BASIC SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

LABORATORY
(BKF1751)
Title of Experiment : Experiment 2 : Gravimetric Analysis Solution
Date of Experiment : 21/09/2017
Instructor’s Name : Puan Nurul Sa’aadah Binti Sulaiman
Group No. :5
Section :5

List of Students:
Name ID
1. Nurin Hidayah Aqilah Binti Mohamad Nor Azam KA17270
2. Alya Nur Afiqah Binti Azman KA17267
3. Emilia Nurdiana Binti Azidee KA17268
4. Mohamad Hafizudin Bin Mohd Yasin KA17263

Marks:

1. Abstract 6. Results
2. Methodology flowchart 7. Discussion
3. Data Tabulation 8. Conclusions
4. Graph 9. References
5. Calculations 10. Grammar and Spelling
TOTAL

FACULTY OFCHEMICAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES ENGINEERING

Tear here UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PAHANG

Subject Code : BKF1751 Please keep for student reference.

Title of Experiment: Experiment 2 : Gravimetric Analysis Solution Date Submitted: 28/09/2017

Submitted by; Received by;

ABSTRACT
There are many objectives by doing this gravimetric analysis solution experiment. The aim of
this experiment is to make sure that the students comprehend what is mean by gravimetric
analysis. Next is to make sure that the students can determine the amount of analyte
precipitate and calculate the percentage of analyte precipitate form.
By doing these experiment we need to know the methodology of the experiment properly
in order to get the best result. The most important thing when we want to undergo the
experiment is we need to handle the chemicals carefully especially when handling the nitric
acid because it is corrosive and it need to be done in fume chamber. After we dilute the solid
sodium chloride in distilled water, we need to stir it to make sure it dissolves completely.
During heating the sample solution need to stir constantly to prevent bumping of solution and
to avoid from losing the precipitate. We also need to add silver nitrate solution drop by drop
the coagulation process stop. When there is no more cloudiness appears, cover the beaker
with aluminium foil and cool off for about 1 hour. Then, we filter the precipitate onto the
filter paper and put into the porcelain crucible and put in in oven at 40’c for one day. After
that, we weigh the sample of precipitate.
From the experiment, we know that there might be experimental errors. It might be
incompletely heating the sample which can affect the precipitate to form and there also might
be an excess of addition of silver nitrate which can make the precipitate to form quickly.

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INTRODUCTION
Gravimetric analysis is a technique through which the amount of an analyte (the ion being
analyzed) can be determined through the measurement of mass of precipitate form later
through the experiment. Gravimetric analyses depend on comparing the masses of two
compounds containing the analyte [1]. The principle behind gravimetric analysis is that once
an ion's mass has been determined as a unique compound that known measurement can then
be used to determine the same analyte's mass in a mixture.
Gravimetric methods are among the most accurate and precise methods of
quantitative analysis. These advantages are counterbalanced by the fact that they are often
time consuming, require considerable attention to detail and are limited to sample size and
concentrations which yield a weighable quantity on a conventional analytical balance [2].
While many gravimetric methods have been at least partially replaced by newer, faster
techniques, there are remaining several situations where the only suitable analytical
techniques are gravimetric.
Addition of silver nitrate (AgNO3) to dissolve a sample containing sodium chloride
(NaCl) and the silver ion contained in silver nitrate (AgNo3) will quantitatively precipitate
the chloride ion as a solid silver chloride (AgCl). The chemical equation is as below:
𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞 ) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂 (𝑎𝑞 ) → 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂 (𝑎𝑞 ) + 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙(𝑠)
When the heating process happen, the precipitate dense at the bottom of the beaker
and will be isolated from the solution by filtration. Then, the precipitate (AgCl) will be dry in
the oven at 40℃ for one day. After that, we weigh the sample of precipitate and make
conclusion for the experiment.
If methods of gravimetric analysis are followed carefully, it will provide for
exceedingly precise analysis. In fact, the atomic masses of many elements can be determined
from the gravimetric analysis [3].
The main objective for gravimetric analysis solution experiment is to understand the
concept of gravimetric analysis. Next is to determine the amount of analyte precipitate form
after the experiment. Last but not least is to predict the percentage of anaylte precipitate
based on the specific calculation.

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METHODOLOGY

Weigh a sample of 2.55 g

Weigh a sample solid
sodium chloride of about
0.2625 g into 400ml
beaker
Dissolve the sample in
150 mL distilled water
and add about 0.5 ml of
concentrated nitric acid
silver nitrate powder and
dissolve it in 150 ml
distilled water to make
0.1 M silver nitrate
solution

Let the precipitate settle

Add an excess of 10% of
and test for complete
silver nitrate solution Heat the sample of
precipitation by carefully
slowly into the sample sodium chloride with
adding a few drops of
solution until the constant stirring
silver nitrate to the clear
coagulation process stop
supernatant liquid

Decant the solution by

Cover the beaker with
aluminium foil and wait
for the solution to cool off
for about 1 hour
Add about 25 ml of was
pouring the solution down
solution into the beaker,
a stirring rod. The
stir well and decant the
precipitate sholud be
disturbed as little as solution through the filter
paper
possible

Cool the crucibles in the Place the crucibles

desiccator and weigh the
precipitate
Bring the precipitate onto
containing the precipitate
the filter and put into
in the oven for 1 day at
porcelain crucibles
40-50 ℃

