Spectrophotometric determination of cobalt with mucic acid

A procedure for the spectrophotometric determination of cobalt with mucic acid is proposed. The absorption spectra, pH, amount of reagent, temperature, and time are studied. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 2.3 and 28.3 μg Co(III)/ml, the Ringbom optimal interval falls between about 9.5 and 25.0 μg Co(III)/ml. The molar absorptivity is 1.4 × 10³ liter/ mol · cm. The stoichiometry of the reaction takes place in the metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:1. The stability constants of the complex are calculated. At the same time, the interferences produced by the commonest ions are studied. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of cobalt in vitamin B₁₂.