EXTENT AND RATE OF SOLUBILIZATION OF TIN BY IODOMETHANE-WATER MIXTURES

The dissolution of tin metal by iodomethane-water mixtures has been st udied and the influence of several parameters on both the extent and r ate of reaction investigated, The rate-determining step shows a pseudo -first-order dependence on iodomethane (CH3I). The reaction is strongl y dependent upon both water and oxygen. The activation energy of only 16 kJ mol(-1) is interpreted in terms of a facile bond-breaking and ma king process at the metal surface, generating methyltin species, Analy sis by hydride generation and GC-AA confirmed the formation of methyla ted species ranging from monomethyl-to tetramethyl-tin; inorganic tin (from hydrolysis) was the major form, however. These findings are simi lar to those made earlier by us on the solubilization of arsenic from GaAs by alkyl halide-water mixtures, and a similar multi-step scheme i s proposed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.