Chapter VI: Part II: Volumetric Analysis (3)

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out into Erlenmeyer flasks two portions of iron wire of about 0.25 gram each. Dissolve these in hot dilute sulphuric acid (5 cc. of concentrated acid and 100 cc. of water), using a covered flask to avoid loss by spattering. Boil the solution for two or three minutes after the iron has dissolved to remove any volatile hydrocarbons. Meanwhile prepare the reductor for use as follows: Connect the vacuum bottle with the suction pump and pour into the funnel at the top warm, dilute sulphuric acid, prepared by adding 5 cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid to 100 cc. of distilled water. See that the stopcock (C) is open far enough to allow the acid to run through slowly. Continue to pour in acid until 200 cc. have passed through, then close the stopcock !while a small quantity of liquid is still left in the funnel!. Discard the filtrate, and again pass through 100 cc. of the warm, dilute acid. Test this with the permanganate solution. A single drop should color it permanently; if it does not, repeat the washing, until assured that the zinc is not contaminated with appreciable quantities of reducing substances. Be sure that no air enters the reductor (Note 1).

Pour the iron solution while hot (but not boiling) through the reductor at a rate not exceeding 50 cc. per minute (Notes 2 and 3). Wash out the beaker with dilute sulphuric acid, and follow the iron solution without interruption with 175 cc. of the warm acid and finally with 75 cc. of distilled water, leaving the funnel partially filled. Remove the filter bottle and cool the solution quickly under the water tap (Note 4), avoiding unnecessary exposure to the oxygen of the air. Add 10 cc. of dilute sulphuric acid and titrate to a faint pink with the permanganate solution, adding it directly to the contents of the vacuum flask. Should the end-point be overstepped, the ferrous sulphate solution may be added.

From the volume of the solution required to oxidize the iron in the wire, calculate the relation to the normal of the permanganate solution. The duplicate results should be concordant within two parts in one thousand.

[Note 1: The funnel of the reductor must never be allowed to empty. If it is left partially filled with water the reductor is ready for subsequent use after a very little washing; but a preliminary test is always necessary to safeguard against error.

If more than a small drop of permanganate solution is required to color 100 cc. of the dilute acid after the reductor is well washed, an allowance must be made for the iron in the zinc. !Great care! must be used to prevent the access of air to the reductor after it has been washed out ready for use. If air enters, hydrogen peroxide forms, which reacts with the permanganate, and the results are worthless.]

[Note 2: The iron is reduced to the ferrous condition by contact with the zinc. The active agent may be considered to be !nascent! hydrogen, and it must be borne in mind that the visible bubbles are produced by molecular hydrogen, which is without appreciable effect upon ferric iron.

The rate at which the iron solution passes through the zinc should not exceed that prescribed, but the rate may be increased somewhat when the wash-water is added. It is well to allow the iron solution to run nearly, but not entirely, out of the funnel before the wash-water is added. If it is necessary to interrupt the process, the complete emptying of the funnel can always be avoided by closing the stopcock.

It is also possible to reduce the iron by treatment with zinc in a flask from which air is excluded. The zinc must be present in excess of the quantity necessary to reduce the iron and is finally completely dissolved. This method is, however, less convenient and more tedious than the use of the reductor.]

[Note 3: The dilute sulphuric acid for washing must be warmed ready for use before the reduction of the iron begins, and it is of the first importance that the volume of acid and of wash-water should be measured, and the volume used should always be the same in the standardizations and all subsequent analyses.]

[Note 4: The end-point is more permanent in cold than hot solutions, possibly because of a slight action of the permanganate upon the manganous sulphate formed during titration. If the solution turns brown, it is an evidence of insufficient acid, and more should be immediately added. The results are likely to be less accurate in this case, however, as a consequence of secondary reactions between the ferrous iron and the manganese dioxide thrown down. It is wiser to discard such results and repeat the process.]

[Note 5: The potassium permanganate may, of course, be diluted and brought to an exactly 0.1 N solution from the data here obtained. The percentage of iron in the iron wire must be taken into account in all calculations.]

!Method B!

!Oxalate Standards!

