title: Studies on potentiometric stripping analysis.
abstract: Theoretical and experimental investigations have been made on the method of potentiometric stripping analysis. By solving Fick's second law of diffusion for the metal in the amalgam, it was found that tau = C(0)(R)l/k[Ox], where tau is the elapsed time, l is the thickness of the mercury film, C(0)(R) is the concentration of the metal in the amalgam, [Ox] is the concentration of the oxidant in the solution and k is a constant. Since C(0)(R) is proportional to the concentration of that particular ion in the solution under given pre-electrolysis conditions, the relations given by the equation above can all be verified experimentally. The equation of the potential-time curve and the effect of complex formation on the elapsed time were also investigated and discussed. In the absence of complexation reactions in the solution and with proper control of the concentration of the oxidant, the lowest limit of detection for Pb was found to be 10(-12)M for a 4-min pre-electrolysis, with dissolved oxygen as oxidant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: de Y
authors.initials: de Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wu