Cerate oxidimetry: oxidation of formic, glycolic, malic, malonic and tartaric acids

Abstract

1. Contrary to the observations of earlier workers, it has been shown that formic acid can be quantitatively oxidixed by ceric sulphate in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid. 2. Tartaric, malonic, malic and glycolic acids can also be oxidized completely to carbon dioxide and water by the following general procedure : to a known amount of the organic acid is added ceric sulphate (excess) solution in dilute sulphuric acid and the mixed solution refluxed for ten to fifteen minutes. Concentrated sulphuric acid (double the volume of the reaction mixture) is then added taking care that formic acid is not lost during the addition, and the mixture again refluxed for 45 to 50 minutes. The excess ceric sulphate is determined by titrating against ferrous ammonium sulphate. 3. The complete oxidation of the above acids provides satisfactory methods for their quantitative estimation.