A potentiometric study of the complexes formed between Ni(II) and Zn(II) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid.

The composition and stability constants of the complexes formed between Ni(2+) and Zn(2+) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) were studied by a potentiometric method at 25 degrees and in 0.5M KNO(3). For the system Zn(2+)/3-MPA. a mixture of the mononuclear complex BA(2) and the polynuclear complexes B(3)A(4). and B(4)A(6) was found (B means the metal ion and A the ligand). The system Ni(2+)/3-MPA can be represented by the complexes B(5)A(10), B(6)A(11) B(6)A(9) and B(6)A(12). In this series the last two complexes are predominant.