Complex metal-EDTA

Masking by oxidation or reduction of a metal ion to a state which does not react with EDTA is occasionally of value. For example, Fe(III) (log K- y 24.23) in acidic media may be reduced to Fe(II) (log K-yyy = 14.33) by ascorbic acid in this state iron does not interfere in the titration of some trivalent and tetravalent ions in strong acidic medium (pH 0 to 2). Similarly, Hg(II) can be reduced to the metal. In favorable conditions, Cr(III) may be oxidized by alkaline peroxide to chromate which does not complex with EDTA. 

Metal—EDTA Formation Constants To illustrate the formation of a metal-EDTA complex consider the reaction between Cd + and EDTA... 

Structures of (a) EDTA, and (b) a six-coordinate metal-EDTA complex. 

Finding the End Point with a Visual Indicator Most indicators for complexation titrations are organic dyes that form stable complexes with metal ions. These dyes are known as metallochromic indicators. To function as an indicator for an EDTA titration, the metal-indicator complex must possess a color different from that of the uncomplexed indicator. Furthermore, the formation constant for the metal-indicator complex must be less favorable than that for the metal-EDTA complex. 

A partial list of metallochromic indicators, and the metal ions and pH conditions for which they are useful, is given in Table 9.16. Even when a suitable indicator does not exist, it is often possible to conduct an EDTA titration by introducing a small amount of a secondary metal-EDTA complex, provided that the secondary metal ion forms a stronger complex with the indicator and a weaker complex with EDTA than the analyte. For example, calmagite can be used in the determination of... 

Chromium (ITT) can be analy2ed to a lower limit of 5 x 10 ° M by luminol—hydrogen peroxide without separating from other metals. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is added to deactivate most interferences. Chromium (ITT) itself is deactivated slowly by complexation with EDTA measurement of the sample after Cr(III) deactivation is complete provides a blank which can be subtracted to eliminate interference from such ions as iron(II), inon(III), and cobalt(II), which are not sufficiently deactivated by EDTA (275). 

Compared to later elements in their respective transition series, scandium, yttrium and lanthanum have rather poorly developed coordination chemistries and form weaker coordinate bonds, lanthanum generally being even less inclined to form strong coordinate bonds than scandium. This is reflected in the stability constants of a number of relevant 1 1 metal-edta complexes ... 

One mole of the complex-forming H2 Y2 reacts in all cases with one mole of the metal ion and in each case, also, two moles of hydrogen ion are formed. It is apparent from equation (o) that the dissociation of the complex will be governed by the pH of the solution lowering the pH will decrease the stability of the metal-EDTA complex. The more stable the complex, the lower the pH at which an EDTA titration of the metal ion in question may be carried out. Table 2.3 indicates minimum pH values for the existence of EDTA complexes of some selected metals. 

Table 2.3 Stability with respect to pH of some metal-EDTA complexes...

Some values for the stability constants (expressed as logX) of metal-EDTA complexes are collected in Table 2.4 these apply to a medium of ionic strength 7 = 0.1 at 20 °C. 

In equation (q) only the fully ionised form of EDTA, i.e. the ion Y4 , has been taken into account, but at low pH values the species HY3, H2Y2, H3 Y and even undissociated H4Y may well be present in other words, only a part of the EDTA uncombined with metal may be present as Y4. Further, in equation (q) the metal ion M"+ is assumed to be uncomplexed, i.e. in aqueous solution it is simply present as the hydrated ion. If, however, the solution also contains substances other than EDTA which can complex with the metal ion, then the whole of this ion uncombined with EDTA may no longer be present as the simple hydrated ion. Thus, in practice, the stability of metal-EDTA complexes may be altered (a) by variation in pH and (b) by the presence of other complexing agents. The stability constant of the EDTA complex will then be different from the value recorded for a specified pH in pure aqueous solution the value recorded for the new conditions is termed the apparent or conditional stability constant. It is clearly necessary to examine the effect of these two factors in some detail. 

