Two determinations are always made. In the first, the amount of nitrite which is used is measured to give the “nitrite value.” Then, the compound is titrated with diazonium solution to give the “coupling value.” If the two values agree, then it is known that the aminonaphtholsulfonic acid has been correctly made. If, on the other hand, the nitrite value is too high, it may be concluded that the fusion was too short. If the nitrite value is smaller than the coupling value, the fusion was carried too far. A correctly prepared aminonaphtholsulfonic acid should give nitrite and coupling values agreeing to within 1 per cent.
It is perhaps unnecessary to point out that all such determinations, like all analyses, should be run in duplicate.