Microdetermination of fluorine in organic compounds containing phosphorus and in hexafluorophosphates

A method for the microdetermination of fluorine in organic compounds containing phosphorus is described. After combustion in a Vycor flask, the species containing phosphorus are oxidized to orthophosphate with alkaline hypobromite. Phosphate is adsorbed on zinc oxide which need not be removed prior to titration of the fluoride. Fluoride is titrated potentiometrically with 0.02M lanthanum(III) in 50% ethanol solution at pH 5–7. A fluoride ion-specific indicator electrode and a calomel reference electrode are used in conjunction with an expanded-scale pH meter to monitor the emf. This method can also be used for the determination of total fluorine in inorganic hexafluorophosphates. For the more stable compounds such as potassium hexafluorophosphate, a combustion aid (paraffin) must be added to promote combustion.