Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of ruthenium and osmium with thiobenzhydrazide

Ruthenium forms a pink complex with thiobenzhydrazide in hot 1.0-4.5M hydrochloric acid medium, which can be extracted with chloroform, and the extract shows maximal absorbance at 520 nm. The chloroform-extractable osmium-thiobenzhydrazide complex formed at pH 2.3-4.8 shows maximal absorption at 385 nm as well as at 480-490 nm. The colour of the extracts of both the complexes is stable for more than 24 hr and can be employed for the spectrophotometry of ruthenium and osmium in the presence of a considerable excess of diverse ions commonly associated with them. Ruthenium and osmium can be quantitatively separated from one another with thiobenzhydrazide.