Gravimetric Analysis

d to find the percentage of one particular component in a mi

lves forming a suitable precipitate with the ion in the sample
steps in gravimetric analysis:

This procedure is especially suitable for determining of

metal ions and anions such as sulphates.

The precipitate should:

1. Have a known formula
2. Have a low solubility
3. Be stable when heated (so it does not decompose and can
be easily dried
4. Not form precipitates with other ions that are likely to be
present

When designing a gravimetric procedure, a knowledge

of the SOLUBILITIES of the precipitates likely to be
produced is important

A simple form of gravimetric analysis

A more complicated form of gravimetric analysis

Iron, in the form of dried iron(II) sulfate, is sometimes
prescribed by doctors to patients suffering from
anaemia.
To determine the iron content of some such iron
tablets, 10 tablets were crushed and then weight.
Steps
Why?
Their mass
was 3.345 g.
1. Tablets were dissolved in water
and the insoluble residues filtered
off

2. Potassium dichromate was added

to oxidise all the Fe2+ present to
Fe3+ . Next, sodium hydroxide was
added until no more iron(III)

The iron is often present as Fe(II)

sulfate and can be easily dissolved
in water.
There can be other components of
the sample that are insoluble. It is
important to remove these before
precipitate forms.
Potassium dichromate is a strong
oxidant and can therefore oxidise
Fe(II) to Fe(III) quite easily.
Although Fe2+ forms a precipitate, it
is more soluble than more iron(III)
hydroxide. Hence losses due to this

Steps
3. Mixture (Fe(III) and NaOH) was
boiled

Why?
The Fe(OH)3 precipitate is
gelatinous. Boiling helps to
granulate it making filtration easier.

4. Precipitate was collected by

filtration
5. Filter paper and precipitate were
heated in crucible to form Fe(III)
oxide and destroy the filter paper

The Fe(OH)3 is dehydrated on

heating and forms Fe2O3 .
The filter paper is a type that
produces carbon dioxide and no ash,
hence its mass will not interfere with
the weighing of the ppt.

6. The repeated drying and weighing

until a constant mass of precipitate
is obtained.
mass
of iron(III) oxide was found

to be 1.42 g.

e can now calculate

The mass of iron per tablet.
The percentage of iron in these tablets

Two more examples:

Examining the source of error

It is important to evaluate the limits of your results
If certain things happen during the analysis you need to be able
to predict how these may affect the final results (see Table
below)

Heinemann Textbook, pg 17, 18, 25