Hydroxo sulfate complexes of iron (III) in solution.

The ternary Fe (III)-OH(-)-SO4(2-) complexes have been investigated at 25 degrees C in 3 M NaClO4 by potentiometric titration with glass electrode. The metal and sulfate concentrations ranged from 2.5 x 10(-3) to 0.03 M and from 5.10(-3) to 0.060 M, respectively. [H+] was decreased from 0.05 M to incipient precipitation of basic sulfate which occured at log[H+] between -2.3 and -2.5 depending on the concentration of the metal. For the interpretation of the data stability constants of HSO4(-), of binary hydroxo complexes (FeOH2+, Fe(OH)2+, Fe2(OH)2(4+), Fe3(OH)4(5+), Fe3(OH)5(4+)) and of sulfate complexes (FeSO4+, FeHSO4(2+), Fe(SO4)2-) were assumed from independent sources. The data are consistent with the presence of FeOHSO4, log beta 1-11 = -0.49 +/- 0.03. Equilibrium constants are defined as beta pqr for pFe3+ +qH+ +rSO4(2-) [symbol: see text] FepHq(SO4)r3p+q-2r. No substantial better fit could be found by adding a second mixed complex. Only a slightly smaller agreement factor resulted introducing as minor ternary complex Fe3(OH)6(SO4)3(3-) with log beta 3-63 = -5.8 +/- 0.5. Its evidence, however, cannot be considered conclusive.