Record the reading in the

table

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RESULT

SAMPLE MASS (g)

Sample of Sodium Chloride (𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙) 0.2625
Sample of Silver Nitrate (𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂 ) 2.5631
Sample of precipitate (𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝐶ℎ𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙 ) 0.5509

DISCUSSION

1. Calculate the percentage of chloride in the sample. What the results indicates and what
have you found?
𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙(𝑠)
Mass of precipitate (AgCl) = 0.5509g
Step 1 : Mass of Cl ion in the sample of precipitate
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙 = × 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙
.
= × 35.453 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙
.
= 0.1363 g Cl
Step 2 : Percentage of chloride ion in the sample
% of Cl = × 100%
.
= × 100%
.
= 51.91 % of Cl in the sample
Based on the result above, we found that the percentage of chloride ion in the sample is
51.91%. From the calculation, our experiment can call success because of the real percentage
of chloride ion in the NaCl is 60.66%. The result of the sample is quiet same but of course
they will be error during the experiment that indicates the result change from their standard.
So the gravimetric analysis proved that it can be used to find the chloride ion’s mass in the
sodium chloride sample.

2. Discuss the potential of experimental errors.

There is always experimental error occur during the experiment. First of all, incomplete
precipitation reaction will occur due to the reasons such as not adding enough silver nitrate
solution into the sodium chloride solution. We expect the precipitation process have been
complete but actually it is not and hence it will affect the result soon.
Second, during the cooling process, the beaker should be cover with aluminium foil neatly. If
we not cover it neatly, some of the solution will vaporize to the surrounding and hence affect
5
the result later. The solution also need to cool off for about 1 hour or completely cool. The
precipitate will not form completely if we not cooling it properly before filter the precipitate.
Next, during collection of precipitate, the procedure is to decant the sodium nitrate down a
stirring rod and add wash solution to the precipitate. Then let the precipitate settle and decant
the solution through filter paper. During this procedure, there might be some of precipitate
disturbed so the precipitate that we collected might not be 100% same as the amount of what
we have gained. Some of the precipitate might also been spill out during that time.

3. Explain methods to avoid the potential of experimental errors in question (2).

There are methods to avoid the potential of experimental errors. For example, we must make
sure that the precipitation process completely happens. We must add silver nitrate solution a
few more millilitres and observe if there are cloudiness appears or not. If not, so its mean the
reaction and precipitation is complete.
Next, we must ensure we close the beaker with aluminium foil neatly and cool down the
solution completely. This is to make sure the precipitation processes completely happen to
gain the best result soon.
Last but not least, we must collect the precipitate carefully to ensure there is no precipitate
spill off. This is to make sure we got the best result soon.

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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENCATION
From the experiment, gravimetric analysis is used to find the atomic mass of the many
elements in a certain compound. Hence, we can conclude regarding the result is that the mass
of analyte precipitate formed was 0.5509g while the mass of chloride ion Cl was 0.1363g and
the percentage of the analyte precipitate chloride in the sample was 51.91%.
During conducting the experiment, when adding the silver nitrate drop by drop, the
coagulation may not finished yet but we stopped to add more silver nitrate so the reaction was
not complete yet. Therefore, we need to carefully add drop by drop inside the beaker during
the experiment and ensure the reaction has completed by looking at the solution’s colour. The
solution is not complete yet if it doesn’t remain clears even after we add excess silver nitrate
solution.
Next, we may not close the beaker completely with aluminium foil and they may
cause some of the solution to vaporize to the surrounding which will affected the mass of
precipitate sample which is AgCl. Also we might not let the solution to cool down properly
and this might cause the precipitate not to settle down properly. So in order to avoid this
problem, we need to ensure to cover the beaker wish aluminium foil properly so that
vaporization will not affect the experiment. Other than that, we need to let the solution to cool
down for 1 day to ensure the precipitate was completely settled down.
Besides that, during the filtration process we might have left some of the precipitate
inside beaker while pouring it out. Pouring it roughly might cause the precipitate to spill out
from the filter paper. Therefore, we need to ensure the precipitate was fully poured and
filtered from the beaker. Then we need to pour it slowly and gently in order to save the
precipitate from spilling out.

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REFERENCES
1. Experiment: Gravimetric Analysis. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/doc/47085012/Experiment-Gravimetric-Analysis
2. Gravimetric Analysis (2017, September 1). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravimetric_analysis
3. Wired Chemist: Gravimetric Analysis. Retrieved from
http://www.wiredchemist.com/chemistry/instructional/laboratory-
tutorials/gravimetric-analysis
4. MERSPI: Gravimetric Analysis Error (2010, February 2014) Retrieved from
http://merspi.com.au/1314/errors-might-volumetric-gravimetric-analysis-experiments

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APPENDICES
Calculation of chloride in the sample:

𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙(𝑠)

Mass of precipitate (AgCl) = 0.5509g

Step 1 : Mass of Cl in the sample of precipitate
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙 = × 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙
.
= × 35.453 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙
.
= 0.1363 g Cl
Step 2 : Percentage of Chloride in the sample
% of Cl = × 100%
.
= × 100%
.
= 51.92 % of Cl in the sample