Cerimetry

Cerimetry or cerimetric titration, also known as cerate oximetry, is a method of volumetric chemical analysis developed by Ion Atanasiu. It is a redox titration in which a Fe²⁺-1,10-phenanthroline complex (ferroin) color change indicates the end point. Ferroin can be reversibly discolored in its oxidized form upon titration with a Ce⁴⁺ solution. The use of cerium(IV) salts as reagents for volumetric analysis was first proposed in the middle of 19th century, but systematic studies did not start until about 70 years later. Standard solutions can be prepared from different Ce⁴⁺ salts, but often cerium sulfate is chosen.

Since cerimetry is linked to the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox pair, it can be used for analyses of nonstoichiometric levels that either oxidize Fe²⁺ or reduce Fe³⁺. For the case of oxidation, a precise excess of high-purity crystalline Mohr’s salt is added upon the oxide digestion in aqueous hydrogen chloride (HCl), while for the case of reduction, an excess of 1 M iron trichloride (FeCl₃) is added. In the both cases, this is Fe²⁺ ions which will be titrated subsequently. Because the Ce⁴⁺ solution is prone to hydrolysis, the titration is done in a strongly HCl-acidic solution into which some phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) is added to obtain a less colored phosphato complex of Fe³⁺.

According to tabulated values of standard potentials at pH = 0 for the first-row transition metals, any nonstoichiometry below the following oxidation states will reduce 1 M FeCl₃ solution whereas any nonstoichiometry above them will oxidize the Mohr’s salt: Ti⁴⁺, V⁴⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺. In addition, any nonstoichiometry in the Fe(III)–Fe(II) range is titrated directly with no additives, any nonstoichiometry below Fe²⁺ will reduce 1 M FeCl₃ whereas any nonstoichiometry above Fe³⁺ will oxidize Mohr’s salt. In the second- and third-row transition metals, only the early elements would be suitable for the titration, and the limiting oxidation states are Zr⁴⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Mo⁴⁺, Hf⁴⁺, Ta⁵⁺, and W⁶⁺. Standard potentials involving rhenium ions are too close to E° for Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ as well as to each other. Nonstoichiometry of oxides containing several elements in oxidation states suitable for cerimetry is determined in one titration.

See also

• Iodometry
• Redox titration
• Nonstoichiometry
• Redox indicator
• Oxidizing agent
• Reducing agent