Equilibrium and structural studies of silicon(IV) and aluminium(III) in aqueous solution—10. A potentiometric study of aluminium(III) pyrocatecholates and aluminium(III) hydroxo pyrocatecholates in 0.6 M Na(Cl)

Equilibria between aluminium(III), pyrocatechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene, H₂L) and OH⁻ were studied in 0.6 M Na(Cl) medium at 25°C. The measurements were performed as emf titrations (glass electrode) within the limits 1.5 ≤ − log[H⁺] ≤ 9; 0.0005 ≤ B ≤ 0.015 M; 0.006 ≤ C ≤ 0.03 M and 2 ≤ C/B ≤ 30 (B and C stand for the total concentrations of aluminium(III) and pyrocatechol respectively). All data can be explained with a main series of complexes: A1L⁺, log β_−2,1,1 = − 6.337 ± 0.005; A1L₂⁻, log β_−4,1,2 = −15.44 ± 0.017 and A1L₃³⁻, log β_−6,1,3 = − 28.62 ± 0.024 together with two minor species: Al(OH)L₂²⁻, log β_−5,1,2 = − 23.45 ± 0.079 and Al₃(OH)₃L₃, log β_−9,3,3 = − 29.91 ± 0.066. Of the two, the latter probably is a type of average composition complex principally occurring at low C/B quotients. The first acidity constant for pyrocatechol as determined in separate experiments is log β_−1,0,1 = − 9.198 ± 0.001. The standard deviations given are 3σ(log β p,q,r). Data were analyzed with the least squares computer program LETAGROPVRID. In a model calculation using kaolinite as solid phase, we compared the complexation ability of this system with that of the system Al³⁺-OH⁻-salicylic acid, reported earlier in this series.