Note 457 — Chapter XII · THE COPPER AND SILVER GROUPS (Continued).—THE THEORY OF COMPLEX IONS

Putting [Cd2+] = y, we have y × (4 y)4 = 0.1E−17, and y = 8E−5. In view of the values of the constants, a small excess of potassium cyanide will have a much smaller suppressing effect on the cadmium-ion than on the cuprous-ion. For the excess [CN−] = 0.01, [Cu+] = 5E−23, [Cd2+] = 10−10 as compared with [Cu+] = 4E−8 in a 0.1 molar solution of the salt K3[Cu(CN)3], and with [Cd2+] = 8E−5 in a 0.1 molar solution of K2Cd(CN)4.