Polarographic Behaviour of Acetone

Abstract

IN supporting electrolytes generally used in polarography, for example, in solutions of potassium, lithium or ammonium salts or lithium hydroxide or in buffer solutions, no polarographic reduction wave of acetone can be observed. Only if electrolytes of tetra-alkylammonium are used can a reduction wave at a half-wave potential of about −2.1 V. (from saturated calomel electrode) be obtained^1,2. After conversion of acetone to its hydrazone or phenyl-hydrazone, two reduction steps are obtained³, but none is suitable for analytical purposes; moreover, the height of these waves is not a linear function of concentration. Thus acetone is polarographically determined in an indirect way in acid sulphite solution, with which it reacts as other ketones and lowers the acid sulphite wave⁴.