Linear atomization energy relationships for seven aqueous reactions of metal cations

Abstract

For clarifying the nature of aqueous reactions, it is absolutely important to rationalize various chemical phenomena in water into a simple concept. However, none of the traditional models is suitable for use in simultaneously predicting different kinds of inorganic aqueous reactions. Here we show that the atomization energies of metal cations (AE cation) and metal monoaquo-complexes (AE complex) calculated with a non-local density functional method can supply the governing parameters for characterizing inorganic aqueous chemical reactions of metal cations. This approach, using a novel concept from atomistic viewpoints, incorporates conventional qualitative rationale and first-principles quantitative significance to elucidate seven kinds of chemical reactions that occur in aqueous environments. Deprotonation, precipitation, complexation, solvation, diffusion, adsorption and cation-exchange reaction of mono-, di- and tri-valent metal cations are examined collectively. It is useful to quantitatively comprehend the interdependence of various chemical phenomena and therefore is conducive to find out more unknown but essential correlations among different aqueous reactions.