The Sulfuric Acid Solvent System: An Investigation of Solutions of Selenium and Tellurium and Some Compounds of Related Elements

Abstract

<p> The nature of the coloured solutions of selenium and tellurium in sulfuric acid has been investigated using mainly cryoscopic, conductimetric, and spectrophotometric techniques. Evidence has been obtained for the new species Se₈²⁺ and Se₄²⁺ in the green and yellow solutions of selenium respectively. Evidence on red solutions of tellurium seems consistent with the formulation Te₄²⁺. Solid compounds analysing as Se₄S₄O₁₃, Se₄(HS₂O₇)₂ and TeO(HS₂O₇)₂ have been prepared and characterised. </p> <P> Solutions of some selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) compounds have been examined. It is shown that a number of phosphates and arsenates ionise in sulfuric acid to give the P(OH)₄⁺ and As(OH)₄⁺ ions respectively. Ammonium metavanadate and vanadium pentoxide ionise to give the complex acid H[VO(HSO₄)₄]. Potassium chromate and dichromate ionise to give the compound CrO₂(HSO₄)₂ and potassium permanganate ionises to give the non-electrolyte MnO₃∙SO₄H. </p>