Homework on

Gravimetric Analysis

1. Indicate whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F)
a) ( F ) Peptization is avoided by washing the precipitate with plenty of
distilled water.
b) ) F ( Inclusion can be avoided when precipitation is done from a
homogeneous solution.
c) ) F ( Adsorption is a real problem in gravimetry, especially when the
particle size is large.
d) ) F ( Postprecipitation can usually be overcome by digestion of the
precipitate
e) ) F ( Gravimetry is a successful analytical technique, only when an
accurately prepared standard solution is used.

2. State whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F):
a. (T ) Occlusion of precipitates is encountered in situations of fast addition
of a precipitating agent.
b. ( F ) Occlusion always results in a positive error in the mass of precipitate.
c. ( F ) Occlusion can usually be overcome by good washing of a precipitate.
d. ( T ) In inclusion, an ion from the precipitation medium, of the same size
and charge as one of the ions in the crystal lattice of precipitate, replaces that
in the precipitate.
d. ( F ) Inclusion always results in a negative error in the mass of precipitate.
e. ( F ) Inclusion can usually be overcome by good washing of a precipitate.
g. ( T ) Adsorption always results in a positive error in the mass of
precipitate.
h. ( T ) Adsorption can usually be overcome by good washing of a
precipitate.
i. ( T ) Postprecipitation can be decreased by immediate filtration of the
precipitate, just after completion of the precipitation process
j. ( F ) Postprecipitation always results in a negative error in the mass of
precipitate.
k.( F ) Postprecipitation can usually be overcome by good washing of a
precipitate.
l.( F ) Particle growth is directly proportional to the relative supersaturation

3. Iron in a 1.000g ore sample was dissolved and precipitated as the hydroxide.
The precipitate was ignited to Fe2O3 (FW = 158 g/mol) weighing 0.5634 g.
Find the percentage iron in the sample (AW of Fe = 56 g/mol).

mg Fe = 399.4
%Fe = 39.9

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 4. A 350 mg sample containing KClO3 was carefully reduced and treated with
excess AgNO3. The resulting AgCl (FW = 143.32 g/mol) weighed 0.185 g.
Find % ClO2 (FW = 67.55 g/mol) in the sample.

mg ClO2 = 87.2
% ClO2 = 24.9

5. Barium in a 1.000g of pure BaCl2 (AW (Cl) = 35.453 g/mol) was precipitated
as BaSO4 (FW (SO4) = 96.00 g/mol) weighing 1.121 g. Find the atomic weight
of barium.

AW Ba = 136.48 g/mol

6. The sulfur (AW = 32.066 g/mol) in a 0.8755 g sample was precipitated as

Bi2S3 (FW = 514.32 g/mol) weighing 428.3 mg. What is the percentage SO3
(FW = 80.06 g/mol) in the sample.

mg SO3 = 200.0
% SO3 = 22.8

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 7. Consider a 1.0000 g sample of a pure metal sulfate (MSO4, AW of S =
32g/mol, and AW of O = 16 g/mol). The sample is dissolved and the sulfate is
precipitated as BaSO4 (FW 233.39). If the BaSO4 precipitate weighs 1.5100g,
what is the atomic weight of M2+ in MSO4?

atomic weight of M2+ = 58.6

8. Silver in a 0.5742 g of pure silver wire was dissolved and treated with
excess NaBr where Ag+ was precipitated as AgBr (AW (Br) = 79.9 g/mol).
Find the atomic weight of Ag if the precipitate weighed 1.002 g.

atomic weight of Ag = 107.2

9. How is inclusion different from an occlusion?

From book

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 10. State four desirable properties of a gravimetric precipitate.

From book

11. What measures can be taken to decrease the relative supersaturation during a
precipitation?

From book

12. Why would a reprecipitation be employed in a gravimetric analysis?

From book

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 13. To find the Ce (AW = 140.1 g/mol) content of a solid, 4.37 g were dissolved
and treated with excess iodate to precipitate Ce(IO3)4. The precipitate was
collected, washed well, dried, and ignited to produce 0.104 g of CeO2 (FW
172.114). What was the weight percent of Ce (AW = 140.1 g/mol) in the
original solid?

mg Ce = 84.66
% Ce = 1.94

14. The calcium content of a sample can be determined gravimetrically by first

precipitating the calcium ions present as calcium oxalate. When this
precipitate is heated, it decomposes completely to produce calcium oxide
(CaO, FW = 56g/mol). In testing the purity of a calcium chloride sample, a
chemist used gravimetric analysis and obtained 8.81 g of calcium oxide from
an original 18.0 g sample of calcium chloride. Calculate the percentage purity
of the calcium chloride (FW = 111.1 g/mol).

g CaCl2 = 17.48
% CaCl2 = 97.1

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 15. Calcium in a 1.1142 g sample is precipitated as Ca3(PO4)2 (FW = 310 g/mol)
weighing 0.7526g. Express the percentage of calcium in the sample as CaCO3
(FW = 100 g/mol).

mg CaCO3 = 728.3
% CaCO3 = 65.4

16.

mg piperazine = 297.41
% piperazine = 95.1

17. Circle the correct term(s), in italics, in each of the following sentences:

a. Gravimetric methods are classified as macro, micro or ultramicro

b. The supersaturation ratio in a gravimetric procedure should be kept at a

maximum minimum

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 c. Precipitation of an analyte should be performed using hot, cold, dilute,
concentrated solutions
d. Gravimetry is one of the most accurate inaccurate analytical methods
where it requires accurately prepared standards no standard solutions

e. A large excess A small excess of precipitating agent should always be

used in precipitation using gravimetry.

18. Calculate the percentage of Fe (AW = 55.86 g/mol) in each of the following:
a. FeO (FW = 71.85 g/mol)

% Fe = 77.7

b. Fe2O3 (FW = 159.69 g/mol)

% Fe = 70

c. Fe2(SO4)3 (FW = 399.88 g/mol)

% Fe = 27.9

19. The iodide (AW = 126.9 g/mol) in a 0.8342 g sample was precipitated as
PbI2 (FW = 461 g/mol), weighing 0.3321 g. Find percentage iodide
(FW(I2) = 254 g/mol) in the sample.

mg I = 182.98
% I = 21.9

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 20. Lead in a 0.9309 g of a sample was dissolved and the Pb2+ was precipitated as
PbI2 (FW = 461 g/mol). Find the percentage of PbO2 (AW = 239.2) in the
sample if the precipitate weighed 0.4588 g.

mg PbO2 = 238.1
% PbO2 = 25.6

21. A 0.4550-g solid mixture containing MgSO4 (FW = 120 g/mol) is dissolved in
water and treated with an excess of Ba(NO3)2, resulting in the precipitation of
0.6168 g of BaSO4 (FW = 233 g/mol).
MgSO4(aq) + Ba(NO3)2(aq)  BaSO4(s) + Mg(NO3)2(aq)
What is the percentage of MgSO4 in the mixture?

mg MgSO4 = 317.7
% MgSO4 = 69.8