Thermodynamic Data for Sn(IV) Species in Aqueous Solution: A Matter of Controversy and Error

Abstract

Critically assessed data regarding Sn(IV) dioxides and hydroxy complexes have recently been challenged. Differences as large as nine orders of magnitude occur in certain of the published solubility products and other equilibrium constants, despite supposedly being derived from the same ‘reliable’ measurements. We show how these differing conclusions depend on the assignments of uncertainty in the respective experimental observations and that the divergence is due to error propagation in identifiable thermodynamic analyses. The use of Sn4+ as a ‘basis’/‘master’ species in thermodynamic modelling is deprecated. Automatic methods which enable the necessary calculations to be properly evaluated, as well as easily repeated, help uncover such mistakes. The results from the comprehensive NEA review are substantially confirmed.