Information Capability of Potential pH – Diagrams and Speciation of Metal Ions

Authors

  • T. Loučka Department of Technical Sciences, Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem
  • P. Janoš Department of Technical Sciences, Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem

Keywords:

diagrams potential – pH, ion speciation, ion complexation, ion adsorption

Abstract

Some limitations of potential – pH diagrams were demonstrated on a simple Zn – H2O system. Inaccuracies arise due to the fact that the concentration of only one (prevailing) ion was predetermined for calculation of the solid-solution equilibria. As a result, the E – pH diagrams differ from the distribution diagrams as the former consider all kinds of Zn species. For example, the E – pH diagram of the Zn – H2O system (total concentration of Zn species 10–6 mol dm–3) predicts an area of a stable passive layer of amorphous Zn(OH)2 in the pH range 8.85–10.86, whereas the distribution calculations of individual Zn species exclude such a possibility. The presence of some substances (hydrated metal oxides, minerals, humic substances) may crucially affect the interpretation of the E – pH diagrams. It was shown that the presence of even low concentrations of humic acids changed the pH range of the existence of passive layer, and at their higher concentrations (e.g. 0.025 g dm–3), the passive layer was not formed at all.

Published

2014-07-15

How to Cite

Loučka, T., & Janoš, P. (2014). Information Capability of Potential pH – Diagrams and Speciation of Metal Ions. Chemické Listy, 108(7), 677–681. Retrieved from http://blog.chemicke-listy.cz/ojs3/index.php/chemicke-listy/article/view/2936

Issue

Section

Articles