Divalent metal–acetate complexes in concentrated aqueous solutions. An x-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy study

Abstract
Divalent metal–acetate solutions have been investigated by the x‐ray scattering technique and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The aim of this work was to study the complex formation between the divalent metals and a typical organic complexing ligand in concentrated aqueous solutions. The correlation functions and the analysis of the structure functions agree with the literature information that the species present in solution are Me(H2O)2+6 , Me(H2O)6−z(CH3COO)2+−zz , and Me(H2O)6−2z(CH3COO)2+−zz . Good agreement with experimental data is achieved through a model in which the acetate ions are bonded as a monodentate ligand to the Mg, Co, Mn, and Zn cations and as a bidentate to the Cd cation. The cations also possess a second coordination shell of water molecules. Some indications have been obtained supporting the presence of hydration water around the acetate anions.