In the extraction of thorium from radioactive wastes, three stepwise complexation reactions with oxalate anion yield the overall reaction: (C2O42- is oxalate anion)
Th4+ + 3 C2O42- → Th(C2O4)32- Kf , overall = 2.51 x 1026
Calculate the maximum amount of thorium ion that could be present in a waste water, if it is made 0.1500 M in oxalate ion. Assume the oxalate is present in stoichiometric amount, compared to the thorium.