Counterion binding by poly(styrenesulfonate)

Binding isotherms of poly(styrenesulfonate) with hydrogen and selected alkali ions have been determined by dialysis equilibrium and dye spectroscopy, employing Pb²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ as the competing divalent ions. The observed degrees of counterion binding, Θ_z, defined as the number of bound counterfoils of valence z per poly ion site-group, agree quite well with those predicted by Manning's two variable theory. The binding preference follows the order Cs⁺ > Rb⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺ > H⁺ >Li⁺, indicating that the binding process is of a territorial nature. Independently performed light scattering measurements show that a plot of the radius of gyration, >S _z>, against the actual polyion charge gives a sigmoidal curve. This result is taken to indicate that (1) a polyion is, in general, not completely neutralized in the Θ-state and that (2) a polyion may be not fully stretched when the polyion charge density is largest.