Evaluation of quantitative ESR spectra of first row transition metal ions bound to iorrexchange resins reveals characteristics of a sensitive, measurable ESR signal. The Tanabe-Sugano theory, which qualltatlvely predicts spin relaxation times, facilitates the selection of an lon/ligand comblnation for each d electron configuration. Sensitive combinations of metal ion/ligand/resin for ESR measurements are limited by solution variables and further restricted by additional factors Including nuclear splitting, magnetlc anisotropy and spln-spin interaction. A systematic variation of F e ( I I 1 ) and Co(I1) ligand combinations is reported.The electron spin resonance (ESR) signal intensity is extremely dependent on local paramagnetic ion matrix effects ( I ) . If the spin environment is controlled carefully, the resonance signal intensity is linear with spin concentration (2). We have become interested in quantitative measurements of transition metal complex ions exchanged from aqueous solution onto ion-exchange resins (3). The ESR signal is strengthened by transfer to a low-dielectric, solid state and this is advantageous for analytical purposes. Both solution conditions (pH, ligand, oxidation state of ion) and resin type (strong or weak acid exchanger, polymeric resin backbone) must be considered when selecting conditions to obtain an intense ESR signal for a particular ion. Relaxation time effects and nuclear spinspin splitting are controlled by the particular ion/ligand combination chosen and influence the ESR signal (I,$). Relaxation effects may be reflected by an excessively broadened signal. Nuclear spin-spin splitting gives rise to a multiplet signal, where the intensity of a given line is only a fraction of the total intensity. Nuclear spin-spin splitting also increases the minimum detectable number of spins. Effects which result from the use of a solid matrix include magnetic anisotropy (1, 4 ) which decreases signal intensity and alters peak shape and spin-spin interaction which can cause a decrease in signal intensity ( I , 4 ) .Guilbault and Meisel (5) in an early study of the effect of diverse substances on the ESR spectra of aqueous Mn2+ solutions found that the effects of anions such as C1-, F-, Br-, C2H302-, and SCN-(weak to medium field ligands) are independent of the concentration of Mn2+ and generally insignificant. On the other hand, strong field ligands such as citrate, oxalate, CN-, tartrate, EDTA, and ethylenediamine cause a decrease in the ESR signal when ligand concentrations are equal to or greater than l / m the concentration of Mn(I1).If these ligands are present in concentrations equal to or greater than the concentration of Mn(II), the resulting complexes exhibit no ESR signal.Therefore, the ligand field surrounding a paramagnetic transition metal ion can profoundly affect the ESR signal shape and intensity. Perturbation theory has been applied 'Present address, to the spin Hamiltonian ( 4 ) and detailed predictions are available on the relative energies of the spin-orbit coupling and the...