Coulometric determination of chromium

This paper describes an accurate and precise method for the determination of chromium by coulometry at controlled potential. A solution of the sample in 6M hydrochloric acid is electrolyzed at a large stirred mercury cathode whose potential is maintained constant at —1.10 V vs. S.C.E. ;this reduces the chromium quantitatively to the +2 state. Copper, lead, and a number of other elements are next eliminated by simply discarding the mercury and replacing it with fresh mercury ;then uranium is re-oxidized to non-interfering uranium(IV) by a second controlled-potential electrolysis at —0.80 V vs. S.C.E.; and finally the solution is electrolyzed at a working electrode potential of —0.40 V vs. S.C.E. This serves to re-oxidize the chromium quantitatively to the +3 state, and the analysis consists of measuring the quantity of electricity consumed in this oxidation.Of the elements commonly associated with chromium, only vanadium (and, when it is present in large amounts, molybdenum) interfere in this procedure.