Spectrophotometric quantification of the thermodynamic constants of the complexes formed by dopamine and Cu(II) in aqueous media.

The thermodynamic constants of the complex Cu(II)-dopamine in aqueous solution were evaluated from spectrophotometric data using the software SQUAD. It was found that there exist Cu(II):DA complexes with 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries and that their predominance depends on both the solution pH and the [Cu(II)]/[DA] ratio. Moreover, it is shown that the solubility of Cu(OH)2(s) increases drastically when these complexes are thermodynamically stable.

Solid-contact Hg(II)-selective electrode based on a carbon-epoxy composite containing a new dithiophosphate-based ionophore.

The experimental results herein concern a novel ion-selective electrode manufactured with an inner solid contact based on a new ligand O,O'-(2,2'-biphenylene)dithiophosphate pentyl (PenDTF). This electrode displays high selectivity toward the Hg(II) ion even in the presence of different divalent ions. The electrode also exhibited a good Nernstian response to Hg(II) (33.7±1.0 mV decade(-1)) over an ample concentration range (5.3×10(-7)-1.0×10(-2) mol L(-1)), with a detection limit of (6.1±1.7)×10(-7) mol L(-1). As a result of design, the electrode can be used for many experiments, simply renewing its contact surface with emery paper, without giving rise to a significant response deviation, exhibiting a variation coefficient of 3%, capable of being tested within the 0-5 pH interval. The electrode was used satisfactorily as indicating electrode during the potentiometric titration of Hg(II) ions with EDTA.

Determination of the complexation constants of Pb(II) and Cd(II) with thymol blue using spectrophotometry, SQUAD and the HSAB principle.

This paper presents the results concerning the determination of the formation constants of the complexes between thymol blue, TB, and the metal ions Pb(II) or Cd(II). The experimental procedure was carried out in the presence of a nitrogen atmosphere at 25 degrees C. The spectrophotometry data obtained were processed through the software SQUAD to calculate the complexation constants of the metal-indicator and to establish an adequate base of the models which considered the structure of the indicator, and the actual metal species in the aqueous solutions. For the Pb(II)-TB-H2O system the logK value calculated for the PbTB complex was 5.591+/-0.057 while for the Cd(II)-TB-H2O system, the logK value of the CdTB complex was 5.099+/-0.008. Also, supporting theoretical chemistry results on the chemical hardness of TB molecule were performed to enable establishment of a relative prediction scale of the TB complexation constants ranking in the framework of the Principle of Hard and Soft Acids and Bases or HSAB Principle.

Study on the stability of noradrenaline and on the determination of its acidity constants.

Noradrenaline is a catecholamine which has been largely recognised to play a very important role in biological systems. In view of the neurotransmitter's alleged importance, this work aimed at showing the influence of time on its spectral behaviour using different analytical methods and determining its acidity constants through spectrophotometric titration and by the so-called point-by-point analysis, where the samples are freshly prepared for each pH value investigated at the instant required. Because the catecholamines are light-sensitive and likely to react with the oxygen in the surrounding air, both methods used preclude its incidence onto the samples being analysed under the presence of a nitrogen atmosphere maintained over the solutions. The constants obtained through point-by-point analysis were log beta1 = 30.71+/-0.16, log beta2 = 22.00+/-0.15 and log beta3 = 11.69+/-0.16.

Study on the stability of the serotonin and on the determination of its acidity constants.

The present work aimed at describing the spectral behaviour of the serotonin and to evaluate its acidity constants using three different methods, using two spectrophotometry titrations and a third method that involved point-by-point analysis, which permitted to monitor closely and determine the evolution of the serotonin species in solution as a function of time. The three methods allowed estimation of three acidity constants associated to the same number of functional groups that form part of the molecule. The results given by the point-by-point analysis were: log(beta1) = 24.95 +/- 0.12; log(beta2) = 20.20 +/- 0.10; log(beta3) = 10.89 +/- 0.018.

Study on the stability of adrenaline and on the determination of its acidity constants.

In this work, the results are presented concerning the influence of time on the spectral behaviour of adrenaline (C(9)H(13)NO(3)) (AD) and of the determination of its acidity constants by means of spectrophotometry titrations and point-by-point analysis, using for the latter freshly prepared samples for each analysis at every single pH. As the catecholamines are sensitive to light, all samples were protected against it during the course of the experiments. Each method rendered four acidity constants corresponding each to the four acid protons belonging to the functional groups present in the molecule; for the point-by-point analysis the values found were: log beta(1) = 38.25 +/- 0.21, log beta(2) = 29.65 +/- 0.17, log beta (3) = 21.01 +/- 0.14, log beta(4) = 11.34 +/- 0.071.

