A new kinetic method for the determination of magnesium and its application to natural waters

A kinetic method is described for the determination of trace amounts of magnesium in the presence of calcium. The procedure is based on the inhibition of the manganese(II) catalyzed aerial oxidation of 1,4-dihydroxyphthalimide dithiosemicarbazone reaction by

2. Effect of Transition Metals^a

Transition metal	Concentration (M)	Percentage inhibition	Mg(II) found (×l05M)
Fe(II)	3.6.10?5	54.1	4.62
Fe(III)	3.6.10?5	47.8	4.48
Co(II)	3.4.10?5	50.0	4.53
Ni(II)	3.4.10?5	50.0	4.53
Cu(II)	3.1.10?5	52.0	4.56
Zn(II)	3.0.10?5	54.1	4.62
Cd(II)	1.7.10?5	52.0	4.56
Hg(II)	9.9.10?6	45.8	4.44
Sn(II)	2.1.10?6	50.0	4.52
Pb(II)	1.2.10?6	54.1	4.62

a

Conditions: 4.53.10^?5M Mg(II), 35 ng Mn ml^?1, 0.429 M ammonia, 1.6.10^?4M OH-PDT.

3. Determination of Magnesium in Natural Waters

			Mg(II) found (M)b
Natural water	Ca(II) presenta		Atomic absorption
sample	M	Kinetic absorption	method
Commercial	3.45 · 10?4	1.65 · 10?3	1.74 · 10?3
Commercial	5.46 · 10?4	1.57 · 10?4	1.81 · 10?4
Untreated	6.13 · 10?4	2.16 · 10?4	2.40 · 10?4
Treated	4.95 · 10?4	1.93 · 10?4	2.17 · 10?4

a

EDTA titration less the magnesium.

b

Average of three separate determinations. traces of magnesium(II). The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the rate of change in absorbance at 594 nm. The calibration graph (percentage inhibition vs magnesium concentration) is linear in the range 329–535 · 10^?5M with an accuracy and precision of 1.2%. The method has been applied to the determination of magnesium in natural waters at low concentrations.