Stoichiometry, hydroxamate complexes

For hydroxamic acids, it is generally assumed that it is the Af-hydroxyamide/keto form, as opposed to the hydroximic/hydroxyoxime form, that predominates in acid medium, the environment usually required for most precipitates or colors to form . It is in general unknown what is the stoichiometry and structure of most metal hydroxamate complexes in solution. Nevertheless, the reaction of the majority of hydroxamic acids with metal ions can be written schematically as shown in equation 2. 

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