Acid Dissociation Constants and Related Thermodynamic Functions of Protonated 2,2-Bis(Hydroxymethyl)-2,2’,2”- Nitrilotriethanol (BIS-TRIS) from (278.15 to 328.15) K

Abstract

Thermodynamic dissociation constants pKa of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol have been determined at 12 temperatures from (278.15 to 328.15) K including the body temperature 310.15 K by the electromotive-force measurements (emf) of hydrogen-silver chloride cells without liquid junction of the type: Pt(s), H 2 (g), 101.325 kPa|BIS-TRIS (m) + BIS-TRIS·HCl (m)| AgCl(s), Ag(s), where m denotes molality. The pK a values for the dissociation process of BIS-TRIS·H⁺+ H 2 O = H 3 O⁺ + BIS-TRIS given as a function of T in Kelvin (K) by the equation pKa = 921.66 (K/T) + 14.0007-1.86197 ln(T/K). At 298.15 and 310.15 K, the values of pK a for BIS-TRIS were found to be 6.4828 ± 0.0005 and 6.2906 ± 0.0006 respectively. Thus buffer solutions composed of BIS-TRIS and its hydrochloride would be useful as secondary pH buffer standards and for control of acidity in the pH range 6 to 8. At 298.15 K the thermodynamic functions G°, H°, S° and C p ° for the dissociation process of BIS-TRIS·H+ are G°=37,005 J·mol -1 , H° = 28,273 J·mol -1 , S°= 29.3 J·K -1 · mol -1 and C p ° = 36 J·K -1 ·mol -1 . These results are compared with the dissociation of protonated bases structurally related to BIS-TRIS·H⁺.