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out two portions of pure sodium oxalate of 0.25-0.3 gram each into beakers of about 600 cc. capacity. Add about 400 cc. of boiling water and 20 cc. of manganous sulphate solution (Note 1). When the solution of the oxalate is complete, heat the liquid, if necessary, until near its boiling point (70-90°C.) and run in the standard permanganate solution drop by drop from a burette, stirring constantly until an end-point is reached (Note 2). Make a blank test with 20 cc. of manganous sulphate solution and a volume of distilled water equal to that of the titrated solution to determine the volume of the permanganate solution required to produce a very slight pink. Deduct this volume from the amount of permanganate solution used in the titration.

From the data obtained, calculate the relation of the permanganate solution to the normal. The reaction involved is:

5Na_{2}C_{2}O_{4} + 2KMnO_{4} + 8H_{2}SO_{4} --> 5Na_{2}SO_{4} + K_{2}SO_{4} + 2MnSO_{4} + 10CO_{2} + 8H_{2}O

[Note 1: The manganous sulphate titrating solution is made by dissolving 20 grams of MnSO_{4} in 200 cubic centimeters of water and adding 40 cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid (sp. gr. 1.84) and 40 cc. or phosphoric acid (85%).]

[Note 2: The reaction between oxalates and permanganates takes place quantitatively only in hot acid solutions. The temperatures must not fall below 70°C.]

DETERMINATION OF IRON IN LIMONITE

!Method A!

The procedures, as here prescribed, are applicable to iron ores in general, provided these ores contain no constituents which are reduced by zinc or stannous chloride and reoxidized by permanganates. Many iron ores contain titanium, and this element among others does interfere with the determination of iron by the process described. If, however, the solutions of such ores are treated with sulphureted hydrogen or sulphurous acid, instead of zinc or stannous chloride to reduce the iron, and the excess reducing agent removed by boiling, an accurate determination of the iron can be made.

PROCEDURE.--Grind the mineral to a fine powder. Weigh out two portions of about 0.5 gram each into small porcelain crucibles. Roast the ore at dull redness for ten minutes (Note 1), allow the crucibles to cool, and place them and their contents in casseroles containing 30 cc. of dilute hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. 1.12).

Proceed with the solution of the ore, and the treatment of the residue, if necessary, exactly as described for the bichromate process on page 56. When solution is complete, add 6 cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid to each casserole, and evaporate on the steam bath until the solution is nearly colorless (Note 2). Cover the casseroles and heat over the flame of the burner, holding the casserole in the hand and rotating it slowly to hasten evaporation and prevent spattering, until the heavy white fumes of sulphuric anhydride are freely evolved (Note 3). Cool the casseroles, add 100 cc. of water (measured), and boil gently until the ferric sulphate is dissolved; pour the warm solution through the reductor which has been previously washed; proceed as described under standardization, taking pains to use the same volume and strength of acid and the same volume of wash-water as there prescribed, and titrate with the permanganate solution in the reductor flask, using the ferrous sulphate solution if the end-point should be overstepped.

From the corrected volume of permanganate solution used, calculate the percentage of iron (Fe) in the limonite.

[Note 1: The preliminary roasting is usually necessary because, even though the sulphuric acid would subsequently char the carbonaceous matter, certain nitrogenous bodies are not thereby rendered insoluble in the acid, and would be oxidized by the permanganate.]

[Note 2: The temperature of the steam bath is not sufficient to volatilize sulphuric acid. Solutions may, therefore, be left to evaporate overnight without danger of evaporation to dryness.]

[Note 3: The hydrochloric acid, both free and combined, is displaced by the less volatile sulphuric acid at its boiling point. Ferric sulphate separates at this point, since there is no water to hold it in solution and care is required to prevent bumping. The ferric sulphate usually has a silky appearance and is easily distinguished from the flocculent silica which often remains undissolved.]

!Zimmermann-Reinhardt Procedure!

!Method (B)!

PROCEDURE.--Grind the mineral to a fine powder. Weigh out two portions of about 0.5 gram each into small porcelain crucibles. Proceed with the solution of the ore, treat the residue, if necessary, and reduce the iron by the addition of stannous chloride, followed by mercuric chloride, as described for the bichromate process on page 56. Dilute the solution to about 400 cc. with cold water, add 10 cc. of the manganous sulphate titrating solution (Note 1, page 68) and titrate with the standard potassium permanganate solution to a faint pink (Note 1).

From the standardization data already obtained calculate the percentage of iron (Fe) in the limonite.

