Study of isotope exchange reactions by double labelling

Abstract

This paper presents the method of double labelling in the study of the kinetics of homogeneous isotope exchange reactions. This method was tested by the determination of the Sn(II)−Sn(IV) exchange rate in hydrochloric acid medium. The system was labelled by the tracer^119mSn [initially in the Sn(IV) state]; when the isotope equilibrium was established, Sn(IV) was again labelled by tracer¹¹³Sn. The separation of Sn(II) and Sn(IV) in the given time of exchange was performed by the extraction of Sn(IV)-hydroxyquinolate into chloroform. The specific activities of the separated components were determined from the ratio of¹¹³Sn and^119mSn activities. The exchange rate was calculated from the time dependence of specific activities. The advantage and possibilities of the method of double labelling in the study of isotope exchange are discussed.