Thermodynamics of Metal Cation Coordination: From Fundamental Equilibria to Biological and Environmental Systems
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 150
Special Issue Editors
Interests: solution equilibria; complexation; metal-sequestration
Interests: solution equilibria; complexation; metal-sequestration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Thermodynamics plays a central role in the understanding and rational design of coordination compounds, influencing the stability, reactivity, and function of metal cations in a wide range of chemical systems. This Special Issue, “Thermodynamics of Metal Cation Coordination: From Fundamental Equilibria to Biological and Environmental Systems”, aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the thermodynamic characterization of metal cation–ligand interactions, with particular emphasis on coordination and complexation equilibria in solution. Contributions addressing experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to determine thermodynamic parameters—such as stability constants, enthalpy, entropy, and free energy changes—are especially welcome. Research will focus on coordination equilibria involving metal cations of different charge, size, and electronic configurations, especially in complex real-world scenarios where multiple metal species and ligands coexist and compete. In this context, this Special Issue aims to bridge fundamental thermodynamic studies of metal ion coordination chemistry with applications in biological and environmental systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, metal cation speciation in biological fluids, metalloprotein model systems, drug–metal interactions, metal ion transport and bioavailability, and the thermodynamics of coordination compounds involving metal cations in environmental processes such as metal cycling, pollution, and remediation. By bringing together contributions from diverse subfields, this Special Issue aims to highlight how thermodynamic insights into metal cation coordination and complexation can support a deeper molecular-level understanding of both biological function and environmental behavior. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and fostering the exchange of ideas within this Special Issue.
Dr. Clemente Bretti
Dr. Rosita Cappai
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Publisher’s Notice
The Special Issue has been removed from Section Physical Chemistry on 3 March 2026. At the time of the move, there were no publications in this Special Issue.
Keywords
- chemical speciation
- metal cations
- thermodynamic
- stability constants
- complexes
- solution equilibria
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
