A coated-wire ion-selective electrode (ISE) based on cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetra
azacyclotetradecane) as a neutral carrier in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) mat
rix was fabricated for the determination of Ag(I) ions. The coated-wire ISE
exhibited a linear Nernstian response over the range 1 x 10(-1) to 1 x 10(
-7) M with a slope of 59 +/- 2 mV per decade change and a detection limit o
f 5 x 10(-8) M. The ISE shows a greater preference for Ag over other cation
s with good precision. The electrode was selective towards Ag(I) ions in th
e presence of 13 different metal ions tested. The selectivity coefficients
(K-ij) were determined for Na(I), K(I), Mg(II), Ca(II), Ba(II), Mn(II), Co(
II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II). The selectivity coe
fficients of these cations are in the range of 10(-4) to 10(-2). This ISE w
as used for the determination of free silver and total silver in electropla
ting bath solutions, additives and brighteners.