Electrochemical reduction of samarium in acetonitrile medium

Samarium electrochemical reduction in the acetonitryl solution was studied by polarographic, potentiostatic, electrolysis, spectrophotometric and other physico-chemical methods. It was determined that the first wave in the polarogramme at Esub(1/2)=-1,12 v corresponds to the reduction of samarium up to twovalency state. Divalent samarium is partial oxidized by water being contained in acetonitryl with formation of hydrolyzed three-valent samarium-Sm(OH)sub(x)sup((3-x)+). Irreversible wave at Esub(1/2)=-1,74 v observed in the solution after electrolysis (E=-1,3v) corresponds to the reduction of this compound with formation of basic salt sediment - Sm(OH)sub(2,5)(ClOsub(4))sub(0,5). Second wave of samarium reduction at E=-1,66 v corresponds to the transformation of unoxidized divalent cations into amalgam. Its separation into two steps is determined by precipitation and adsorption of the above mentioned sediment on mercury cathode