In precipitate gravimetry

Quantitative Calculations In precipitation gravimetry the relationship between the analyte and the precipitate is determined by the stoichiometry of the relevant reactions. As discussed in Section 2C, gravimetric calculations can be simplified by applying the principle of conservation of mass. The following example demonstrates the application of this approach to the direct analysis of a single analyte. 

Time, Cost, and Equipment Precipitation gravimetric procedures are time-intensive and rarely practical when analyzing a large number of samples. liowever, since much of the time invested in precipitation gravimetry does not require an analyst s immediate supervision, it may be a practical alternative when working with only a few samples. Equipment needs are few (beakers, filtering devices, ovens or burners, and balances), inexpensive, routinely available in most laboratories, and easy to maintain. 

In precipitation gravimetry, the analyte is converted to a spai ingly soluble precipitate. This precipitate is then filtered, washed free of impurities, converted to a product of known composition by suitable heat treatment, and weighed. For example, a precipitation method for determining calcium in natural waters is recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Here, an excess of oxalic acid, H2C2O4, is added to an aqueous solution of the sample. Ammonia is then added, which neutralizes the acid and causes essentially all of the calcium in the sample to precipitate as calcium oxalate. The reactions are... 

Particulate interferents can be separated from dissolved analytes by filtration, using a filter whose pore size retains the interferent. This separation technique is important in the analysis of many natural waters, for which the presence of suspended solids may interfere in the analysis. Filtration also can be used to isolate analytes present as solid particulates from dissolved ions in the sample matrix. For example, this is a necessary step in gravimetry, in which the analyte is isolated as a precipitate. A more detailed description of the types of available filters is found in the discussion of precipitation gravimetry and particulate gravimetry in Chapter 8. 

In the previous section we used four examples to illustrate the different ways that mass can serve as an analytical signal. These examples also illustrate the four gravimetric methods of analysis. When the signal is the mass of a precipitate, we call the method precipitation gravimetry. The indirect determination of by precipi-... 

A precipitation gravimetric analysis must have several important attributes. Eirst, the precipitate must be of low solubility, high purity, and of known composition if its mass is to accurately reflect the analyte s mass. Second, the precipitate must be in a form that is easy to separate from the reaction mixture. The theoretical and experimental details of precipitation gravimetry are reviewed in this section. 

Avoiding Impurities Precipitation gravimetry is based on a known stoichiometry between the analyte s mass and the mass of a precipitate. It follows, therefore, that the precipitate must be free from impurities. Since precipitation typically occurs in a solution rich in dissolved solids, the initial precipitate is often impure. Any impurities present in the precipitate s matrix must be removed before obtaining its weight. 

Precipitation gravimetry continues to be listed as a standard method for the analysis of Mg + and S04 in water and wastewater analysis. A description of the procedure for Mg + was discussed earlier in Method 8.1. Sulfate is analyzed by precipitating BaS04, using BaCb as the precipitant. Precipitation is carried out in an... 

Scale of Operation The scale of operation for precipitation gravimetry is governed by the sensitivity of the balance and the availability of sample. To achieve an accuracy of 0.1% using an analytical balance with a sensitivity of 0.1 mg, the precipitate must weigh at least 100 mg. As a consequence, precipitation gravimetry is usually limited to major or minor analytes, and macro or meso samples (see Figure 3.6 in Chapter 3). The analysis of trace level analytes or micro samples usually requires a microanalytical balance. 

Unlike precipitation gravimetry, which is rarely used as a standard method of analysis, gravimetric methods based on volatilization reactions continue to play an important role in chemical analysis. Several important examples are discussed in the following sections. 

Gravimetric methods based on precipitation or volatilization reactions require that the analyte, or some other species in the sample, participate in a chemical reaction producing a change in physical state. For example, in direct precipitation gravimetry, a soluble analyte is converted to an insoluble form that precipitates from solution. In some situations, however, the analyte is already present in a form that may be readily separated from its liquid, gas, or solid matrix. When such a separation is possible, the analyte s mass can be directly determined with an appropriate balance. In this section the application of particulate gravimetry is briefly considered. 

Determine the uncertainty for the gravimetric analysis described in Example 8.1. (a) How does your result compare with the expected accuracy of 0.1-0.2% for precipitation gravimetry (b) What sources of error might account for any discrepancy between the most probable measurement error and the expected accuracy ... 

