The uranyl ion in mandelic acid solution has been investigated by polarography. The chelate species formed was found to be UO
2A+ at pH<3.8. The diffusion coefficient of chelate decreases with increasing pH value and the square root of the ionic strength. When pH>5.8, an irreversible and diffusion-controlled wave was obtained due to the hydroxylation of the chelate species. The kinetic parameters of the electrode reduction were found to be that K
s is in the order of 10
-4 cm/sec and α is 0.32±0.01.
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