DETERMINATION OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF SILVER IN GALENA ORES

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Abstract
An analytical method is described for the determination of microgram amounts of silver in galena ores, based on the "reversion" of silver dithizonate. Silver is separated from relatively large amounts of lead by extraction as dithizonate into chloroform from an aqueous 1:99 nitric acid solution. Separation from mercury, which is also extracted under these conditions and would, if present, interfere in the analysis, is achieved by reverting the dithizonate solution with a 5% aqueous sodium chloride solution which is also 0.015 molar in hydrochloric acid. Following dilution of this aqueous solution and adjustment of pH, silver is again extracted into chloroform as the dithizonate, and determined absorptiometrically. Analyses of a number of galena ore samples showed a precision of within 3% for a silver content ranging from 0.03 to 0.4%.Some other methods for isolating silver from these samples, which were tried but found unsatisfactory, are discussed.