A spectrophotometric method for the determination of microgram amounts
of bismuth(III) is described based on the solvent extraction of bismu
th(III) from 0.5-3.0 mol dm(-3) HCl with Cyanex 301 in toluene. The Bi
-III complex with Cyanex 301 in toluene gives a yellow colour (lambda(
max), 439 nm; molar absorptivity, 5.53 X 10(3) l mol(-1) cm(-1)). Bism
uth has been determined in alloys and pharmaceutical samples.