C. Replacement or substitution titration. Substitution titrations may be used for metal ions that do not react (or react unsatisfactorily) with a metal indicator, or for metal ions which form EDTA complexes that are more stable than those of other metals such as magnesium and calcium. The metal cation M + to be determined may be treated with the magnesium complex of EDTA, when the following reaction occurs ... 

EDTA is a very unselective reagent because it complexes with numerous doubly, triply and quadruply charged cations. When a solution containing two cations which complex with EDTA is titrated without the addition of a complex-forming indicator, and if a titration error of 0.1 per cent is permissible, then the ratio of the stability constants of the EDTA complexes of the two metals M and N must be such that KM/KN 106 if N is not to interfere with the titration of M. Strictly, of course, the constants KM and KN considered in the above expression should be the apparent stability constants of the complexes. If complex-forming indicators are used, then for a similar titration error KM/KN z 108. 

Dyestuffs which form complexes with specific metal cations can serve as indicators of pM values 1 1-complexes (metal dyestuff = 1 1) are common, but l 2-complexes and 2 1-complexes also occur. The metal ion indicators, like EDTA itself, are chelating agents this implies that the dyestuff molecule possesses several ligand atoms suitably disposed for coordination with a metal atom. They can, of course, equally take up protons, which also produces a colour change metal ion indicators are therefore not only pM but also pH indicators. 

This reaction will proceed if the metal indicator complex M-In is less stable than the metal-EDTA complex M EDTA. The former dissociates to a limited extent, and during the titration the free metal ions are progressively complexed by the EDTA until ultimately the metal is displaced from the complex M-In to leave the free indicator (In). The stability of the metal-indicator complex may be expressed in terms of the formation constant (or indicator constant) Ku ... 

In a similar manner, in a solution containing the species Hg2+, HgY2-, MY,n 4)+ and M"+, where Y is the complexing agent EDTA and M"+ is a metallic ion which forms complexes with it, the concentration of the mercury ion is controlled by the stability constants of the complex ions MYhigh stability constant), and the concentration of the metal ions M"+. Hence, a mercury electrode placed in this solution will acquire a potential which is determined by the concentration of the ion M"+. 

Discussion. The indicator electrode employed is a mercury-mercury(II)-EDTA complex electrode. A mercury electrode in contact with a solution containing metal ions M"+ (to be titrated) and a small added quantity of a mercury(II)-EDTA complex HgY2- (EDTA = Na2H2 Y) exhibits a potential corresponding to the half-cell ... 

Complexation reactions EDTA DME Many metallic ions cf. Chapter 10... 

Dosages of EDTA are delivered as the calcium disodium salt, Na2[Ca(EDTA)]. The calcium complex prevents EDTA from extracting iron from the blood. Unlike iron, heavy metal ions such as preferentially... 

Madden TH, AK Datye, M Fulton, MR Prairie, SA Majumdar, BM Stange (1997) Oxidation of metal-EDTA complexes by TiOj photocatalysis. Environ Sci Technol 31 3475-3481. 

The transport of EDTA into a bacterial strain capable of its degradation has been examined (Witschel et al. 1997). Inhibition was observed with DCCD (ATPase inhibitor), nigericin (dissipates ApH), but not valinomycin (dissipates Av /), and was dependent on the stability constant of metal-EDTA complexes. 

The photolytic reduction of N2 at TiO -suspensions was at first reported by Schrauzer et al. Small amounts of NH3 and N2H4 were obtained as products. The highest activity was found with anatase containing 20-30 % rutile. Very low yields were also obtained with p-GaP electrodes under illumination It is much easier to produce NH3 from NO -solutions at CdS- and Ti02-particles using S -ions as hole scavengers . Efficiencies are not reported yet. Recently the formation of NH3 from NO was observed at p-GaAs electrodes under illumination. In this case NH3-formation was only found in the presence of transition metal ions or their complex with EDTA. 

TABLE 9.1 Formation Constants for Complexes of EDTA with Metal Cations at 25°C... 

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