Gravimetric Analysis

Modified: September 21, 2006

Introduction

  • Principles of gravimetric analysis. Types of gravimetric analysis.
  • General procedure for precipitation gravimetry
  • Requirements for gravimetric analysis
  • Ideal properties of precipitating reagent. Ideal properties of precipitate and weighing form.

Precipitation

  • Experimental factors that control filterability of the precipitate.
  • Simple model of precipitation: nucleation and particle growth. Dependence of rates on degree of supersaturation.
  • Homogeneous precipitation and its advantages
  • Colloidal suspensions. Properties of colloids (briefly). Coagulation. Washing of filtered coagulates; peptization.

Contamination of Precipitate

  • Two main categories of contamination processes: simultaneous precipitation and coprecipitation.
  • Methods to improve selectivity of precipitation (i.e., to reduce simultaneous pptn).
  • Types of coprecipitation. Description of surface adsorption, mixed-crystal formation, occlusion and entrapment.
  • Methods to reduce or eliminate contamination from coprecipitation.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Advantages and disadvantages of gravimetry as an analytical method