The reactions of the heteropoly acids (HPAs) H3PM12O40 and H4SiM12O40 (M =
Mo, V) in aqueous solutions with NL(II), Mg(TT), Co(II), Cu(n), Zn(II), Mn(
II), Ca(II), Cd(II), La(III), and Ce(III) carbonates were studied by IR and
P-31 NMR spectroscopy. The major reaction products are the complexes [(PM1
1O39)(2)Me](11)-and [(SiM11O39)(2)Me](12-) for La and Ce carbonates (Me is
the metal ion from the carbonate) and [PM11MeO39](5)-and [SiM11MeO39](6-) f
or the other carbonates; the Me ions also function as the salt-forming cati
ons.