Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: duende on April 30, 2014, 11:00:23 AM
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Hi everybody,
I'm a student of Biology. I'd like to ask you something. I grew my microalgae in a culture medium containing - among other things - Na2EDTA 8.29 µM, Na2EDTA 6.56 µM and ZnSO4 254 nM. How can I calculate the [Zn]
bioavailable and not complexed with EDTA? Are there programs to do that?
Thanks guys!
duende
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You should calculate concentration of EDTA4- from pH, then Zn2+ can be calculated from the stability constant (and known total concentrations of EDTA and Zn). Not a trivial task, but definitely doable.
Na2EDTA 8.29 µM, Na2EDTA 6.56 µM
So which one it is?
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As your Zn2+ is consumed, though, more of the complexed form will shift back to Zn2+. As far as I can see, if you want a reasonable quantitative treatment of this you need to know all the reactions - including some idea of how to model the biological processes you're about to make happen. Otherwise, once "all" your free Zn2+ is consumed, it'll simply be replaced.