Iron redox potentials

The diagram gives regions of existence, i.e. for a particular combination of pH and redox potential it can be predicted whether it is thennodynamically favourable for iron to be inert (stable) (region A), to actively dissolve (region B) or to fonn an oxide layer (region C). 

The data in Tables 4.2 and 4.3 refer to ions in aqueous acid solution for cations, this means effectively [MlHjO), ]" species. However, we have already seen that the hydrated cations of elements such as aluminium or iron undergo hydrolysis when the pH is increased (p. 46). We may then assume (correctly), that the redox potential of the system... 

For solvent extraction of a tetravalent vanadium oxyvanadium cation, the leach solution is acidified to ca pH 1.6—2.0 by addition of sulfuric acid, and the redox potential is adjusted to —250 mV by heating and reaction with iron powder. Vanadium is extracted from the blue solution in ca six countercurrent mixer—settler stages by a kerosene solution of 5—6 wt % di-2-ethyIhexyl phosphoric acid (EHPA) and 3 wt % tributyl phosphate (TBP). The organic solvent is stripped by a 15 wt % sulfuric acid solution. The rich strip Hquor containing ca 50—65 g V20 /L is oxidized batchwise initially at pH 0.3 by addition of sodium chlorate then it is heated to 70°C and agitated during the addition of NH to raise the pH to 0.6. Vanadium pentoxide of 98—99% grade precipitates, is removed by filtration, and then is fused and flaked. 

J-M Mouesca, JL Chen, F Noodleman, D Bashford, DA Case. Density functional/Poisson-Boltzmann calculations of redox potentials for iron-sulfur clusters. J Am Chem Soc 116 11898-11914, 1994. 

PJ Stephens, DR Jollie, A Warshel. Protein control of redox potentials of iron-sulfur proteins. Chem Rev 96 2491-2513, 1996. 

PD Swartz, T Ichiye. Protein contributions to redox potentials of iron-sulfur proteins An energy minimization study. Biophys J 73 2733-2741, 1997. 

PD Swartz, BW Beck, T Ichiye. Stiaictural origins of redox potential m iron-sulfur proteins Electrostatic potentials of crystal structures. Biophys 1 71 2958-2969, 1996. 

R Langen, GM Jensen, U Jacob, PJ Stephens, A Warshel. Protein control of iron-sulfur cluster redox potentials. J Biol Chem 267 25625-25627, 1992. 

Variamine blue (C.I. 37255). The end point in an EDTA titration may sometimes be detected by changes in redox potential, and hence by the use of appropriate redox indicators. An excellent example is variamine blue (4-methoxy-4 -aminodiphenylamine), which may be employed in the complexometric titration of iron(III). When a mixture of iron(II) and (III) is titrated with EDTA the latter disappears first. As soon as an amount of the complexing agent equivalent to the concentration of iron(III) has been added, pFe(III) increases abruptly and consequently there is a sudden decrease in the redox potential (compare Section 2.33) the end point can therefore be detected either potentiometrically or with a redox indicator (10.91). The stability constant of the iron(III) complex FeY- (EDTA = Na2H2Y) is about 1025 and that of the iron(II) complex FeY2 - is 1014 approximate calculations show that the change of redox potential is about 600 millivolts at pH = 2 and that this will be almost independent of the concentration of iron(II) present. The jump in redox potential will also be obtained if no iron(II) salt is actually added, since the extremely minute amount of iron(II) necessary is always present in any pure iron(III) salt. 

The visual detection of the sharp change in redox potential in the titration of an iron(III) salt with EDTA is readily made with variamine blue as indicator. 

The standard redox potential is 1.14 volts the formal potential is 1.06 volts in 1M hydrochloric acid solution. The colour change, however, occurs at about 1.12 volts, because the colour of the reduced form (deep red) is so much more intense than that of the oxidised form (pale blue). The indicator is of great value in the titration of iron(II) salts and other substances with cerium(IV) sulphate solutions. It is prepared by dissolving 1,10-phenanthroline hydrate (relative molecular mass= 198.1) in the calculated quantity of 0.02M acid-free iron(II) sulphate, and is therefore l,10-phenanthroline-iron(II) complex sulphate (known as ferroin). One drop is usually sufficient in a titration this is equivalent to less than 0.01 mL of 0.05 M oxidising agent, and hence the indicator blank is negligible at this or higher concentrations. 

