Gravimetric Analysis of a Chloride Salt

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Gravimetric Analysis of a Chloride Salt Objective Illustration of typical techniques used in gravimetric analysis by quantitatively determining the amount of chloride in an unknown sample. Background Quantitative analysis is a facet of analytical chemistry that is concerned with determining how much of one or more components are present in a particular sample of material. Gravimetric analysis is based on the isolation of the desired component in the sample in pure form or in some combined form and weighing the isolated constituent. The desired component is usually isolated or separated by precipitation. From the weights of sample and precipitate, the percentage of the desired component in the original sample can be calculated. The three major requirements for a good gravimetric analysis are that (a) the reagent will react only with the component of interest to form a precipitate, (b) it forms one and only one product with the component and (c) that the component of interest precipitates quantitatively from the solution. In aqueous solution silver ion undergoes the following reaction with chloride: Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s) Silver chloride is a relatively insoluble compound; only about 0.0001g of AgCl dissolves in 100mL of H2O at 20° C, therefore the addition of silver nitrate to an aqueous solution containing chloride ions will precipitate quantitatively. At this point, the precipitate can be isolated and weighed. The amount of chloride in the original sample can be determined from the mass of the AgCl. Procedure Balance | Stirring rods (3) | 250 mL beakers (6) | Sharkskin filter paper (3) | Bunsen burner | Watch glasses (3) | Funnels (3) | Unknown chloride sample | Funnel support | 0.5 M AgNO3 | Plastic wash bottle | 6 M HNO3 | Graduated cylinder (2) | Acetone | Ring stand, and wire gauze | Distilled water | An

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