Theoretical Considerations and Equilibrium Conditions in Analytical Potentiometry. Computer Facilitated Mathematical Analysis of Equilibria in a Multicomponent System
A method entitled "analytical potentiometry" is described which permits the accurate determination of the stability constants and of the distribution of simultaneously existing complex species in multi-component systems. A series of computer programs are introduced to facilitate the otherwise tedious mathematical analysis of data. Besides simple binary systems, this method is capable of dealing with mixed ligand coordination complexes and can be adapted to polynuclear systems. For many metal ions, there are no electrodes permitting the accurate determination of those ions over a wide enough concentration range. This method eliminates the need for metal ion specific electrodes. The concentration of free metal ions is determined indirectly by the use of a weak base and the glass electrode. These features bear great significance in resolving complex systems containing multiple species simultaneously which cannot be solved by the commonly known classical methods.