The potentiometric determination of stability constants for zinc acetate complexes in aqueous solutions to 295°C

A potentiometric method was used to determine the formation quotients of zinc acetate complexes in aqueous solutions from 50 to 295°C at ionic strengths of 0.03,0.3, and 1.0 m. The potentiometric titrations were carried out in an externally heated, Teflon-lined concentration cell fitted with hydrogen electrodes. Formal sodium acetate concentrations of the experimental solutions ranged from 0.001 to 0. 1 m with acetic acid to sodium acetate ratios ranging from 30 to 300. Sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (F₃CSO₃Na) was used as a supporting electrolyte. Stoichiometries and formation quotients for the complexes ZnCH₃COO⁺, Zn(CH₃COO)₂, and Zn(CH₃COO)^-₃ were derived from the titration data by regression analysis. Stability constants at infinite dilution (K_n) and other relevant thermodynamic quantities were calculated for these three complexes. Logarithms for the formation constants of the general reaction Zn²⁺ + nCH₃COO^- = Zn(CH₃COO)_n^2-n are n = 1-(1.9 ± 0.2, 50°C), (2.3 ± 0.1, 100°C), (2.8 ± 0.1, 150°C), (3.5 ± 0.1, 200°C), (4.3 ± 0.2, 250°C), (5.3 ± 0.3, 300°C); n = 2-(3.4 ± 0.1, 50°C), (4.0 ± 0.1, 100°C), (4.83 ± 0.09, 150°C), (5.9 ± 0.1, 200°C), (7.1 ± 0.1, 250°C), (8.7 ± 0.2, 300°C); n = 3-(4.1 ± 0.3, 50°C), (4.7 ± 0.3, 100°C), (5.5 ± 0.3, 150°C), (6.6 ± 0.3, 200°C), (7.9 ± 0.3, 250°C), (9.4 ± 0.3, 300°C). Calculations of zinc speciation in acetate-chloride solutions show that zinc acetate complexes should have an importance similar to zinc chloride complexes in high acetate waters where chloride to acetate molal ratios are less than about 10.