Abstract

2-Acetylpyridine semicarbazone (APS) has been used for the spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in
aqueous medium. APS react with copper(II) in slightly acidic (pH,6.0) medium. The colour reactions between
APS and copper(II) is instantaneous and the absorbance of complex remains constant for over 24h. The
maximum absorbance (
max ), composition, molar absorptivity and sandells sensitivity of Cu-APS complex
respectively are 355 nm, 1:2, 9.8×103 L. mol-1.cm-1 and 0.064μgcm-2 of Cu(II) respectively. The systems obey
Beer’s law for 0.254-5.183 μg/ml of Cu(II). Spectrophotometric data of colour reaction between copper(II) and
2-acetylpyridinethiosemicarbazone(APT)are included for comparison. Large number of cations, anions and
complexing agents (e.g. triethanolamine, thiourea) do not interfere in the determination of APS method. The
method is successfully applied for the determination of copper in biological, leafy vegetable and synthetic alloy
samples.