Titration of antimony(III) with cerium(IV) sulphate and diphenylamine and its derivatives as reversible indicators

Diphenylamine, barium diphenylamine sulphonate, N-phenylanthranilic acid and 2-nitrodiphenylamine have been investigated as reversible indicators for the titration of antimony(III) with cerium(IV) sulphate in 0.5–2 M sulphuric acid medium. Diphenylamine is the most satisfactory in titrations of antimony(III) in chloride-free solutions, e.g. of potassium antimonyl tartrate. Even low chloride concentrations affect the indicator action of N-phenyl-anthranilic acid or 2-nitrodiphenylamine, but diphenylamine is satisfactory in 1 M hydrochloric acid media. Iodine catalyst is necessary to accelerate the reduction of the oxidized indicator by antimony(III). The indicator colour change is vivid and the colour of the oxidized indicator is stable. Titrations of antimony(III) in mixtures with iron(II) and arsenic(III) are also considered.