Macromolecular metal complexes intermolecular

In a soluble macromolecular complex, there may be 10-20 units of the chain for every metal ion, i.e. the majority of the polymer units do not participate in complexation, apparently for steric reasons as well as the above-mentioned polymer effects. With a great excess of metal ions the macrocomplex is precipitated accompanied by a small additional binding of the metal. In these cases intermolecular cross-linking of polymer coils by metal ions probably occurs (see below). 

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