A Study of the Effect of Various Anions on the Exchange Reaction Between Zinc Metal and Zinc Ion

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine what effect if any the concentration of various anions have on the exchange reaction between zinc metal and zinc ions. A search of the literature was done to gain information on the existence of zinc chloride complexes since the formation of these complexes was postulated to be an important factor in any effects on the exchange that might be observed. It was found that the predominant complex appears to be [ZnCl(4)(H20)2]2-. The study of the effects of anions on the zinc metal zinc ion exchange was done in two parts. In the first part the effects of 1 M solutions of ZnCl(2), NaCl, NaBr, NaClO(4), and NaNO(3) were studied using Zn(65) as a tracer in the exchange reaction. It appeared that NaCl enhanced the rate, NaBr had little effect on the rate, and ZnCl(2), NaClO(4), and NaNO(3) retarded the rate of exchange. In the second part the effect of various concentrations of chloride were studied again using Zn(65) as a tracer. It was found that maximum exchange occurs at a concentration around 0.1 M NaCl.