Inner sphere, entropy mechanism

Thus, the inner and the outer sphere electron-transfer mechanisms cannot be distinguished on the basis of kinetic laws. Activation enthalpies of electron transfer are lower for the outer-sphere electron transfers than for the inner-sphere electron transfers. Both mechanisms have, in principle, negative entropies of activation. These general data show that it is not easy to distinguish between these two mechanisms. 

Relaxation of complicated ligands may occur as a step in both pathways. Diebler and Eigen 461 indicated the ways in which such mechanisms could be analysed using fast reaction methods. Several studies of Ln(III) complex formation and of the formation of Ln(III) mixed complexes have been analysed. Generally the dissociative mechanism is considered to dominate and we are then concerned with the water exchange rate. Several studies have shown that the rate decreases from La(III) to Lu(III) but there seems to be a minimum rate around Tm(III). This is also seen in the rate of rotation of ligands on the surface of the ions, Fig. 7. There may be a small crystal field term, or another contribution to a tetrad -like effect from the 4f electron core. However in the hydrate the precise relationship between the inner and outer sphere water may also be important as we saw when we discussed the heat and entropy of complex ion formation. 

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