Iron chloride complexes, formation constants

The pale blue tris(2,2 -bipyridine)iron(3+) ion [18661-69-3] [Fe(bipy)2], can be obtained by oxidation of [Fe(bipy)2]. It cannot be prepared directiy from iron(III) salts. Addition of 2,2 -bipyridine to aqueous iron(III) chloride solutions precipitates the doubly hydroxy-bridged species [(bipy)2Fe(. t-OH)2Fe(bipy)2]Cl4 [74930-87-3]. [Fe(bipy)2] has an absorption maximum at 610 nm, an absorptivity of 330 (Mem), and a formation constant of 10. In mildly acidic to alkaline aqueous solutions the ion is reduced to the iron(II) complex. [Fe(bipy)2] is frequentiy used in studies of electron-transfer mechanisms. The triperchlorate salt [15388-50-8] is isolated most commonly. 

The application of standard electrode potential data to many systems of interest in analytical chemistry is further complicated by association, dissociation, complex formation, and solvolysis equilibria involving the species that appear in the Nemst equation. These phenomena can be taken into account only if their existence is known and appropriate equilibrium constants are available. More often than not, neither of these requirements is met and significant discrepancies arise as a consequence. For example, the presence of 1 M hydrochloric acid in the iron(Il)/iron(llI) mixture we have just discussed leads to a measured potential of + 0.70 V in 1 M sulfuric acid, a potential of -I- 0.68 V is observed and in 2 M phosphoric acid, the potential is + 0.46 V. In each of these cases, the iron(II)/iron(III) activity ratio is larger because the complexes of iron(III) with chloride, sulfate, and phosphate ions are more stable than those of iron(II) thus, the ratio of the species concentrations, [Fe ]/[Fe ], in the Nemst equation is greater than unity and the measured potential is less than the standard potential. If fomnation constants for these complexes were available, it would be possible to make appropriate corrections. Unfortunately, such data are often not available, or, if they are, they are not very reliable. 

FORMATION CONSTANTS OF IRON HYDROXIDE AND CHLORIDE COMPLEXES... 

When solutions of iron(III) chloride in nitrobenzene are mixed with pyridine, the line pair characteristic of the iron(III)-pyridine complex appears the intensity of the line pair increases with increase in the pyridine concentration, whereas the intensity of the line pair observed in pure nitrobenzene decreases proportionally. After computer resolution of the spectra, a knowledge of the ratios of the intensities of the lines and the total iron(III) and pyridine concentrations of the solutions permits calculation of the composition and formation equilibrium constant of the complex. In contrast with the early work of Weinland [We 22], assuming a composition [Fe2Cl2py8], these calculations pointed to the composition... 

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