Stability Constants: Determination and Uses Peter Gans Published by Protonic Software, Leeds, 2004. £99, €149, $189

This CD is intended for researchers and teachers who are interested in the chemistry of stability constants. It represents a new approach to the publication of a text in chemistry. All topics are linked and cross-referenced with a table of contents and an index. In addition there are links and access to a wide variety of Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Power Point presentations, tutorials, some powerful computer programs and a database of stability constants.

Summary of contents

• Introduction: overview, definitions (stepwise and overall constants, micro constants, conditional constants, solubility products, pH, pK_a, pK_b pK_w), pK_w tabulations, introduction to experimental techniques
• Theoretical: thermodynamics (temperature change, ionic medium, activity coefficients, Gibbs free energy), weak acids and bases, buffer solutions, hydrolysis of cations, oxyanion protonation, titration simulations, speciation, chelate and macrocyclic effects, selectivity
• Experimental: potentiometric (glass electrode, calibration, ion-selective electrodes, amalgam electrodes), spectrophotometric (absorption spectra, factor analysis), NMR. Other experimental methods for obtaining experimental data. The system Fe-tiron to illustrate potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods
• Computational: data collection, model definition, log beta estimation, use of computer programs (not included on the CD, Hyperquad, HypSpec, HypNMR), spreadsheet calculations, weighting schemes, interpretation of results
• Miscellaneous: authors, bibliography, guidelines for publishing, useful links
• Index: links to topics
• Answers to exercises: individual answers are linked with the originating exercise

Special features

• Topics are presented in a hierarchical manner with increasing levels of difficulty - there is nothing in small print
• Cross-references are in the form of links which allow the reader to jump directly from one topic to another and back
• Each topic is provided with navigation bars to chapters, parent topics and child topics
• All the diagrams are available as GIF files. Diagrams are in colour as the norm.
• Examples are provided with the source spreadsheet or other program so that the reader can reproduce the calculations
• Background program gives instant access to additional resources
• Exercises (some with answers) are provided for all the main topics. Most exercises illustrate points of practical interest

Additional resources

• Mini-database: a sub-set of the IUPAC SC-database; selected data for all metals and ligands
• HySS: a computer program for speciation calculations, with 20+ sets of sample data relevant to the CD. Relates mainly to solution equilibria but can include solids and/or a second fluid phase
• GLEE: a computer program to assist with electrode calibration
• SIT: a computer program to convert molarity/molality, calculate activity coefficients, correct stability constants for change of medium. Uses Specific ion Interction Theory
• Titration simulators for acid/base and metal/ligand titrations
• Tutorials: 10 tutorials selected from SOLEQ
• Spreadsheets: 20 spreadsheets are included, illustrating a variety of calculations
• Bibliography

Ordering information

Order by e-mail to peter.gans@hyperquad.co.uk or to Protonic Software, 2 Templegate Avenue, Leeds LS15 0HD, UK, +44 0113 390 9934 (fax +44 0870 762 0269). The price includes postage and packing. Please note that Protonic Software is not registered for VAT. Payment may be made by cheque, bank transfer or credit card . CD and payment details will be supplied on receipt of order.

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