[Note 1: It has already been noted that hydrochloric acid reacts slowly in cold solutions with potassium permanganate. It is, however, possible to obtain a satisfactory, although somewhat fugitive end-point in the presence of manganous sulphate and phosphoric acid. The explanation of the part played by these reagents is somewhat obscure as yet. It is possible that an intermediate manganic compound is formed which reacts rapidly with the ferrous compounds--thus in effect catalyzing the oxidizing process.

While an excess of hydrochloric acid is necessary for the successful reduction of the iron by stannous chloride, too large an amount should be avoided in order to lessen the chance of reduction of the permanganate by the acid during titration.]

DETERMINATION OF THE OXIDIZING POWER OF PYROLUSITE

INDIRECT OXIDATION

Pyrolusite, when pure, consists of manganese dioxide. Its value as an oxidizing agent, and for the production of chlorine, depends upon the percentage of MnO_{2} in the sample. This percentage is determined by an indirect method, in which the manganese dioxide is reduced and dissolved by an excess of ferrous sulphate or oxalic acid in the presence of sulphuric acid, and the unused excess determined by titration with standard permanganate solution.

PROCEDURE.--Grind the mineral in an agate mortar until no grit whatever can be detected under the pestle (Note 1). Transfer it to a stoppered weighing-tube, and weigh out two portions of about 0.5 gram into beakers (400-500 cc.) Read Note 2, and then calculate in each case the weight of oxalic acid (H_{2}C_{2}O_{4}.2H_{2}O) required to react with the weights of pyrolusite taken. The reaction involved is

MnO_{2} + H_{2}C_{2}O_{4}(2H_{2}O) + H_{2}SO_{4} --> MnSO_{4} + 2CO_{2} + 4H_{2}O.

Weigh out about 0.2 gram in excess of this quantity of !pure! oxalic acid into the corresponding beakers, weighing the acid accurately and recording the weight in the notebook. Pour into each beaker 25 cc. of water and 50 cc. of dilute sulphuric acid (1:5), cover and warm the beaker and its contents gently until the evolution of carbon dioxide ceases (Note 3). If a residue remains which is sufficiently colored to obscure the end-reaction of the permanganate, it must be removed by filtration.

Finally, dilute the solution to 200-300 cc., heat the solution to a temperature just below boiling, add 15 cc. of a manganese sulphate solution and while hot, titrate for the excess of the oxalic acid with standard permanganate solution (Notes 4 and 5).

From the corrected volume of the solution required, calculate the amount of oxalic acid undecomposed by the pyrolusite; subtract this from the total quantity of acid used, and calculate the weight of manganese dioxide which would react with the balance of the acid, and from this the percentage in the sample.

[Note 1: The success of the analysis is largely dependent upon the fineness of the powdered mineral. If properly ground, solution should be complete in fifteen minutes or less.]

[Note 2: A moderate excess of oxalic acid above that required to react with the pyrolusite is necessary to promote solution; otherwise the residual quantity of oxalic acid would be so small that the last particles of the mineral would scarcely dissolve. It is also desirable that a sufficient excess of the acid should be present to react with a considerable volume of the permanganate solution during the titration, thus increasing the accuracy of the process. On the other hand, the excess of oxalic acid should not be so large as to react with more of the permanganate solution than is contained in a 50 cc. burette. If the pyrolusite under examination is known to be of high grade, say 80 per cent pure, or above the calculation of the oxalic acid needed may be based upon an assumption that the mineral is all MnO_{2}. If the quality of the mineral is unknown, it is better to weigh out three portions instead of two and to add to one of these the amount of oxalic prescribed, assuming complete purity of the mineral. Then run in the permanganate solution from a pipette or burette to determine roughly the amount required. If the volume exceeds the contents of a burette, the amount of oxalic acid added to the other two portions is reduced accordingly.]

[Note 3: Care should be taken that the sides of the beaker are not overheated, as oxalic acid would be decomposed by heat alone if crystallization should occur on the sides of the vessel. Strong sulphuric acid also decomposes the oxalic acid. The dilute acid should, therefore, be prepared before it is poured into the beaker.]

