Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of molybdenum (VI) based on catalytic reduction of safranine by hydrazine dihydrochloride

Summary A simple and rapid kinetic method for the determination of traces of molybdenum (0.1–4.0 g/ml) based on its catalytic effect on the reduction of safranine by hydrazine dihydrochloride is reported. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decreasing absorbance of safranine at 520 nm by the fixed time method. The method is sensitive, precise and free from interferences from many anions and cations. The experimental limit of detection is 100 ng/ml and the relative standard deviation for 1.0 g/ml Mo(VI) is 1.56%. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of molybdenum in a steel alloy.