Abstract
Direct current polarographic study of parathion shows two reduction waves at pH 3.0-10.0. The second wave does not appear in highly alkaline medium due to the stable nature of hydroxylamine. Two waves also appear at pH 3.0-10.0 in presence of anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as well as nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100. Half wave potential increases with increasing concentration of SDS while it decreases with increasing concentration of Triton X-100. The second reduction wave does not appear even at pH 3.0-10.0 in presence in cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Half wave potential increases slightly with increasing concentration of CTAB.