ABSTRACT

This experiment was done to determine the quantity of chromium (VI) present in a
polluted water sample using a spectrophotometer and a set of standard solutions
for the concentration of 1ppm, 25ppm, 50ppm, 75ppm and 100ppm to be used in the
calibration of the spectrophotometer and to analyze whether the water sample is
suitable for drinking or for agriculture purposes at the end of the experiment. The
experiment started by diluting the solution which the chromium were diluted with
distilled water with different standard of solution. In this experiment the
concentration of chromium was set from the range of 1, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm.
Then, the spectrophotometer was used to determine the absorbance value for each of
the sample and the absorbance value for lake water sample also determined. The
absorbance values were analyzed and a graph of absorbance value versus
concentration of chromium (VI) in ppm was plotted. Based on the values from the
results, the absorbance values increased as the concentration of solution increased.
After doing the calculation based on the graph, the concentration of the water sample
was 416.67 which is not suitable for drinking water and for agricultural purposes. As
conclusion, the objectives of this experiment were achieved and this experiment was
done successfully.

1. INTRODUCTION
Water is one of the important sources in daily life. However, nowadays there
are many issue about water has been polluted. There is much type heavy metals that
throw in the water sources. The heavy metals is disturbed the light to penetrates into
the water. It found that the heavy metal has a low aqueous solution concentration.
One of heavy metal that found in water sources is chromium.
Chromium is a heavy metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other
elements. The chromium is used in metal alloys such as stainless steel, protective
coatings on metal; magnetic tapes, and pigments for paints, cement, paper, rubber,
composition floor covering and other materials. Its soluble forms are used in wood
preservatives. There are many type of chromium such as chromium (III) is an
essential nutrient for humans and shortages may cause heart conditions, chromium
(VI) is danger to human health. Chromium ion gives the low concentration to the
water stream. Chromium (VI) is also the strong oxidizing agent that gives negative
impact to the human and aquatic life because of the carcinogenic properties.

2.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are:
i.

To determine the quantity of chromium (VI) present in a polluted

water sample using a spectrophotometer and a set of standard
solutions for the concentration of 1ppm, 25ppm, 50ppm, 75ppm and

ii.

100ppm to be used in the calibration of the spectrophotometer.

To analyze whether the water sample is suitable for drinking or for
agriculture purposes at the end of the experiment.

3.

THEORY
Water pollution is undesirable change in the state of water, contaminated with

harmful substance. Any change in physical, chemical and biological properties of

water that has harmful effect to the living thing. Polluted water is unfit, unhealthy,
and dangerous for drinking .There are much type of heavy metals that can be
harmful to human in water pollution such as chromium.
Therefore, in this experiment chromium (VI) will be use. Chromium (VI) is
deposited from the brake dusts and exhaust of automobile engine into the water
stream or from the flowing of rainwater and lakes. Lakes and water stream in the
urban area is the highest possibility to be contaminated by a chromium. The lakes
and water stream that has been polluted will give negatives effect to the human and
aquatic life. Chromium that contain in the water is recognized as human carcinogen.
Carcinogen is substance that causes or aggravates tumors or other types of cancer.
Thus, in this experiment absorption spectroscopy will be used to identify the
level concentration of chromium (VI) in Lake Sample water. The heavy metal can be
identifying via absorption of wavelength of the light. The amount of light absorbed is
directly proportional to the concentration of the solution metal ions.
Absorption spectroscopy is refers to spectroscopic techniques that measure
the absorption of radiation, as a function of frequency or wavelength, due to its
interaction with a sample. The sample absorbs energy such as photons, from the
radiating field. The amount of light absorbed by the chemical species in the sample is
equivalent to the difference between the amount of light before it enters and exits
from the sample. The specific wavelength will be set before the light to be absorbed
by the chemical species. The wavelength of every metal will be set according to it
type of metal.
By diluting the 300 parts per million of chromium (VI) standard solution the
standard solution will be prepared. There are five standard solution will be prepared
from the concentrated chromium (VI) standard solution. The dilute solution volume
will be calculated by the formula:
(M1)(V1) = (M2) (V2)
M = morality of the concentration
V = volume of the chromium
Quantitative analysis using spectrophotometer is based on Beer- Lambert Law:
3

A=LC

Where is:

= molar absorbance (

L
)
mol . cm

A = absorbance value (dimensionless)

L = length of the cuvette in which the sample is contained (cm)
C = concentration of the compound in solution
In the Beer Lambert Law states that the total quantity of the compound that
absorbed in the light that passed through the cuvette is influences the absorbance
value. The higher the molar absorbance of the compound the higher the absorbing of
the light to the compound.

4.

METHODOLOGY

4.1

Materials and Apparatus

The apparatus and materials are used in this experiment are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Spectrophotometer
Pipette
10 milliliters square cuvette bottle
Distilled water
Lake water
5 set of 300 ppm of standard chromium (VI) solution of 0.03, 0.0.83, 1.67,2,5
and 3.33 milliliters.

