Reagentless system for sulphite determination based on polyaniline

A new reagentless system for sulphite (or sulphur dioxide) determination is reported based on the use of an organic conducting polymer, polyaniline, and its absorbance variation at 550 nm, depending on the sulphite concentration. After chemical polymerisation of aniline a very thin film of polyaniline is obtained. Although the response is not fully reversible, each film can be used for at least 10 measurements for low analyte concentrations (up to 0.5 mg l⁻¹) and five measurements for higher sulphite concentrations. Moreover, the reproducibility, ease of preparation and low cost of the films, permit the use of a new disposable system for each measurement. When the change in absorbance at 550 nm was measured for 210 s (stabilisation time), the system showed a linear response, which ranged from 0.025 to 1.50 mg l⁻¹ of sulphite. A theory with regard to the reaction mechanism between the polyaniline films and sulphite is also proposed. The system was applied to sulphite determination in wine samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by the Official Method of Analysis (iodometric titration).     

Chlorination of α-sulfonyl carbanions with hexachloroethane: A novel preparation of α-halosulfones

The cyclic sulfones1,2, and3 are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium. Lithiation is demonstrated to lead to α-mono, α,α′-di and/or α,α-di and α,α,α′ trimetallation. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE). Some mechanistic aspects of the reaction of the lithiosulfones with vicinal dihalides are discussed.     

On the thin cell method in time domain spectroscopy

A simple physical picture is given of Fellner-Feldegg's thin cell method in time domain spectroscopy. From this picture an accurate analytical relation is derived for the total reflection coefficient.     

A low-cost non instrumental method for semiquantitative determination of mercury in fish

A non instrumental method for the semiquantitative determination of mercury in fish is described. The sample is acid digested and the mercury vapor released after chemical reduction with SnCl2. The mercury vapor is then collected on a detecting paper covered with an emulsion of Cu2I2, 3% carboxymethylcellulose and MgCl2 as moistener agent. The colored Cu2[HgI4] complex is formed and the color intensity is proportional to the mercury concentration in the original sample. Parameters such as sample mass/digestion solution volume ratio, emulsion composition, paper covering technique, carrier gas flow were investigated. Comparative studies using CVAAS and digital color analysis after scanning the papers confirmed the applicability of the method to real samples.     

The Interaction of Walsh-Orbitols in Diademane and Related Hydrocarbons

To obtain further information concerning the interaction between Walsh-orbitols of ‘conjugated’ cyclopropane rings, the photoelectron spectra of the following compounds have been recorded: bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane 1 , cis- and trans-tricyclo[5.1.0^{3, 5}]octane 2, 3 , diademane 4 , trans-pentacyclo[3.3.2.0^{2, 9}.0^{4, 10}, 0^{6, 8}]decan 5 and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptene-2 6 . The first bands in the PE.-spectra of these compounds have been assigned on the basis of a ZDO HMO-approximation. For 2 and 4 the value for resonance integral between linked 2p atomic orbitals of two adjacent eclipsed cyclopropane rings is found to be ?1.73 eV.     

Micro-determination of potassium with EDTA

Summary A micro-determination method for potassium with EDTA is described. The perchlorate precipitate is reduced to chloride by heating the perchlorate with ammonium chloride, and the chloride is precipitated as silver chloride. This precipitate is dissolved in an ammoniacal solution of potassium tetracyanonickelate. By dissolution, two atoms of silver (or chlorine) displace one of nickel. The freed nickel is titrated with, EDTA and potassium is thus determined indirectly. The method is much more rapid than the classical gravimetric procedure, and the results are satisfactory.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Mikromethode zur Bestimmung von Kalium mit ÄDTA wird beschrieben. Der Perchloratniederschlag wird durch Erhitzen mit Ammoniumchlorid reduziert und das Chlorid mit Silber gefällt. Dieser Niederschlag wird in einer ammoniakalischen Lösung von Kaliumtetracyanonickelat aufgelöst, wobei zwei Atome Silber ein Atom Nickel verdrängen. Das freigesetzte Nickel wird mit ÄDTA titriert und so das Kalium indirekt bestimmt. Das Verfahren ist rascher als die klassische gravimetrische Methode. Seine Resultate sind befriedigend.

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Résumé On décrit une méthode de microdosage du potassium par l'EDTA. En chauffant le perchlorate avec du chlorure d'ammonium, on réduit le précipité de perchlorate en chlorure que l'on précipite à l'état de chlorure d'argent. On dissout ce précipité dans une solution ammoniacale de nickel-II tétracyanure de potassium. La mise en solution s'accompagne du déplacement d'un atome de nickel par deux atomes d'argent. On titre le nickel libéré par l'EDTA et l'on dose ainsi le potassium indirectement. La méthode est beaucoup plus rapide que le procédé gravimétrique habituel et les résultats sont satisfaisants.

     

The crystal structure of eudesma-4(15),7(11)-dien-8α, 12-olide: a sesquiterpene lactone fromTrattinickia rhoifolia Willd

The title compound, formula C₁₅H₂₀O₂, is orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁ witha=8.747(2),b=12.025(3),c=12.554(3)Å,Z=4, andD _m =1.32(2)g/ml. The structural analysis shows that the compound corresponds to eudesma-4(15),7(11)-dien-8,12-olide, a sesquiterpene lactone previously isolated fromAster umbellatus but whose crystal structure was unknown.     

Ground-state energy of a quantum chain with competing interactions

We show rigorously that the ground state of a quantum chain with competing ferromagnetic nearest and antiferromagnetic next nearest interactions undergoes a transition from ferromagnetic to helical type, in the isotropic case, for a certain value of the relevant ratio of coupling constants. Boundaries of the phase diagram are also determined in the anisotropic case. The stability of a special quantum state (corresponding to a classical modulated phase of =/3) is analyzed by an extension of Holstein-Primakoff arguments, along a line of constant ratio of couplings, showing in particular a sequence of (instability) gaps. Finally, a natural adaptation of a variational wave function due to Huse and Elser is used to study several portions of the phase diagram, with very good agreement with previous theoretical results.     

Vibrational Population of Hydrogen Molecules Excited by an RF Discharge in an Expanding Thermal Arc Plasma as Determined by Emission Spectroscopy

This work is devoted to the determination of the vibrational population of hydrogen molecules in the ground and excited electronic states from the analysis of visible spectra of the H₂ molecules excited by an RF discharge in an expanding thermal arc plasma. Comparison of the experimental results on relative electron-impact excitation cross sections for the transition H₂(X¹Σ, υ⁰ = 0)→ H₂(d³II_u, υ′) with other experiments, and with calculations based on the Franck-Condon principle, shows good agreement. This means, that for plasma under investigation: 1) in the ground electronic state H₂(d³II_u,υ′), only the lowest vibrational level with υ⁰ = 0 is significantly populated, and 2) direct electron exictation of H₂(d³II_u, υ′, υ′) state from the ground state H₂(X¹Σ, υ⁰ = 0) dominates.