Manual

PHOTOMETER TEST INSTRUCTIONS
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Magnesium is a widely occurring natural element and is found in most water
supplies. Magnesium salts contribute to the hardness of water and higher levels
of magnesium will be found therefore in hard water areas. Scale formation in
heating and steam raising equipment is promoted by the presence of
magnesium salts in the water. Magnesium salts do however have a lower scale
forming tendency than calcium salts.
The YSI Magnecol test provides a simple means of measuring magnesium levels
in water over the range 0 - 100 mg/l Mg.
METHOD
The YSI Magnecol test is based on a simple colorimetric procedure. Magnesium
reacts with an organic reagent to produce an orange colored complex. The
reagent itself is yellow and thus over the range of the test a series of colors from
yellow through to orange are produced.
The color produced in the test is indicative of the magnesium concentration and
is measured using a YSI Photometer.
REAGENTS AND EQUIPMENT
YSI Magnecol Tablets
YSI 9300 or 9500 Photometer
Round Test Tubes, 10 ml glass (PT 595)
Measuring Syringe, 1 ml (PT 361)
Photometer Method
AUTOMATIC
WAVELENGTH
SELECTION
0 – 100 mg/l
PHOT.21.AUTO