Abstract
The 'pervanadium complex' is investigated in a general manner. The kinetics of its thermal decomposition in acid solution are shown to be first order with respect to pervanadium, the apparent activation energy is 26.5 ± 1.0 kcal/mole, and possible mechanisms are suggested. The effect of various acids upon the nature of the decomposition products is determined: almost quantitative yields of vanadium (V) or vanadium (IV) are obtained in very dilute or concentrated acid, respectively. Spectrophotometric studies indicate that in acid solution two separate complexes exist: a red (1:1) cationic complex and a yellow (1:2) anionic complex. The stoichiometry of the equilibrium between the two complexes in solutions of sulphuric acid is investigated by a method of 'discrete variations'. The equilibrium could be described by[Formula: see text]where Kr/y = 2.2 ± 0.2 at 22 °C. The anion is shown to play an important part in determining the nature of the pervanadium complex.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: