Determination of sulfite by reaction with mercury(I) chloride and spectrophotometric measurement of mercury(II) complexes

Sulfite ion was determined in the 0.4 to 12-ppm range by reaction with insoluble mercury(I) chloride to form the soluble Hg(SO₃)₂^staggered2? ion and elemental mercury. The uv absorption of the sulfite complex or an anion species, HgX₄^staggered2?, formed on adding an excess of KBr, KCl, KI, or KSCN is measured. The mercury(II) in solution can also be determined by lowering the pH, adding KCl, and forming the crystal violet adduct of the HgCl₃^staggered? ion. This adduct is extracted into benzene and the absorbance measured at 605 nm.