Application of competitive reaction systems to catalytic kinetic analysis-determination of phosphate

A technique is described for the determination of catalytically active substances, in which a slow catalysed reaction is coupled to a fast competitive reaction. One reactant, which at the same time serves as the indicator substance, is removed by the slow reaction as well as by the competitor added to the system from outside. Under suitable conditions the time for the complete removal of the indicator substance is dependent only on the rate of the catalysed reaction and consequently on the catalyst concentration. The technique is illustrated by means of the phosphate-catalysed reduction of Mo(VI) by ascorbic acid.