Polarography of neodymium, samarium, ytterbium and europium in acetonitrile

Abstract

Europium, samarium, and ytterbium can be determined in rare-earth mixtures by polarography in specially purified solutions on the perchlorates. The polarographic waves correspond to the reduction of the tripositive ions to dipositive species. Water and traces of acid interfere but their effect can be made negligible by adding an excess of non-reducible rare earths. The half-wave potential of the Sm(II) - (O) polarogram in acetonitrile was found to be −1.55 V vs. the aqueous S.C.E.