Raman spectra of aqueous solutions of strong electrolytes: evolving-factor analysis

Abstract

Ion association in aqueous solutions of varied concentrations of LiNO3, Mg(NO3)2, Co(NO3)2, Li2SO4 and MgSO4 was studied by means of Raman spectrometry assisted by principal-components (PCA) and evolving-factor (EFA) analyses. Formation of one Raman-active associated species, {M···L(R)} (M=Li+, Mg2+, Co2+; L=NO3−, SO42−), was detected at higher salt concentrations (≳2 mol dm−3 for LiNO3, ≳1 mol dm−3 for Co(NO3)2, ≳0.2 mol dm−3 for Li2SO4, ≳0.5 mol dm−3 for MgSO4). Spectral profiles of L(aq) and {M···L(R)} species were computed by means of EFA, as well as their equilibrium concentrations in each solution. Maximum fractions of anions engaged in {M···L(R)} species amounted (at highest salt concentrations) to ≈0.6 (LiNO3), ≈0.4 (Co(NO3)2), ≈0.60 (Li2SO4) and ≈0.3 (MgSO4). Since, for a given salt concentration, the eqilibrium concentration of Raman-active species, [M···L(R)], was always lower than the concentration of analogous UV-active species, [M···L(UV)] (reported in a previous paper) it is suggested that {M···L(UV)} could be a precursor of {M···L(R)}. In all instances, apparent stability constants of {M···L(R)} species, falling into the range of (0.01≲K1/dm3 mol−1≲1), have a progressively upward trend with increasing salt concentration.