation of CI−, OH− and SO42- in synthetic sea water has been studied by Potentiometric measurements (pH-metric and ISE-Na methods) and by literature data analysis, using a well tested complex formation model. Stability constants, together with distribution of hypothesised species in synthetic sea water, as a function of temperature and salinity, are reported. The speciation model proposed in this work is discussed on the basis of chemical and statistical considerations. Comparison with some literature sea water models is given.

Ion association of Cl− with Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ in aqueous solution at 10 ⩽ T ⩽ 45 ° C and 0 ⩽ I ⩽ 1 mol l−1: A literature data analysis

Abstract The formation constants of [Na(Cl)] 0 , [K(Cl)] 0 , [Mg(Cl)] + and [(CaCl)] + ion pairs have been calculated by using literature data obtained from different techniques at different temperatures and ionic strengths. Results are reported together with estimated errors, and their reliability is discussed. Formation enthalpies and entropies are calculated from the dependence on temperature of formation constants. A computer program for the calculation of dependence on temperature and ionic strength of thermodynamic parameters is described.

Effects of salt on the protonation in aqueous solution of triethylenetetramine and tetraethylenepentamine

Protonation constants of triethylenetetramine (trien) and tetraethylenepentamine (tetren) were determined, in NaCl aqueous solutions, at different ionic strengths, at 25°C, using the the pH-metric technique. The behavior of protonation constants as a function of ionic strength can be explained by a model which takes into account the formation of the species AHqClp [A=amine; q=1...4, p=1,2 (trien); q=1...5, p=1.3 (tetren)].