SULPHINIC ACIDS AS ANALYTICAL REAGENTS
The "specific" action of sulphinic acids with metal ions is not limited to compounds in which there is direct attachment of the —SO2H group to an aromatic ring. Since both aliphatic and aromatic sulphinic acids react similarly the assumption that an aromatic group is necessarily co-ordinated to the metal atom through its π system is not valid; the precipitated products are simple salts of the acids. Ferric iron yields at least two products with sulphinic acids. Ceric cerium is reduced in acid solution but an orange-yellow precipitate containing cerium is obtained from acetate-buffered solutions. Naphthalenesulphinic acid may be used to quantitatively precipitate [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text].[Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]