Investigation of the tetracarbonatozirconate ion by electrospray mass spectrometry in aqueous media

Reported here is the study of zirconium (IV) aqueous solutions in carbonate media by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI–MS). Spectra analysis lead to consider the existence in the spray of the initial pseudomolecular labile species [Zr(CO3)4(HCO3)]5−, xH+, (6−x) K+ (or Na+). The existence of this species confirms the associative exchange mechanism of carbonate ions with [Zr(CO3)4]4− ion.