Determination of the composition and the stability constants of complexes of mercury (II) with amino acids

The execution of a titration rarely performed, or of one with a reagent of limited stability, may be facilitated by applying multiparametric curve-fitting to titration-curve data in such a way that the amount of the substance titrated and the concentration of the reagent are evaluated simultaneously; the necessity for prior standardization of the reagent is thereby eliminated. In the potentiometric titration of acetate ion, a very weak base, with unstandardized hydrochloric acid, the accuracy and precision of the concentration of acetate thus obtained are approximately five times better than those which can be secured by titration with standardized acid and location of the point of maximum slope. The accuracy and precision of the concentration of acid are comparable to those that can be secured in very careful standardizations against a primary standard that gives a titration curve of far more favorable shape.