Activity corrections for ionic equilibria in aqueous solutions

Abstract

Activity corrections for ionic equilibria in aqueous solutions at 25 °C and ionic strengths up to 0.5 have been investigated. An empirical formula for activity corrections was generated by statistically fitting stability constant data for approximately 540 complexes, for which both thermodynamic and concentration stability constants were known, to a modified Debye – Hückel relationship. The general formula is[Formula: see text]χ > 0, where Δ log K is the difference in the logarithms of the stability constants at infinite dilution and finite I (I ≤ 0.5), and χ is an even integer dependent only on the stoichiometry and charge of the ions involved. Activity correction formulae for ionic equilibria involving classes of ligands (amino acid, inorganic, amine, and organic acid) also were developed. The general formula predicts stability constant corrections within 0.1 log unit for 87 % of the data used at ionic strength 0.1 and 64 % of the data at ionic strength 0.5. In addition, single ion activity coefficients as a function of ionic strength, 0 < I ≤ 0.5, are presented.