Study of competitive reactions by solvent extraction: determination of stability constants

Abstract

The methods available for the determination of the stability constants of non-extractable complexes by solvent extraction are reviewed. The method proposed by Connick and McVey is valid only when no complexes of the auxiliary-ligand exist in the aqueous phase. This is applicable only at very low concentrations of the auxiliary-ligand. Hence, the stability constants calculated by this method decrease with increasing concentration and approach the theoretical values only at low concentrations of the auxiliary-ligand. It is essential, therefore, to apply the rigorous method incorporating the constants for the metal-auxiliary-ligand to calculate the stability constants which are independent of the changes in the experimental conditions. This is illustrated by few typical calculations.