THE APPLICATION OF 8-HYDROXYQUINOLINE TO THE ANALYSIS OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS: DETERMINATION OF MAGNESIUM IN THE PRESENCE OF MANGANESE AND NICKEL
The application of the precipitation of magnesium with oxine in tartro–sodic medium to the analysis of aluminium alloys has been studied from the standpoint of possible interference from other constituents of the alloys and especially manganese and nickel. In the presence of manganese in amounts not exceeding 8.0 mgm. per 100 ml. of solution, magnesium can be successfully determined provided sodium chloride is not present. With amounts of sodium chloride exceeding 6 gm. and manganese over 6 mgm. per 100 ml. of solution, a salting-out of manganese oxinate definitely takes place which leads to high results for magnesium. This interference can be eliminated by preventing the formation of appreciable amounts of sodium chloride by evaporating off hydrochloric acid before adjusting the pH for the precipitation of magnesium oxinate. Nickel in amounts exceeding 2.5 mgm. per 100 ml. of solution interferes by co-precipitation of nickel oxinate, which is adsorbed on the magnesium oxinate and finally leads to high values for magnesium. For this reason, nickel must be removed by means of an ammonium sulphide separation for which a short method is described. With these modifications the precipitation of magnesium with oxine in tartro–sodic medium provides a rapid and accurate method of determining this element in aluminium alloys.