Abstract
THE reaction of bismuth salts with certain organic thio-compounds, for example, thiourea and dimercaptothiodiazole, to form coloured complexes of the metal is a well-known analytical procedure. Other workers (cf. Naiman1) have reported on the detection of bismuth with a mixture of 2-methyl-benzothiazole and potassium iodide, which results in the formation of a coloured complex iodide. However, the use of such a reaction for the detection of iodides does not appear to have been reported, probably on the basis of specificity. In certain work on the colorimetric detection of mercaptoimidazoles, I found2 that the yellow metallic complex, formed by the interaction of bismuth sulphate (acid) and l-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole, reacted with iodide ions to form an intensely coloured complex iodide. Since the reaction has been found to be specific for iodides, the use of such a reagent for their detection is suggested.
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References
Naiman, B., J. Chem. Educ., 14, 484 (1937).
McAllister, R. A., J. Pharm. and Pharmacol. (in the press).
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McALLISTER, R. Suggested Use of a Bismuth Mercaptoimidazole Compound as a Specific Colour Reagent for Iodides. Nature 169, 708 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169708a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/169708a0
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