Evaluation of the acidity constants of the 4-hidroxy-5-[salicylideneamino]-2-7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid (Azomethine-H) using UV-vis spectrophotometry.

The time stability of the azomethine-H species was determined not to be better than 10 min in the absence of oxygen and light, however under phosphate buffered conditions the azomethine-H species remained stable for longer periods, as indicated by the spectrophotometric behaviour. Nevertheless, the analysis time still exceeded the stability allowance. Therefore, the determination of the acidity constants of the Azomethine-H species was studied by means of UV-vis spectrophotometry in buffered media by means of the point-by-point analysis and data processing with SQUAD to refine the resulting constants, which were: pK(a1) = 3.39, pK(a2) 7.36 and pK(a3) 8.73. The latter were associated to the corresponding acid-base equilibria of the amine and hydroxy groups constituting the molecule.

Spectrophotometric study of the system Hg(II)-thymol blue-H2O and its evidence through electrochemical means.

The detailed analysis of the experimental spectrophotometric data obtained from solutions containing the acid-base indicator thymol blue (TB) and mercury(II) (Hg(II)) coupled with data processing by means of the SQUAD program, a chemical model was determined that includes the formation of complexes indicator-metal ion (HgTB and HgOTB), dimer species (H3TB2 and H4TB2) and monomer species (HTB and TB). The values of the overall formation constants (log beta) were calculated for the chemical equilibria involved: TB+Hg<-->HgTB log beta=16.047 +/- 0.043, TB+Hg+H2O<-->HgOHTB+H log beta=7.659 +/- 0.049, 2TB+4H<-->H4TB2 log beta=31.398 +/- 0.083, 2TB+3H<-->H3TB2 log beta=29.953 +/- 0.084 and H+TB<-->HTB-log beta=8.900. To compliment the present research, the values of the absorptivity coefficients are included for all the species involved, within a wide range of wavelengths (250-700 nm). The latter were used subsequently to carry simulations of the absorption spectra at various pH values, thus corroborating that the chemical model proposed is fully capable to describe the experimental information. Voltammetric study performed evidenced the formation of a complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry Hg(II):TB.

Spectrophotometric study on the stability of dopamine and the determination of its acidity constants.

The interest in determining the acidity constants of the catecholamines stems from the fact that they play rather an important biological role. The present work reveals the effect of different parameters such as oxygen, light, analysis time and pH on the dopamine oxidation process, where oxygen has an effect on the dopamine oxidation of 40% and up to 20% is attributed to exposure to light as a function of the pH. The application of adequate control on the said parameters (which ensured stability of the dopamine) facilitated the determination of the corresponding three acidity constants, 9.046+/-0.147, 10.579+/-0.148 and 12.071+/-0.069.

Kinetic and thermodynamic study of the behaviour of diphenylcarbazide in aqueous solution with pH.

In order to find out about the chemical behaviour of the diphenylcarbazide (DPCI) in water, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were carried out using UV-Vis spectrophotometry within the 0-12 pH range. The kinetic parameters and acidity constant were then determined, and the results show that a pseudo first order reaction rate was observed during hydroxilation, while the reaction rate was also observed to increase with the pH. The acidity constant obtained with the aid of SQUAD was pK(a)=10.718+/-0.027.

Speciation study of the anti-inflammatory drug tenoxicam (Htenox) with Cu(II): X-ray crystal structure of [Cu(tenox)(2)(py)(2)].EtOH.

A speciation study was carried out in aqueous solution of the anti-inflammatory drug tenoxicam (Htenox), under quasi-physiological conditions (temperature of 37 degrees C and ionic strength 0.15 M NaCl) in order to determine the acidity constants from spectrophotometric studies, the pK(a) values found being pK(1)=1.143+/-0.008 and pK(2)=4.970+/-0.004. Subsequently, the spectrophotometrical speciation of the different complexes of Cu(II) with the drug was performed under the same conditions of temperature and ionic strength, observing the formation of Cu(Htenox)(2)(2+) with log beta(212)=20.05+/-0.01, Cu(tenox)(2) with log beta(012)=13.6+/-0.1, Cu(Htenox)(2+) with log beta(111)=10.52+/-0.08, as well as Cu(tenox)(+) with log beta(011)=7.0+/-0.2, all of them in solution, and solid species Cu(tenox)(2)(s) with an estimated value of log beta(012)(s) approximately 18.7. The crystalline structure of the complex [Cu(tenox)(2)(py)(2)]. EtOH, was also determined, and it was observed that tenoxicam employs the oxygen of the amide group and the pyridyl nitrogen to bond to the cation.

A new nuclear magnetic resonance algorithm to determine equilibrium constants of the species in the B(III)-H2O system.

