The transfer of Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ across H2O/nitrobenzene interface facilitated by 10 H2O soluble and 2 H2O insoluble crown ethers was studied. The possible mechanism of the electrolysis reactions in different systems were: (1) the transfer of metal ion followed by a complexation in the nitrobenzene phase, (2) the simple transfer of complex ion formed in the H2O phase, (3) the transfer of metal ion preceding with a complexation in the H2O phase or followed by a complexation in the nitrobenzene phase resp., (4) the process mixed up with several charge transfer reactions, and the irreversible charge transfer reactions. Thermodn. data were estimated from the voltammograms.

Key words: MAGNESIUM, ALKALINE EARTH METAL, WATER, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, CROWN ETHER COMPOUNDS, SURFACE CHEMISTRY, NITROBENZENE, THERMODYNAMIC FUNCTION, IONIC MOBILITY