[Note 4: Ferrous ammonium sulphate, ferrous sulphate, or iron wire may be substituted for the oxalic acid. The reaction is then the following:

2 FeSO_{4} + MnO_{2} + 2H_{2}SO_{4} --> Fe_{2}(SO_{4})_{3} + 2H_{2}O

The excess of ferrous iron may also be determined by titration with potassium bichromate, if desired. Care is required to prevent the oxidation of the iron by the air, if ferrous salts are employed.]

[Note 5: The oxidizing power of pyrolusite may be determined by other volumetric processes, one of which is outlined in the following reactions:

MnO_{2} + 4HCl --> MnCl_{2} + Cl_{2} + 2H_{2}O Cl_{2} + 2KI --> I_{2} + 2KCl I_{2} + 2Na_{2}S_{2}O_{3} --> Na_{2}S_{4}O_{6} + 2NaI.

The chlorine generated by the pyrolusite is passed into a solution of potassium iodide. The liberated iodine is then determined by titration with sodium thiosulphate, as described on page 78. This is a direct process, although it involves three steps.]

IODIMETRY

The titration of iodine against sodium thiosulphate, with starch as an indicator, may perhaps be regarded as the most accurate of volumetric processes. The thiosulphate solution may be used in both acid and neutral solutions to measure free iodine and the latter may, in turn, serve as a measure of any substance capable of liberating iodine from potassium iodide under suitable conditions for titration, as, for example, in the process outlined in Note 5 on page 74.

The fundamental reaction upon which iodometric processes are based is the following:

I_{2} + 2 Na_{2}S_{2}O_{3} --> 2 NaI + Na_{2}S_{4}O_{6}.

This reaction between iodine and sodium thiosulphate, resulting in the formation of the compound Na_{2}S_{4}O_{6}, called sodium tetrathionate, is quantitatively exact, and differs in that respect from the action of chlorine or bromine, which oxidize the thiosulphate, but not quantitatively.

NORMAL SOLUTIONS OF IODINE AND SODIUM THIOSULPHATE

If the formulas of sodium thiosulphate and sodium tetrathionate are written in a manner to show the atoms of oxygen associated with sulphur atoms in each, thus, 2(Na_{2}).S_{2}O_{2} and Na_{2}O.S_{4}O_{5}, it is plain that in the tetrathionate there are five atoms of oxygen associated with sulphur, instead of the four in the two molecules of the thiosulphate taken together. Although, therefore, the iodine contains no oxygen, the two atoms of iodine have, in effect, brought about the addition of one oxygen atoms to the sulphur atoms. That is the same thing as saying that 253.84 grams of iodine (I_{2}) are equivalent to 16 grams of oxygen; hence, since 8 grams of oxygen is the basis of normal solutions, 253.84/2 or 126.97 grams of iodine should be contained in one liter of normal iodine solution. By a similar course of reasoning the conclusion is reached that the normal solution of sodium thiosulphate should contain, per liter, its molecular weight in grams. As the thiosulphate in crystalline form has the formula Na_{2}S_{2}O_{3}.5H_{2}O, this weight is 248.12 grams. Tenth-normal or hundredth-normal solutions are generally used.

PREPARATION OF STANDARD SOLUTIONS

!Approximate Strength, 0.1 N!

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out on the rough balances 13 grams of commercial iodine. Place it in a mortar with 18 grams of potassium iodide and triturate with small portions of water until all is dissolved. Dilute the solution to 1000 cc. and transfer to a liter bottle and mix thoroughly (Note 1).[1]

[Footnote 1: It will be found more economical to have a considerable quantity of the solution prepared by a laboratory attendant, and to have all unused solutions returned to the common stock.]

Weigh out 25 grams of sodium thiosulphate, dissolve it in water which has been previously boiled and cooled, and dilute to 1000 cc., also with boiled water. Transfer the solution to a liter bottle and mix thoroughly (Note 2).

[Note 1: Iodine solutions react with water to form hydriodic acid under the influence of the sunlight, and even at low room temperatures the iodine tends to volatilize from solution. They should, therefore, be protected from light and heat. Iodine solutions are not stable for long periods under the best of conditions. They cannot be used in burettes with rubber tips, since they attack the rubber.]

[Note 2: Sodium thiosulphate (Na_{2}S_{2}O_{3}.5H_{2}O) is rarely wholly pure as sold commercially, but may be purified by recrystallization. The carbon dioxide absorbed from the air by distilled water decomposes the salt, with the separation of sulphur. Boiled water which has been cooled out of contact with the air should be used in preparing solutions.]