4.2

Procedures
1. All the materials and apparatus are set up.
2. The 10 millilitres of square cuvette bottle is filled up with distilled water
and placed on the spectrophotometer slot. A zeroing step is done to ensure
that all the data obtained later is accurate.
3. 5 series of diluted solution are prepared by using the diluted method with
distilled water with the range concentration of 1 until 100 parts per million
(p.p.m) solutions. (1 p.p.m, 25 p.p.m, 50 p.p.m, 75 p.p.m and 100 p.p.m)
4. 10 millilitres of each series of diluted solution is poured into square cuvette
bottle and placed on the spectrophotometer slot to check the absorbance
value by using the spectrophotometer.
5. All the data obtained is recorded.
6. 10 millilitres of lake water sample is poured into the square cuvette bottle
and spectrophotometer is used to determine the Chromium (VI)
concentration contained in the water sample collected.
7. All the value is analyzed, the observation and the data obtained are
recorded.

5.

RESULTS

Volume of Chromium (VI) ,

millilitres
Concentration of Chromium

0.03

0.83

1.67

2.50

3.33

(VI), parts per million

Absorbance Value

1
0.004

25
0.013

50
0.023

75
0.030

100
0.041

Table 1.1 Determination of absorbance value using spectrophotometer

Lake Water Sample

Absorbance Value

Trial 1

0.136

Trial 2

0.142

Trial 3

0.130

Average value :

0.136

Table 1.2 Determination of absorbance value of lake water sample using

spectrophotometer

Absorbance Value versus Concentration of Chromium (VI)

0.05
0.04
0.04

f(x)
R ==10x
R = 0.99

0.04

0.03
0.03

0.03
Absorbance value

0.02

0.02

0.02
0.01

0.01

0.01
0 0
0

20

40

60

80

Concentration of Chromium (VI)

Figure 1.1 : Graph of Absorbance Value versus Concentration of

Chromium (VI) in units of p.p.m

6. DISCUSSION
6

100

120

Based on experiments conducted, the objectives were to determine the Chromium

(IV) content in lake water sample by using a spectrometer and to analyze whether the
lake water sample tested is suitable to consume for drinking water or as any
agriculture purpose. Therefore five series of diluted solution are prepared by using
the diluted method with distilled water with the range concentration of 1 until 100
parts per million (p.p.m) solutions which are 1 p.p.m, 25 p.p.m, 50 p.p.m, 75 p.p.m
and 100 p.p.m. Each series of diluted solution is poured into square cuvette bottle
and placed on the spectrophotometer slot to check the absorbance value by using the
spectrophotometer.
Based on the consideration of our country, Ministry of Health Malaysia, raw
water will assume as toxic if the concentration of Chromium (IV) is higher than 0.05
parts per million The results showed that the value of concentration of chromium
(VI) calculated is 416.67 parts per million and it is obviously contain much
chromium ions in the water. Therefore it is proved that the water is very toxic and
unsafe to consume by public residents and even for agriculture purposes.
In every experiment, there will be some errors in connection with the
procedures that will lead to inaccurate results. Firstly when the volume of substance
is measured, the value might be incorrect due to very small amount and it was too
difficult in getting the exact figures for dilution. Moreover, when handling the
spectrophometer, any fingerprints on the surface of the cuvette will affect the reading
of the wavelength of light thus the reading of the absorbance value might be
incorrect. Therefore the experiments need to run twice to obtain the average of the
absorbance value in order to get an accuracy of readings.

7. SAMPLE CALCULATION
Part 1
To calculate volume of Chromium with concentration of 300 ppm that is needed
to to get Chromium solution with concentration of 1 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 75
ppm and 100 ppm, formula that is shown below was used.
M1V1 =

M2V2

So, substitute the value into equation,

M1V1 =
V1

M2V2

M2V2
M1

(1 ppm)(10 mL )
300 ppm

0.03

Part 2
From the graph, the equation of the line is:
Y

0.0003x + 0.011

With average absorbance value for lake water sample is 0.136, substitute into
the equation to find x, which is concentration of water sample.
Y

y 0.011
0.0003

0.1360.011
0.0003

0.0003x + 0.011

416.67

So, concentration of water sample is 416.67

8. CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, the objectives of this experiment were achieved and this experiment
was done successfully. From this experiment, it can be concluded that chromium
(VI) are present in the sample water. By using the spectrophotometer, the
concentration of chromium (VI) in the sample water is 416.67 ppm. The level of
standard allowed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia is 0.05 ppm. Therefore, the
water is concluded as contaminated and does not suitable for drinking or agricultural
purposes.

9. RECOMMENDATION
1. Get the assistance of the lab technician in preparing the experiment set up.
Read the manual carefully and get used along the apparatus and instrument of
the experiment.
2. Clean all the tubes or any apparatus that needed for placing the solution in
this experiment before using it. This may affect the results of the solution as it
reacts indirectly in the tubes.
3. Avoid from using scratch square cuvette bottle as it affect the reading of the
absorbance value in the spectrophotometer and the square cuvette bottles
must be cleansed and dried properly with a distilled water before put it into
the spectrophotometer
4. The experiments need to be done by using tap water and the absorbance
value for tap water should be determined.

10. REFERENCES
1.

Water

Pollution

(2010).

Retrieved

November

7,

2014

from

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-is-water-pollution.html
2. Determination of Chromium (VI) Concentration via Absorption
Spectroscopy

(2012).

Retrieved

November

7,

2014

from

http://www.emecs.or.jp/01cd-rom/section_3_e/sec3_a_ro_b_6_e.html
3. Determination of Chromium (VI) Concentration via Absorption
Spectroscopy

.Retrieved

November

10,

2014

from

https://www.scribd.com/doc/141643891/39166236-Determination-ofChromium-VI-Concentration-via-Absorption-Spectroscopy-Experiment1

11. APPENDIX

10