The aqueous chemistry of tellurium: critically-selected equilibrium constants for the low-molecular-weight inorganic species
Montserrat Filella
A C and Peter M. May B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 66, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
B Chemistry, School of Engineering and Information Technology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: montserrat.filella@unige.ch
Environmental Chemistry 16(4) 289-295 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN19017
Submitted: 17 January 2019 Accepted: 13 March 2019 Published: 29 April 2019
Environmental context. Equilibrium constants are required in many scientific disciplines such as biology, medicine, engineering, and in particular chemistry. Lack of reliable equilibrium constants for tellurium has restricted our understanding of its speciation and behaviour in the environment. This study presents a reliable set of equilibrium constants for tellurium, thereby providing a more coherent basis for future experimental investigations of the geochemistry, biochemistry and toxicology of this element.
Abstract. Relatively little information is available in the literature regarding the speciation and solubility of tellurium in aqueous solutions. The available thermodynamic data have been critically evaluated and entered into a thermodynamic database. The Joint Expert Speciation System suite of computer programs has been used to achieve thermodynamic consistency and provide a critically-selected set of equilibrium constants that can later be used for modelling purposes.
Additional keywords: tellurium speciation, thermodynamic constants.
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