Relationships Between some Dissociation Constants

Abstract

IN these Laboratories the fungistatic properties of ethylenic and acetylenic compounds have been studied recently¹. Our results indicated that biological activity was connected with the presence of substituents that attract electrons strongly, and led us to a consideration of the dissociation constants of compounds which donate protons (that is, acids as defined in the broadest sense), since these constants form a basis for a comparison of the affinity for electrons of radicals and groups. During the course of this work, relationships were found between certain dissociation constants, which constants are conveniently expressed as Î"F (= â RT.log_eK)² for the reaction RH + R^â + H⁺ taking place in dilute aqueous solution at 25° C. Although the relationships summarized below are of general application, space here does not permit them to be illustrated by long lists of examples, and so, as far as possible, only the values of Î"F (calories) for the seven acids, H₃PO₄ (I) + 2,900; H₂PO₄^â (II) + 9,800; HPO₄^ââ (III) + 16,900; H₂SO₃ (IV) + 2,400³; HSO₃^â (V) + 9,800³; HSO₄^â (VI) + 2,300 and HOCl (VII) + 10,100^4,5, have been used in this discussion differ by 7 kgm. cal. Compare (I) and (II); (II) and (III); and (IV) and (V).