1.

Qualitative & quantitative

2. Qualitative & quantitative
3. Qualitative
4. Quantitative

Deer Kill: A Case Study

(1) A method published by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) was selected for
the quantitative determination of arsenic in the grass samples.
(2) Representative samples were obtained, in this case, the grass surrounding the nearby power
line poles. (Sampling is applied)
(3) The grass was homogenized using a high-speed blender and was placed in a porcelain crucible.
(4) The analytes in the sample were freed from the organic material and converted to arsenic
pentoxide (As2O5) through dry ashing which involved heating the crucible until the sample
stopped smoking, and further heating in a furnace. The dry solid in the sample crucible was then
dissolved in dilute HCl which converted As 2O5 to H3AsO4. Hence, obtaining an aqueous solution.
(5) Interferences were removed by converting arsenic to arsine (AsH 3). The solution from the grass
sample was combined with Sn2+, and a small amount iodide ion was added to catalyze the
reduction of H3AsO4 to H3AsO3 which is then converted to AsH3 by the addition of zinc metal.
This entire reaction was carried out in flasks equipped with a stopper and delivery tube so that
the arsine could be collected in the absorber solution in a cuvette and the inferences in a
reaction flask. Arsine bubbled into the solution in the cuvette and reacted with silver
diethyldithiocarbamate and formed a colored complex compound.
(6) The amount of analyte in the sample was determined using a spectrophotometer which
provides a number called absorbance that is directly proportional to the color intensity, in this
case, it was red, which is also proportional to the concentration of the species responsible or the
color.
(7) The concentration of arsenic was calculated in the grass samples which showed about 600 ppm
arsenic which suggested that the grass was sprayed with arsenic herbicide.