The reactions of triethylenetetramine with protons and with bivalent Zn, Cd, and Pb have been studied in aqueous solution and in 50% (v/v) aqueous 1,4-dioxane, 25"C, I = 0.10 M KNO,. log K (potentiometric) and AH (calorimetric) data are interpreted in terms of electrostatic effects and solvation effects operative in the two solvents. Introduction the less structured solvent DMSO made important The stabilities of metal complexes are determined by an interplay of many factors including metal ion size and electronic configuration, ligand basicity and ring size, and donor atom orbital energies. The distinctive patterns of affinity which class A and class B metal ions have for different types of donor atoms relate to the factors which enhance either ionic or covalent (o and n) bond formation, and to the contribution which metal ion and ligand solvation