Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of gallium with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol

A sensitive and selective spectrophotometric determination of gallium is described. It is based on extraction of gallium from 3 M hydrochloric acid solution as a chloro-complex into 1,2-dichlorobenzene and exchange of the chloro ligand with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR); the final association complex of Ga—PAR with tetraphenylarsonium ions is measured in the organic phase. The absorption maximum occurs at 510 nm and the effective molar absorptivity is (8.2 ±0.3) ·1O⁴ l mol^-1cm^-1. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0.2–2 p.p.m. of gallium. Few ions interfere.