Stability constants of iron(III) borate complexes

The ultraviolet absorbance data from experiments conducted at constant pH and total iron concentration but variable B(OH)₃ concentration were used to determined the stability constants of FeB(OH) ₄ ²⁺ and FeB(OH)_{4 2} ⁺ at 25°C and an ionic strength of 0.68. The estimates obtained were *₁ = 1.0 ± 0.2 × 10^–2 and *₂ = 2 ± 1 × 10^–5, respectively (uncertainties are two times the standard error of the estimates). A calculation of the extent of iron(III) borate formation in ocean water at pH 8.2 shows that iron(III) borates are not a significantly large component of iron(III) speciation in seawater.