INDICATOR SOLUTION

The starch solution for use as an indicator must be freshly prepared. A soluble starch is obtainable which serves well, and a solution of 0.5 gram of this starch in 25 cc. of boiling water is sufficient. The solution should be filtered while hot and is ready for use when cold.

If soluble starch is not at hand, potato starch may be used. Mix about 1 gram with 5 cc. of cold water to a smooth paste, pour 150 cc. of !boiling! water over it, warm for a moment on the hot plate, and put it aside to settle. Decant the supernatant liquid through a filter and use the clear filtrate; 5 cc. of this solution are needed for a titration.

The solution of potato starch is less stable than the soluble starch. The solid particles of the starch, if not removed by filtration, become so colored by the iodine that they are not readily decolorized by the thiosulphate (Note 1).

[Note 1: The blue color which results when free iodine and starch are brought together is probably not due to the formation of a true chemical compound. It is regarded as a "solid solution" of iodine in starch. Although it is unstable, and easily destroyed by heat, it serves as an indicator for the presence of free iodine of remarkable sensitiveness, and makes the iodometric processes the most satisfactory of any in the field of volumetric analysis.]

COMPARISON OF IODINE AND THIOSULPHATE SOLUTIONS

PROCEDURE.--Place the solutions in burettes (the iodine in a glass-stoppered burette), observing the usual precautions. Run out 40 cc. of the thiosulphate solution into a beaker, dilute with 150 cc. of water, add 1 cc. to 2 cc. of the soluble starch solution, and titrate with the iodine to the appearance of the blue of the iodo-starch. Repeat until the ratio of the two solutions is established, remembering all necessary corrections for burettes and for temperature changes.

STANDARDIZATION OF SOLUTIONS

Commercial iodine is usually not sufficiently pure to permit of its use as a standard for thiosulphate solutions or the direct preparation of a standard solution of iodine. It is likely to contain, beside moisture, some iodine chloride, if chlorine was used to liberate the iodine when it was prepared. It may be purified by sublimation after mixing it with a little potassium iodide, which reacts with the iodine chloride, forming potassium chloride and setting free the iodine. The sublimed iodine is then dried by placing it in a closed container over concentrated sulphuric acid. It may then be weighed in a stoppered weighing-tube and dissolved in a solution of potassium iodide in a stoppered flask to prevent loss of iodine by volatilization. About 18 grams of the iodide and twelve grams of iodine per liter are required for an approximately tenth-normal solution.

An iodine solution made from commercial iodine may also be standardized against arsenious oxide (As_{4}O_{6}). This substance also usually requires purification by sublimation before use.

The substances usually employed for the standardization of a thiosulphate solution are potassium bromate and metallic copper. The former is obtainable in pure condition or may be easily purified by re-crystallization. Copper wire of high grade is sufficiently pure to serve as a standard. Both potassium bromate and cupric salts in solution will liberate iodine from an iodide, which is then titrated with the thiosulphate solution.

The reactions involved are the following:

(a) KBrO_{3} + 6KI + 3H_{2}SO_{4} --> KBr + 3I_{2} + 3K_{2}SO_{4} + 3H_{2}O,

(b) 3Cu + 8HNO_{3} --> 3Cu(NO_{3})_{2} + 2NO + 4H_{2}O,
2Cu(NO_{3})_{2} + 4KI --> 2CuI + 4KNO_{3} + I_{2}.

Two methods for the direct standardization of the sodium thiosulphate solution are here described, and one for the direct standardization of the iodine solution.

!Method A!

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out into 500 cc. beakers two portions of about 0.150-0.175 gram of potassium bromate. Dissolve each of these in 50 cc. of water, and add 10 cc. of a potassium iodide solution containing 3 grams of the salt in that volume (Note 1). Add to the mixture 10 cc. of dilute sulphuric acid (1 volume of sulphuric acid with 5 volumes of water), allow the solution to stand for three minutes, and dilute to 150 cc. (Note 2). Run in thiosulphate solution from a burette until the color of the liberated iodine is nearly destroyed, and then add 1 cc. or 2 cc. of starch solution, titrate to the disappearance of the iodo-starch blue, and finally add iodine solution until the color is just restored. Make a blank test for the amount of thiosulphate solution required to react with the iodine liberated by the iodate which is generally present in the potassium iodide solution, and deduct this from the total volume used in the titration.

