Spectrophotometric determination of silicate in natural waters by formation of α-molybdosilicic acid and reduction with a tin(IV)-ascorbic acid-oxalic acid mixture

Reaction of dissolved silicate with molybdate at pH 3.8–4.8 in acetate buffer yields only the α-molybdosilicic acid. Treatment of this acid with a solution containing tin(IV) chloride, ascorbic acid and oxalic acid rapidly gives the blue reduced acid without reducing the excess of molybdate reagent. In the recommended procedure, Beer's Law is followed at 740 nm over the range 0–2000 μg Si l^-1 with a coefficient of variation of 0.34% at 400 μg Si l^-1 and 0.52% at 40 μg Si l^-1. The sensitivity of the method is not affected by ionic strength.