Deuterium isotope effects on the ionization of the lower carboxylic acids in water and deuterium oxide

Abstract

To facilitate the interpretation of isotope effects on the ionization of weak acids in water and deuterium oxide, a comparison of these quantities with that for a standard acid is proposed. Therefore, a quantity Kr has been defined by the equation Kr = (kH/kD)/(kH′/KD′). The equilibrium constants KH and KD refer to the ionization constants in water and deuterium oxide respectively. The equilibrium constant KX′(X = H, D) refers to the acid used as a reference. An equation is derived from which it may be concluded, that for a series of acids closely similar in geometry and force field around the acidic group, a value of Kr close to unity should be obtained. To test this prediction the values of KH/KD for a series of n-alkanoic acids (N = 3–6) are compared experimentally with the value of KH/KD of acetic acid (25 °C). An emf method has been used in these measurements (quinhydrone electrode). In agreement with the theory a value for Kr close to unity has been observed.