E–pH Diagrams

Abstract

This volume is intended to employ E–pH diagrams to describe the inorganic solution chemistry of the chemical elements. Such diagrams are very useful in numerous fields of investigation, including electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, geochemistry, environmental chemistry, corrosion chemistry, hydrometallurgy, water chemistry, agricultural chemistry, toxicology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, health physics, and nutrition. It is assumed that the reader is acquainted with the following major topics which are treated in elementary chemistry: stoichiometry, equilibrium, acid–base phenomena, solubility, complexation, elementary thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. In 1923, W. M. Clark and B. Cohen published a paper in which they introduced the idea of plotting the electromotive force as referred to the hydrogen electrode E against the pH for several chemical systems. In 1928, Clark continued to develop this graphical presentation in his text on the determination of pH. The utility of the method was further extended by numerous other investigators such as M. Pourbaix, G. Valensi, G. Charlot, T. P. Hoar, R. M. Garrels, N. de Zoubov, J. Van Muylder, E. Deltombe, C. Vanleugenhaghe, J. Schmets, M. Maraghini, P. Van Rysselberghe, A. Moussard, J. Brenet, F. Jolas, K. Schwabe, J. Besson, W. Kunz, A. L. Pitman, J. N. Butler, P. Delahay, H. Freiser, H. A. Laitinen, L. G. Sillen, P. L. Cloke, and others. In 1963, M. Pourbaix in collaboration with N. de Zoubov published Atlas d’equilibres electrochimiques, a collection of E–pH diagrams for 90 chemical elements. This volume was translated into English in 1966 by J. A. Franklin and published as Atlas of Electrochemical Equilibria in Aqueous Solutions. Subsequently other investigators published computer programs for constructing the diagrams: L. Santoma; B. G. Williams, and W. H. Patrick; P. B. Linkson, B. D. Phillips, and C. D. Rowles; K. Osseo-Asare, A. W. Asihene, T. Xue, and V. S. T. Ciminellie; D. R. Drewes; M. Mao and E. Peters; H-H. Huang and C. A. Young; J. P. Birk and Laura L. Tayer; G. P. Glasby and H. D. Schulz; and Q. Feng, Y. Ma, and Y. Lu.