Ionic Specificity in pH Regulated Charged Interfaces: Fe[superscript 3+]versus La[superscript 3+]
We determine the distribution of two trivalent ions Fe{sup 3+} and La{sup 3+} next to two different amphiphilic charged interfaces as ions or complexes, consisting of the phosphate lipid dihexadecyl phosphate (DHDP) and the fatty acid arachidic acid (AA). These amphiphiles provide a wide range of pK{sub a} values, from 2.1 (DHDP) to 5.1 (AA), thus allowing manipulation of the surface charge over extremely low pH (pH {approx}1 or larger), and the two ions provide two limiting cases of specificity for the amphiphiles. We find that La{sup 3+} distribution is mostly sensitive to the surface charge, whereas the Fe{sup 3+} binding depends on its character in the solution and is highly specific, as indicated by the crucial role played by iron complexes (Fe(OH){sub 3} or Fe(OH){sup 2+}) forming covalent bonds even for an uncharged interface. The implications of the results to other ions and/or amphiphilic interfaces are also discussed.