Titrimetric determination of gold by precipitation with hydroquinone

A rapid method for the volumetric determination of gold is described. Gold(III) is reduced to metal with excess of hydroquinone at room temperature and the excess is titrated with ceric sulphate. The effect of chloride ion on the reducibility of gold(III) to the metal is discussed. This method can be successfully employed for the determination of gold in presence of certain base and noble metals. The method was successfully adopted for the determination of gold in a commercial sample.