Spectrophotometric Investigation of Iron(III)-N-Phenylcin-namohydroxamic Acid System

Abstract

N-Phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid, PCHA, was found to react with iron (III) to form complex species of different colour depending upon the reaction environment. The reaction conditions for the formation of the complex species were studied in aqueous-ethanolic medium. The general spectral properties of the species were investigated. The absorption curves were found to have two isobestic points. The number and composition of the complexes were determined and found to have composition 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 (Fe: PCHA). The wavelengths of the maximum absorbances were figured out to be 535, 495, and 445 nm for the I, II, and III complex species, respectively. It was verified that the Beer's law holds for these complexes at all wavelengths, and for the mixtures at the wavelengths of the isobestic points in a wide range of pH. The stepwise stability constants have been determined by the method of isobestic point and found to be log K₁ = 11.55, log K₂ = 10.11, and log Kg₃ = 7.44 for the I, II, and III complex species, respectively. The distribution diagrams (nomograms) of the complex species as a function of pH were constructed and the molar extinction coefficients of the three consecutive complexes have also been determined.

Key Words:

• Iron(III) complexes
• isobestic point
• stability constant