Gravimetric Determination of Phosphorus in Fertilizer Samples

Andre Jet Russo M. Ruiz Deparment of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Most of fertilizers that are available for consumers to buy are composed of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium because these three nutrients are essential to plants but are deficient in soils. The amounts of these nutrients are usually seen in the label because it is required to guarantee good quality of fertilizer for consumers. The objective of the experiment is to determine the percentage of phosphorus (%P) and diphosphorus pentoxide (%P2O5) in the fertilizer samples given. Gravimetric analysis depends on the formation, isolation and drying of an insoluble solid. In the case of our experiment, the phosphorus of the fertilizer sample was precipitated as magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH4PO4 . 6H2O) which is insoluble. The mass of this precipitate can be used to calculate any element that is present in it with the use of gravimetric factor. The reaction of the precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH4PO4 . 6H2O) is: 5H2O(l) + HPO42-(aq) + NH4+(aq) + Mg2+(aq) + OH-(aq)MgNH4PO4 6H2O(s) [1] Digestion of the precipitate is when you let them stand with a mother liquor for several hours which is in our experiment, the 95% ethanol. This is a very important step in gravimetric analysis as it allows smaller crystals to dissolve again and precipitate again into the surface of larger crystals which will make the filtration step much easier. [2] The possible sources of errors on phosphorus determination are the rate of mixing and adding of reactants, the temperature when the experiment was being performed, reactant concentrations, and precipitate solubility which will affect the size of the crystals that will be formed in the precipitate. The slow addition of NH3 with constant stirring is also important as by doing this properly, the precipitate will be free from impurities and few large crystals will be most likely to form than many small crystals which is a good thing for easier filtration. Using ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) instead of ammonia (NH3) can interfere with the production of phosphorus as Clions might react with Mg2+ ions which will form MgCl2 which will also precipitate out so, it is not possible to use ammonium chloride. So, the average %P(wet) < average %P(dry) which should be always true and that is the results which is good. Same goes for %P2O5(wet) < %P2O5(dry) which also the results that was obtained. Overall, the experiment was a success as dry>wet all throughout.

REFERENCES [1] Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Manual 2007 Edition [2] http://www.experts123.com/q/what-are-the-principles-behind-gravimetric-analysis-of-phosphorusin-fertilizer-samples-what-is-the-significance-of-digestion-in-a-gravimetric-analysis.html

APPENDIX Sample Calculations: For Trial 1, %P(wet) = (((net weight of dried precipitate)(AW of P / FW of MgNH4PO4 . 6H2O))/(sample weight as received)) x 100 = ((1.2118)(30.973761/245.406541)/(3.2346)) x 100 = 4.7284% %P(dry) = (((net weight of dried precipitate)(AW of P / FW of MgNH4PO4 . 6H2O))/(sample weight dried)) x 100 = ((1.2118)(30.973761/245.406541)/(3.1227)) x 100 = 4.8979% %P2O5(wet) = (((net weight of dried precipitate)(MW of P2O5 / 2FW of MgNH4PO4 . 6H2O))/(sample weight as received)) x 100 = ((1.2118)(141.944522/(2)245.406541)/(3.2346)) x 100 = 10.8346% %P2O5(dry) = (((net weight of dried precipitate)(MW of P2O5 / 2FW of MgNH4PO4 . 6H2O))/(sample weight dried)) x 100 = ((1.2118)(141.944522/(2)245.406541)/(3.1227)) x 100 = 11.2229% Average: %P(wet) %P(dry) % P2O5 (wet) %P2O5(dry) = (%P(wet)trial 1 + %P(wet)trial 2)/2 = (%P(dry)trial 1 + %P(dry)trial 2)/2 = (%P2O5 (wet)trial 1 + % P2O5 (wet)trial 2)/2 = (%P2O5 (dry)trial 1 + % P2O5 (dry)trial 2)/2 = 5.2155% = 5.3742% = 11.9507% = 12.3143%