For simultaneous determination of ultramicro amounts of platinum and rhodium the optimum condition has been described as 1.5N H2SO4-1.2% NH4Cl-0.0012M (CH2)6N4-0.003% N2H4XH2SO4. Both platinum and rhodium produce hydrogen catalytic waves with peak potential at-1.03 V and - 1.27 V (vs. S. C. E.) and the peak height of differential wave in single-sweep polarograph is directly proportional to the concentration of the metals in the range from 0.05 ppb to 1.0 ppb for platinum and from 0.0025 ppb to 0.1ppb for rhodium, respectively. The influence of other platinum group metals and some base metals on the height of catalytic waves has been examined. It has been shown that the method is very selective. It is applied even at 200:1 or at 1:10 (Pt:Rh). The mechanism of the catalytic waves has been discussed. The catalytic waves of both platinum and rhodium are due to "surface catalytic wave of hydrogen". The wave of rhodium can be attributed to catalytic discharge of hydrogen ion by the complex (Rh(CH2O)2Cl4)-. One of the ligands, formaldehyde, is the product of hydrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine. The wave of plainum can be attributed to catalytic discharge of hydrogen ion by the complex (PtACl5)-, where a denotes intermediate product (a substance containing CH2=N group) formed during the hydrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine. The role of hydrazine sulfate in catalytic system has been shown. Hydzazine can react with formaldehyde to from (CH2=N)2 which promotes the growth of platinum catalytic wave and in this way the concentration of formaldehyde in the system can be controlled.

Key words: PLATINUM, POLAROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS, RHODIUM, CATALYTIC WAVE, HYDRAZINE SULFATE