Fluorometric study of the magnesium—Bissalicylidene-ethylenediamine aystem

Magnesium ions combine with bissalicylidene-ethylenediamine in slightly alkaline N,N′-dimethylformamide to form a highly fluorescent complex which serves for the determination of trace amounts of magnesium. The yellow complex fluoresces blue when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The chelate shows maximum fluorescence excitation at 355 mμ and has a fluorescence emission maximum at 439 mμ. A complex having a metal to ligand ratio of 1 to 1 is formed. The method is sensitive to 7 × 10⁻⁶μmole of magnesium per ml. The analysis of Bureau of Standards samples with the reagent showed excellent correlation between the fluorometric and spectrophotometric procedures