Scandium(III) reacts with aurintricarboxylic acid (ATCA) in strongly basic media to yied pink coloured 1 : ! and # : ! chelates. These complexes are sparingly soluble in water but readily soluble in < 25 % (v/v) ethanol, giving maximum absorbances at 533 nm. Beer`s law is obeyed over the concentration range 0.22 – 4.50 ppm. The scandium(III) complexes formed with ATCA have molar absorptivity of 3.8 x 104 L mol-1 cm-1 at their absorption maxima and Sandell sensitivity is 2.5 ng/cm2 at pH 10. The effect of diverse ions on the determination of scandium with ATCA is also investigated.
Egypt J. Anal. Chem., 4, 77-82 .