A study of some problems in determining the stoicheiometric proton dissociation constants of complexes by potentiometric titrations using a glass electrode

Possible errors in the measurement of acid dissociation constants by potentiometric titration techniques have been considered, with particular references to nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Unknown junction potentials can arise when pH measurements are carried out using a glass electrode with saturated calomel reference electrode which have been previously calibrated with a standard buffer solution. The magnitude of the influence of these unknown potentials has been demonstrated and an experimental procedure recommended which gives meaningful results.The precision of calculated acid dissociation constants will also be influenced by the presence of cationic species (e.g. H₄L⁴), the total acid strength, the absolute values of the constants and the value accepted for the auto-dissociation constant of water (K_w). All these factors have been considered quantitatively and their effect on metal complex formation constants, calculated from these acid dissociation constants, noted. The proton dissociation constant of the cationic species of NTA (i.e. H₄L⁺) has been found to have the value of pK₀=0.80 at 20° and μ=0.10 M.