The cyanide titration method, which permits the volumetric estimation of nickel with speed and accuracy, depends upon the fact that nickel ions react with KCN in slightly ammoniacal solution, to form a complex anion Ni(CN)
4−− with AgI as an indicator,
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In the volumetric estimation of Ni by cyanide method, the author found that the amount of ammonia to be added and that of AgI due to the addition of AgNO
3 in the solution are of vital importance to ensure the successful titration. In studying the cyanide titration, the author get following conclusions:
(1) In the case of comparatively small addition of AgNO
3, i.e. small amount of AgI which serves as an indicator, great excess of ammonia should be avoided strictly, for in the reaction
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the excess of ammonia hinders the above reaction: it results in attaining, to high concentration of KCN which reacts with AgI before the nickel ammonium ions are quantitatively titrated with KCN. It gives, therefore, incorrect results.
(2) In the presence of considerable amount of AgI in the solution due to the addition of about 5 cc of AgNO
3, the excess ammonia does no harm, for the reaction seems to proceed in the different way, thus,
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The reaction seems to proceed effectively, since one of the products goes away from the equilibrium, i.e. AgNO
3 reacts with KI to form insoluble AgI as is shown by the formula, provided that the solution contains some amount of KI.
(3) AgI serves, therefore, not only as an indicator, but also plays an important rôle in carrying out the titration in the presence of excess ammonia.
(4) The safe plan to perform the titration proposed by the author consists in adding considerable amount of AgNO
3 to the solution previous to the titration with KCN. The recommended practice is as follows: neutralize nitric acid solution of Ni with ammonia, methyl orange as an indicator. Add 10 cc of 10% KI solution, followed by the addition of 5 cc of standard AgNO
3 solution (5 g/L). The solution is then titrated with standard KCN solution and proceeded as usual. If, by chance, some excess of ammonia is happened to be added in process of neutralization, it does no harm in the presence of considerable amount of AgI as is already explained.
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