The stoichiometry and stability of copper(II), zinc(II), iron(II)/ (III) and gallium(III) complexes of salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (STSC, H 2 L) have been determined by pH potentiometry, UV/Vis spectrophotometry, and 1 H NMR and EPR spectroscopy in aqueous solution (with 30 % DMSO), together with the characterization of the proton dissociation processes. Mono-and bis-ligand complexes in different protonation states were identified for Fe II , Fe III and Ga III , whereas Cu II and Zn II ions only form complexes with a 1:1 metal/ligand ratio. The coordination mode in the complex [a]