The experimentally well-known alumina solubility in the range of acidic to neutral cryolite-base melts has been modeled thermodynamically in terms of several oxyfluoride solutes. For an acidic melt, cryolite ratio r ϭ 1.5, the dominant solute is monoxygen Na 2 Al 2 OF 6 . In a less acidic regime, dioxygen Na 2 Al 2 O 2 F 4 is dominant, whereas for neutral compositions (r ϭ 3), Na 4 Al 2 O 2 F 6 starts to gain importance. The fit of the model to the experimental solubility data is virtually perfect. The values of the equilibrium constants for the formation of the individual solutes are reported. The formation and conversion of these oxyfluoride complexes serve as an effective buffer opposing change in the melt basicity.
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