Chapter 10: Gravimetric Methods of Analysis Flashcards
are quantitative methods that are based on determining the mass of a pure compound to which the analyte is chemically related.
Gravimetric methods
In this type of gravimetry, the analyte is separated from a solution of the sample as a precipitate and is converted to known composition that can be weighed.
precipitation gravimetry
the analyte is separated from other constituents of a sample by converting it to a gas of known chemical composition. The mass of the gas then serves as a measure of the
analyte concentration.
volatilization gravimetry
the analyte is separated by deposition on an electrode by an electrical current. The mass of this product then provides a measure of the analyte concentration
electrogravimetry
the mass of a reagent of known concentration required to react completely with the analyte provides the information needed to determine the analyte concentration
gravimetric titrimetry
uses a mass spectrometer to separate the gaseous ions formed from the elements making up a sample of matter. The concentration of the resulting ions is then determined by measuring the electrical current produced when they fall on the surface of an ion detector.
atomic mass spectrometry
the analyte is converted to a sparingly soluble precipitate, which is then filtered, washed free of impurities, converted to a product of known composition by suitable heat treatment, and weighed.
precipitation gravimetry
is a process in which a solid is cycled through heating to high temperature, cooling, and
weighing steps until its mass becomes constant to within 0.2 to 0.3 mg.
drying or ignition to constant mass
it should react specifically or at least selectively with the analyte
gravimetric precipitating agent
rare reagents that react only with a single chemical species
specific reagents
common reagents that react with a limited number of species
selective reagents
properties of precipitates and precipitating reagents
- easily filtered and washed free of contaminants
- of sufficiently low solubility that no significant loss of the analyte occurs during filtration and washing
- unreactive with constituents of the atmosphere
- of known chemical composition after it is dried or, if necessary, ignited
TRUE or FALSE
precipitates consisting of large particles are generally desirable for gravimetric work because these particles are easy to filter and wash free of impurities. In addition, precipitates of this type are usually purer than are precipitates made up of fine particles.
TRUE
consists of solid particles
with diameters that are less than
10^-4 cm.
colloid
in diffuse light, it may be perfectly clear and appear to contain no solid. The presence of the second phase can be detected, however, by shining a beam of flashlight into the solution
colloidal suspension
TRUE or FALSE
It is very difficult to filter the particles of a colloidal suspension. To trap these particles, the pore size of the filtering medium must be so small that filtration take a very long time.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
With suitable treatment, however, the individual colloidal particles can be made to stick together, or coagulate, to produce large particles that are easy to filter.
TRUE
whose tiny particles are invisibble to the naked eye and range from 10^-7 to 10^-4 cm in diameter.
colloidal suspensions
TRUE or FALSE
Colloidal particles show no tendency to settle from solution and ar difficult to filter
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
particles of colloidal dimensions scatter visible radiation, thus, the path of the beam through the solution can be seen by the eye.
TRUE
the effect of colloidal particles that show no tendency to settle from solution and are difficult to filter. because particles of colloidal dimensions scatter visible radiation, the path of the beam through the solution can be seen by the eye.
Tyndall effect
the temporary dispersion of such particles (with dimensions on the order of tenths of a millimeter or greater) in the liquid phase is called a
crystalline suspension
TRUE or FALSE
the particle size of a precipitate is not influenced by precipitate solubility, temperature, reactant concentrations, and the rate at which reactants are mixed.
FALSE
the particle size of a precipitate is influenced by precipitate solubility, temperature, reactant concentrations, and the rate at which reactants are mixed.
the net effect of the precipitate solubility, temperature, reactant concentrations, and the rate at which reactants can be accounted for, at least qualitatively, by assuming that the particle size is related to a singe property of the system called
relative supersaturation
the formula of relative supersaturation
relative supersaturation= Q - S/ S
Q- conc. of the solute at any instant
S- equilibrium solubility
TRUE or FALSE
It is very difficult to filter the particles of a colloidal suspension To trap these particles, the pore size of the filtering medium must be so small that filtrations take a very long time. With suitable treatment, however, the individual colloidal particles
can be made to stick together, or coagulate, to produce large particles that are easy to filter.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
Experimental evidence indicates that the particle size of a precipitate varies inversely with the average relative supersaturation during the time when the reagent is being introduced
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
When (Q-S)/S is large, the precipitate tends to be colloidal
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
when relative supersaturation is small, a crystalline solid is more likely.
TRUE
The effect of relative supersaturation on particle size can be explained if we assume
that precipitates form in two ways through
nucleation
particle growth
a few ions, atoms, or molecules (perhaps as few as four or five) come together to form a stable solid
nucleation
What happens when nucleation predominates
a precipitate containing a large number of small particles results
what happens when particle growth predominates?
a smaller number of larger particles is produced.
Often, these nuclei form on the surface of suspended solid contaminants, such as dust particles. Further precipitation then is governed by the competition between
additional nucleation
particle growth
TRUE or FALSE
The rate of nucleation is believed to increase enormously with increasing relative supersaturation
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
the rate of particle growth is only moderately enhanced by high relative supersaturations
TRUE
is a process in which a minimum number of atoms, ions, or molecules join together to give a stable solid
nucleation
What will you do to increase the particle size of a precipitate
minimize the relative supersaturation during precipitate formation
Experimental variables that minimize supersaturation and produce crystalline precipitates include
elevated temperature (increase solubility)
dilute solutions (minimize Q)
slow addition of the precipitating agent with good stirring (minimize Q at any given instant)
Precipitates that have very low solubilities, such as many sulfides and hydrous oxides,
generally form as
colloids
TRUE or FALSE
If the solubility of the precipitate depends on pH, larger particles can also be produced by controlling pH.
TRUE
is a process in which a substance (gas, liquid, or solid) is held on the surface of a solid
adsorption
retention of a substance within the pores of a solid
absorption