Gravimetry Flashcards
Describe precipitation gravimetry
- Analyte is converted to sparingly soluble (low solubility) precipitate
- The precipitate will be filtered and washed free of impurities
- Converted to a product of known composition by suitable heat treatment
- Weighed
precipitate > digestion > filter > washed > heat > weighed
Good precipitating reagent should be ____ and would react with the analyte to give a product that is ____ (4)
Specific or selective
- easily filtered and washed free of contaminants
- low solubility
- unreactive with atmosphere (inert)
- known chemical composition after drying or ignition
Why large precipitates are generally desirable in gravimetric analysis
- easy to filter and wash free of impurities
- usually purer
How to detect colloidal suspensions?
By Tyndall effect - scattering of light
How to filter colloidal suspensions?
Particles need to coagulate to produce larger particles
Temporary dispersion that is easier to filter
Crystalline suspension
Particle size of a precipitate is influenced by (4)
- Precipitate solubility
- Temperature
- Reactant concentrations
- Rate of mixing
The net effect of the variables that affect particle size can be accounted for, at least qualitatively, by assuming
that the particle size is related to a single property of the system called ______
relative supersaturation
Formula for relative supersaturation
RS = (Q-S)/S
Q = conc. of solute
S = equilibrium solubility
High relative supersaturation = ____ suspensions
Low relative supersaturation = ____ suspensions
high RS = colloidal
low RS = crystalline
As excess solute precipitates with time, supersaturation decreases to ____
zero
To increase the particle size of a precipitate, minimize the ___ during precipitate formation.
relative supersaturation
Precipitates can be formed in two ways: ____. Explain each
- Nucleation
- few ions, atoms, or molecule come together to form a stable solid
- form on the surface of suspended solid contaminants, such as dust particles - Particle Growth
- growth of existing nuclei
If nucleation predominates, a ____ particles is produced.
If particle growth predominates, a ____ is obtained.
nucleation = large number of small precipitates
particle growth = smaller number of larger particles
The rate of nucleation is believed to ____ enormously with increasing relative supersaturation.
Explain
increase
at high RS, nucleation happens, large number of small particles formed
How to minimize supersaturation to produce crystalline precipitates? (4)
- increase temp, increase solubility
- dilute solution
- slow addition of precipitating agent with good stirring
*4. controlling pH if the solubility of precipitate depends on pH
Precipitates that have ___, such as many sulfides and hydrous oxides,
generally form as colloids.
very low solubilities
Coagulation of colloidal precipitates can be hastened by ___
- heating
- stirring
- adding an electrolyte