For a titration to be accurate we must add a stoichiometrically equivalent amount of titrant to a solution containing the analyte. We call this stoichiometric mixture the equivalence point. Unlike precipitation gravimetry, where the precipitant is added in excess, determining the exact volume of titrant needed to reach the equivalence point is essential. The product of the equivalence point volume, Veq> and the titrant s concentration, Cq, gives the moles of titrant reacting with the analyte. 

Precipitation reactions have several applications in analysis in gravimetric methods, in precipitation titrations, and in separations. Gravimetry, which used to be a major l>art of analytical chemistry, has expanded less rapidly than other aspects of analysis and does not now occupy a prominent place. Precipitation titrimetry always has been restricted in application because most precipitation reactions fail to meet the requirements of rapid reaction rate and adequate stoichiometry. In separations, precipitation reactions are used in two ways in one the precipitate involved is of direct concern, and in the other it acts as a carrier for another substance of interest. The application of precipitation reactions to separations is described in Chapter 22. 

Techniques responding to the absolute amount of analyte are called total analysis techniques. Historically, most early analytical methods used total analysis techniques, hence they are often referred to as classical techniques. Mass, volume, and charge are the most common signals for total analysis techniques, and the corresponding techniques are gravimetry (Chapter 8), titrimetry (Chapter 9), and coulometry (Chapter 11). With a few exceptions, the signal in a total analysis technique results from one or more chemical reactions involving the analyte. These reactions may involve any combination of precipitation, acid-base, complexation, or redox chemistry. The stoichiometry of each reaction, however, must be known to solve equation 3.1 for the moles of analyte. 

In a gravimetric analysis a measurement of mass or change in mass provides quantitative information about the amount of analyte in a sample. The most common form of gravimetry uses a precipitation reaction to generate a product whose mass is proportional to the analyte. In many cases the precipitate includes the analyte however, an indirect analysis in which the analyte causes the precipitation of another compound also is possible. Precipitation gravimetric procedures must be carefully controlled to produce precipitates that are easily filterable, free from impurities, and of known stoichiometry. 

A number of substances, such as the most commonly used sulfur dioxide, can reduce selenous acid solution to an elemental selenium precipitate. This precipitation separates the selenium from most elements and serves as a basis for gravimetry. In a solution containing both selenous and teUurous acids, the selenium may be quantitatively separated from the latter by performing the reduction in a solution which is 8 to 9.5 W with respect to hydrochloric acid. When selenic acid may also be present, the addition of hydroxylamine hydrochloride is recommended along with the sulfur dioxide. A simple method for the separation and deterrnination of selenium(IV) and molybdenum(VI) in mixtures, based on selective precipitation with potassium thiocarbonate, has been developed (69). 

The quantitative execution of chemical reactions is the basis of the traditional or classical methods of chemical analysis gravimetry, titrimetry and volumetry. In gravimetric analysis the substance being determined is converted into an insoluble precipitate which is collected and weighed, or in the special case of electrogravimetry electrolysis is carried out and the material deposited on one of the electrodes is weighed. 

The traditional areas of wet chemistry came under very close scrutiny and it was felt that whilst the overall size of Part D could be justifiably reduced, the chapter on titrimetry required modification to include a section on titrations in non-aqueous solvents as these are of particular application to organic materials. It was also felt that environmentally important titrations such as those for dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand should be introduced for the first time. By way of contrast to this we considered that gravimetry has greatly diminished in application and justified a substantial reduction in volume. This in no way undermines its importance in terms of teaching laboratory skills, but the original multitude of precipitations has been substantially pruned and experimental details abbreviated. 

APPL is determined by acid precipitation (12M HC1) using either turbidity measurements (nephelometry abs. at 600 nm) or gravimetry according to Crawford et al. (4). All experiments reported in this paper were carried out with uninoculated controls whose values were always substracted. 

Elemental composition Ce 42.18%, S 19.30%, O 38.53%. It is digested with nitric acid, diluted appropriately and analyzed for Ce by AA or ICP spectroscopy (see Cerium). The compound may be dissolved in small quantities of water (forms a basic salt when treated with large a volume of water). The solution is analyzed for sulfate ion by gravimetry following precipitation with barium chloride. Alternatively, the compound is dissolved in hot nitric acid and the solution analyzed for sulfate by ion-chromatography. 

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