Several efforts have been attempted to study species formation by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) in systems with several chemical equilibria present. The majority of these are qualitative and only a few have tried to relate component fractions of a distribution diagram with experimental area fractions determined from NMR spectra to obtain equilibrium constants values. In this work we present a new focus that attempts to relate the species concentration fractions in the system with area fractions beneath NMR peaks to achieve this task. 11B-NMR data of B(III)-H2O systems have been processed with the aid of formation constant values (-log *beta) obtained by potentiometry which are 9.17+/-0.01 for B(OH)3, 9.79+/-0.08 for B2O(OH)5-, 19.90+/-0.09 for B3O3(OH)4- and 38.50+/-0.04 for B5O6(OH)4-, form B(III)-H2O systems with 0.075 M< or = [B(III)]total< or = 0.700 M, in agreement with previous reports and NMR behavior. The treatment of NMR data developed in this work gives a new methodology to obtain formation constants and suggests the possibility to establish a generalization of Beer's law to NMR spectroscopy.

Predominance zone diagrams and their application to solvent extraction techniques.

Predominance zone diagrams have been useful tools in solving problems in analytical chemistry. They can be used to establish the best conditions for separation of mixtures or to optimize recovery procedures for a given species. The few reports on predominance zone diagrams for the participant species in liquid-liquid extraction systems, describe their construction as diagrams of the Pourbaix type (epsilon/pH). With the generalized species and equilibria method (GSEM) it is possible to elaborate Predominance zone diagrams for extraction (PZDE) in proper spaces and with parameters strictly related to these processes such as pH and the volume ratio, r. Therefore, using the GSEM, PZDE that allow us to determine the best conditions for the extraction of a given substance have been elaborated. The stoichiometry of the species been extracted can also be determined from the experimental conditions. It has been demonstrated that with the GSEM, PZDE can be constructed for systems of one and two components. In this work, we intend to demonstrate that the algorithm is valid for the elaboration of PZDE in systems of three and four components. Examples of analytical interest are presented such as lead (II) extraction with diphenyltiocarbazone (dithizone) and that for cadmium (II) with 8-hydroxyquinolein (oxine) in chloroform. The influence of a masking agent, the etilendiaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) over the extraction of both metals was also assessed.

Determination of pK(a)'s for thymol blue in aqueous medium: evidence of dimer formation.

Formation constants for recrystallized thymol blue were determined in water, using the SQUAD and SUPERQUAD programs. The best model correlating spectrophotometric, potentiometric and conductimetric data was fitted with the dissociation of HL(-)=L(2-)+H(+)-log K=8.918+/-0.070 and H(3)L(2)(-)=2L(2-)+3H(+)-log K=29.806+/-0.133 with the SUPERQUAD program at variable low ionic strength (1.5x10(-4)-3.0x10(-4) M); and HL=L(2-)+H(+)-log K=8.9+/-0.000, H(3)L(2)(-) =2L(2-)+3H(+)-log K=30.730+/-0.032, H(4)L(2)=2L(2-)+4H(+)-log K=32.106+/-0.033 with SQUAD at 1.1 M ionic strength.

Application of SQUAD to the refinement of formal potentials from coulometric steady-state and spectrophotometric measurements.

The application of SQUAD to the refinement of formal potentials from potentiometric or coulometric steady-state and spectrophotometric measurements was tested. The formal potential thus obtained for the Fe(CN) (3-)(6)Fe(CN) (4-)(6) couple in 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) agreed with published data. This method was found to be satisfactory for the determination of typical standard potentials and it is suggested that it may be advantageous when dealing with multi-component systems.

Determination of formation constants of hydroxo and carbonate complexes of Pr(3+) in 2 M NaCl at 303 K.

The hydrolysis of praseodymium III in 2 M sodium chloride at 303 K was studied. Two methods were used: pH titration followed by a computational refinement and solvent extraction in the presence of a competitive ligand. The hydrolysis constants obtained by pH titration were: logbeta(1,H)=-7.68+/-0.07, logbeta(1,2H)=-15.10+/-0.03, and beta(1,3H)=-23.80+/-0.04. The stability constants of praseodymium carbonate complexes were determined by pH titration as well and were: logbeta(1,CO(2-)(3))=5.94+/-0.08 and logbeta(1,2CO(2-)(3))=11.15+/-0.15. Praseodymium carbonate species were taken into consideration for calculating the first hydrolysis constants by the solvent extraction method and the value obtained was: logbeta(1,H)=-7.69+/-0.27. The values for logbeta(1,H) attained by both methods are the same. The species-distribution diagram was obtained from the stability constants of praseodymium carbonate complexes and hydrolysis products in the conditions of the present work.