It has been shown (Section 10.89) that the potential at the equivalence point is the mean of the two standard redox potentials. In Fig. 10.14, the curve shows the variation of the potential during the titration of 0.1 M iron(II) ion with... 

Similar effects are observed in the iron complexes of Eqs. (9.13) and (9.14). The charge on the negatively charged ligands dominates the redox potential, and we observe stabilization of the iron(iii) state. The complexes are high-spin in both the oxidation states. The importance of the low-spin configuration (as in our discussion of the cobalt complexes) is seen with the complex ions [Fe(CN)6] and [Fe(CN)6] (Fq. 9.15), both of which are low-spin. 

In addition to effects on the concentration of anions, the redox potential can affect the oxidation state and solubility of the metal ion directly. The most important examples of this are the dissolution of iron and manganese under reducing conditions. The oxidized forms of these elements (Fe(III) and Mn(IV)) form very insoluble oxides and hydroxides, while the reduced forms (Fe(II) and Mn(II)) are orders of magnitude more soluble (in the absence of S( — II)). The oxidation or reduction of the metals, which can occur fairly rapidly at oxic-anoxic interfaces, has an important "domino" effect on the distribution of many other metals in the system due to the importance of iron and manganese oxides in adsorption reactions. In an interesting example of this, it has been suggested that arsenate accumulates in the upper, oxidized layers of some sediments by diffusion of As(III), Fe(II), and Mn(II) from the deeper, reduced zones. In the aerobic zone, the cations are oxidized by oxygen, and precipitate. The solids can then oxidize, as As(III) to As(V), which is subsequently immobilized by sorption onto other Fe or Mn oxyhydroxide particles (Takamatsu et al, 1985). 

Although the redox potential of Rieske-type clusters is approximately 400 mV lower than that of Rieske clusters, it is 300 mV more positive than the redox potential of plant-type ferredoxins (approximately -400 mV). Multiple factors have been considered to be essential for the redox potential of iron sulfur proteins ... 

The Rieske protein II (SoxF) from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, which is part, not of a bci or b f complex, but of the SoxM oxidase complex 18), could be expressed in E. coli, both in a full-length form containing the membrane anchor and in truncated water-soluble forms 111). In contrast to the results reported for the Rieske protein from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, the Rieske cluster was more efficiently inserted into the truncated soluble forms of the protein. Incorporation of the cluster was increased threefold when the E. coli cells were subject to a heat shock (42°C for 30 min) before induction of the expression of the Rieske protein, indicating that chaperonins facilitate the correct folding of the soluble form of SoxF. The iron content of the purified soluble SoxF variant was calculated as 1.5 mol Fe/mol protein the cluster showed g values very close to those observed in the SoxM complex and a redox potential of E° = +375 mV 111). 

The midpoint redox potentials were estimated to be +230 mV (pH = 8.6) or +281 mV (pH = 7.0) for the Rd-like centers, and +339 and +246 mV (pH = 7.0) for the diiron-oxo center 38, 43). This is a surprising observation, since the normal redox potential of Rd centers is about 0 mV. All spectroscopic evidence points to the fact that the monomeric iron centers present in Rr are virtually identical to the ones found in Rd. Hence, it is reasonable to assume that the first coordination sphere of these centers cannot be held responsible for the 250 mV difference in the midpoint redox potentials. 

Electrochemical studies performed in the 7 x Cys-Aspl4 D. afri-canus Fdlll indicate that the reduced [3Fe-4S] center can react rapidly with Fe to form a [4Fe-4S] core that must include noncysteinyl coordination (101). The carboxylate side chain of Asp 14 was proposed as the most likely candidate, since this amino acid occupies the cysteine position in the typical sequence of a 8Fe protein as indicated before. The novel [4Fe-4S] cluster with mixed S and O coordination has a midpoint redox potential of 400 mV (88). This novel coordinated state with an oxygen coordination to the iron-sulfur core is a plausible model for a [4Fe-4S] core showing unusual spin states present in complex proteins (113, 114). 

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