Zinc inorganic speciation

For zinc and the first transition series metals manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel, the free hydrated divalent cation form dominates the dissolved inorganic speciation. The trivalent metal cations Al +, Ga +, Tl +, Fe " ", and Bi + are strongly hydrolyzed (i.e., they form strong complexes with... 

In natural waters, dissolved zinc speciates into the toxic aquo ion [Zn(H20)6]2+, other dissolved chemical species, and various inorganic and organic complexes zinc complexes are readily transported. Aquo ions and other toxic species are most harmful to aquatic life under conditions of low pH, low alkalinity, low dissolved oxygen, and elevated temperatures. Most of the zinc introduced into aquatic environments is eventually partitioned into the sediments. Zinc bioavailability from sediments is enhanced under conditions of high dissolved oxygen, low salinity, low pH, and high levels of inorganic oxides and humic substances. 

If copper interactions were minimized in real seawater, abundant metals of lesser sulfide affinity would take up some of the slack. ITiis is partially evident from analyses of the type in Table III. For example, nickel has mixed layer concentrations on the order of nanomolar (22), and its sulfide equilibria and inorganic seawater speciations may resemble those of zinc (lv-19.31.32). Titration, however, should only lower free sulfide to a Table m SH equivalence point, or, to roughly picomolar. In a follow up to 1Z, Dyrssen and coworkers treat Cu(II) as a variable parameter, and find that in its absence, nickel, zinc and lead can all become sulfides while the bisulfide ion still hovers well above pM (18). Again, it must be emphasized that error margins in the various equilibria remain to be investigated. 

The transformation of zinc compounds can occur as a result of changes in chemical speciation, such as the formation of zinc oxide in the atmosphere, the hydrolysis of hydrated zinc cations, or the oxidation/reduction of organic and inorganic zinc complexes. 

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