Abstract
WHILE investigating the decomposition of parathion (O,O-diethyl-O-p-nitrophenylphosphorothionate) I was able to confirm the findings of Ketelaar1 on the specific action of Cu2+-ions in catalysing the hydrolysis leading to p-nitrophenol. Other metal ions are ineffective, and the catalytic action of copper can be suppressed by various chelating agents2. The experiments were carried out at room temperature in a barbiturate milieu at pH 8.0 and lasted for more than four weeks. Change in concentration of parathion with a modified polarographic method was followed, and this permitted the estimation of parathion and simultaneously of the p-nitrophenol formed. In certain instances however, in solutions not containing the catalyst, a significant decrease of the polarographic wave of parathion was observed though the corresponding appearance of p-nitrophenol was not detected. Although in publications dealing with the degradation of parathion4 there is no allusion to the possibility of a spontaneous reduction, I have shown it to be induced by light.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Ketelaar, J. A. A., Nature, 177, 392 (1956).
Sándi, E., Paper read at the 22nd Meeting of the Hungarian Physiological Society, Debrecen, July 1956 (in the press).
Josepovits, G., and G.-Privitzer, K., Magy. Kém. F., 59, 161 (1953).
Gar, K. A., Melnikov, N. N., and Mandelbaum, J. A., Dokl., 94, 729 (1954). Payton, J., Nature, 171, 355 (1953).
Averell, P. R., and Norris, M. V., Anal. Chem., 20, 753 (1948). Clifford, P. A., J. Assoc. Agric. Chem., 34, 533 (1951).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SÁNDI, E. Reduction of Parathion induced by Light. Nature 181, 499 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/181499a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/181499a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.