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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Hydrolysis of (CH3)Hg+ in Different Ionic Media:  Salt Effects and Complex Formation

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The hydrolysis of monomethylmercury(II) was studied potentiometrically, in NaNO3, Na2SO4, and NaCl aqueous solution, in a wide range of ionic strengths (NaNO3, 0 ≤ I ≤ 3.25; Na2SO4, 0 ≤ I ≤ 1; NaCl, 0 ≤ I ≤ 3 mol dm-3) and at t = 25 °C. For the reaction (CH3)Hg+ = (CH3)Hg(OH)° + H+, we found log K1 = −4.528 (I = 0 mol dm-3). The species [(CH3)Hg]2(OH)+ was also found, with log β2 = −2.15. Monomethylmercury(II) forms quite strong complexes with Cl- (log K = 5.45, I = 0 mol dm-3) and SO42- (log K = 2.64, I = 0 mol dm-3). The dependence on ionic strength of formation constants was considered by using a Debye−Huckel type equation. Hydrolysis and complex formation constants (at different ionic strengths) obtained were used to calculate the interaction parameters of Pitzer equations.