Complexation of aluminium, yttrium, lanthanum and lanthanides with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (par).

The sensitive reactions between 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and yttrium, lanthanum and the lanthanides can be used for the spectrophotometric determination of these elements. The method has no advantage over other methods for the determination of aluminium and lanthanum. Only M(PAR)H and M(PAR) complexes are formed in solutions where the molarity of the metal ion is greater than or nearly equal to the molarity of the ligand at pH < 7-5. If there is molar excess of PAR, 1:2 complexes may be formed but this is certain only for the yttrium-PAR system. Errors in analysis may result from the simultaneous occurrence of optically different complexes; close control of pH and reagent concentration is essential. Optical and equilibrium data are given for the systems investigated.