Determination of carbonyl compounds via polarography of their semicarbazone derivatives

The polarographic behaviour of a range of aldehyde and ketone semi-carbazones has been studied and a method for the determination of carbonyl compounds developed. The carbonyl compound is added to an acetate buffer containing 0.1 M semicarbazide hydrochloride and 50% ethanol and the polarographic reduction wave of the semicarbazone derivative measured. The similar values of the diffusion current constant I for all compounds studied indicate the applicability of this method to functional group analysis.