Determination of phosphite,hypophosphite, tellurium and mercury

A new catalytic oxidation procedure, involving the use of a cerium(IV) sulfate reagent in perchloric acid with a mixed silver(I)—manganese(II) perchlorate catalyst, has been developed for the determination of phosphite, hypophosphite, and tellurium. By this method 15—100 mg of phosphite, 5—35 mg of hypophosphite, and 10—105 mg of tellurium may be determined with standard deviations of ±0.17, ±0.32, and ±0.21% respectively. A direct titration procedure for mercury(I) is described using a ceric perchlorate solution as titrant with the mixed catalyst system. Samples from 65–510 mg may be analyzed with a standard deviation of ±0.36%.