Potentiometric determination of mercury(II) with dithiooxamide

Abstract

Potentiometric titration with dithiooxamide can be used to determine mercury in the 0·10 to 40·0 p.p.m. range (0·01 mg to 4·00 mg per 100 ml) with a relative standard deviation ranging from 1·50 to 0·26 per cent. and an accuracy of about 0·3 per cent. A silver indicator electrode is used. Several interferences were investigated and found to have little effect. Among these were cadmium, zinc, nickel, iron, lead and cobalt. The interferences of silver and copper in the determination were also investigated and are discussed. Two simple fast modifications to the procedure are suggested when determining mercury in the presence of either silver or copper. The advantages of this method over other methods are outlined.