Determination of the precise composition of the triple sodium uranyl acetates of magnesium, zinc and nickel, and some observations on the use of the first two compounds for the determination of sodium.
Three triple sodium uranyl acetates NaM(UO(2))(3)(CH(3) COO)(9) . nH(2)O in which the bivalent metals M were magnesium, zinc and nickel, have been precipitated and the air-dried compounds analysed for uranium by a highly precise method. Despite contrary claims it has been established that the compounds are precise hexahydrates the maximum deviation of n from 6 in any one analysis being 0.1. The precipitation of sodium as the magnesium or zinc compound gives results which depend on the excess of the reagents, and positive errors can be obtained. It is also concluded that, contrary to the usual belief, the magnesium compound is rather less soluble than the zinc one and is therefore somewhat more sensitive for sodium determination.
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Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, U.K.A.E.A., Aldermaston, Berkshire, U.K.