Use of nitrosochromotropic acid as a metal indicator

Summary Nitrosochromotropic acid and copper give a purple coloured complex in the pH range 5.8–6.5, which is less stable than Cu(II)-EDTA complex. When milligramme quantities of copper solution containing few drops of nitrosochromotropic acid were titrated with EDTA the colour changes to light green or colourless. Copper can be titrated from 15–30° C, but at higher temperature low results are obtained due to dissociation of copper complex. Alkaline earths do not interfere in the titration of copper, but zinc, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, aluminium and iron(III) interfere. The interference of aluminium and iron(III) is masked by sodium fluoride. Microtitration can be carried out using nitrosochromotropic acid screened with xylene cyanol FF as metal indicator.