Protonation Equilibria of Carminic Acid and Stability Constants of Its Complexes with Some Divalent Metal Ions in Aqueous Solution

The dissociation constants of carminic acid (7-D-glucopyronosyl-3,5,6,8-tetra- hydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-anthracene-2-carboxylic acid) (CA), together with the stability constants of its Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Hg(II) complexes, were studied potentiometrically in aqueous medium at 25.0?(1)?°C, and at the ionic background of 0.1?mol?dm^?3 of NaCl, and determined with the SUPERQUAD computer program. It has been observed that carminic acid has five dissociation constants, and for H₅L their values are 3.39?(7), 5.78?(7), 8.35?(7), 10.27?(7), and 11.51?(7). This ligand behaves as a bi-dentate ligand, and the carboxyl and the ortho hydroxy groups of the ligand coordinate to the metal ions. Various metal complexes were produced in solution under the experimental conditions, for each metal ion used, including hydrolyzed species. The species distribution curves of the complexes formed in the solution were calculated and reviewed. The stability of the complexes was found to follow the order: Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Hg(II).