From the data obtained, calculate the relation of the thiosulphate solution to a normal solution, and subsequently calculate the similar value for the iodine solution.

[Note 1:--Potassium iodide usually contains small amounts of potassium iodate as impurity which, when the iodide is brought into an acid solution, liberates iodine, just as does the potassium bromate used as a standard. It is necessary to determine the amount of thiosulphate which reacts with the iodine thus liberated by making a "blank test" with the iodide and acid alone. As the iodate is not always uniformly distributed throughout the iodide, it is better to make up a sufficient volume of a solution of the iodide for the purposes of the work in hand, and to make the blank test by using the same volume of the iodide solution as is added in the standardizing process. The iodide solution should contain about 3 grams of the salt in 10 cc.]

[Note 2: The color of the iodo-starch is somewhat less satisfactory in concentrated solutions of the alkali salts, notably the iodides. The dilution prescribed obviates this difficulty.]

!Method B!

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out two portions of 0.25-0.27 gram of clean copper wire into 250 cc. Erlenmeyer flasks (Note 1). Add to each 5 cc. of concentrated nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.42) and 25 cc. of water, cover, and warm until solution is complete. Add 5 cc. of bromine water and boil until the excess of bromine is expelled. Cool, and add strong ammonia (sp. gr. 0.90) drop by drop until a deep blue color indicates the presence of an excess. Boil the solution until the deep blue is replaced by a light bluish green, or a brown stain appears on the sides of the flask (Note 2). Add 10 cc. of strong acetic acid (sp. gr. 1.04), cool under the water tap, and add a solution of potassium iodide (Note 3) containing about 3 grams of the salt, and titrate with thiosulphate solution until the color of the liberated iodine is nearly destroyed. Then add 1-2 cc. of freshly prepared starch solution, and add thiosulphate solution, drop by drop, until the blue color is discharged.

From the data obtained, including the "blank test" of the iodide, calculate the relation of the thiosulphate solution to the normal.

[Note 1: While copper wire of commerce is not absolutely pure, the requirements for its use as a conductor of electricity are such that the impurities constitute only a few hundredths of one per cent and are negligible for analytical purposes.]

[Note 2: Ammonia neutralizes the free nitric acid. It should be added in slight excess only, since the excess must be removed by boiling, which is tedious. If too much ammonia is present when acetic acid is added, the resulting ammonium acetate is hydrolyzed, and the ammonium hydroxide reacts with the iodine set free.]

[Note 3: A considerable excess of potassium iodide is necessary for the prompt liberation of iodine. While a large excess will do no harm, the cost of this reagent is so great that waste should be avoided.]

!Method C!

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out into 500 cc. beakers two portions of 0.175-0.200 gram each of pure arsenious oxide. Dissolve each of these in 10 cc. of sodium hydroxide solution, with stirring. Dilute the solutions to 150 cc. and add dilute hydrochloric acid until the solutions contain a few drops in excess, and finally add to each a concentrated solution of 5 grams of pure sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO_{3}) in water. Cover the beakers before adding the bicarbonate, to avoid loss. Add the starch solution and titrate with the iodine to the appearance of the blue of the iodo-starch, taking care not to pass the end-point by more than a few drops (Note 1).

From the corrected volume of the iodine solution used to oxidize the arsenious oxide, calculate its relation to the normal. From the ratio between the solutions, calculate the similar value for the thiosulphate solution.

[Note 1: Arsenious oxide dissolves more readily in caustic alkali than in a bicarbonate solution, but the presence of caustic alkali during the titration is not admissible. It is therefore destroyed by the addition of acid, and the solution is then made neutral with the solution of bicarbonate, part of which reacts with the acid, the excess remaining in solution.

The reaction during titration is the following:

Na_{3}AsO_{3} + I_{2} + 2NaHCO_{3} --> Na_{3}AsO_{4} + 2NaI + 2CO_{2} + H_{2}O

As the reaction between sodium thiosulphate and iodine is not always free from secondary reactions in the presence of even the weakly alkaline bicarbonate, it is best to avoid the addition of any considerable excess of iodine. Should the end-point be passed by a few drops, the thiosulphate may be used to correct it.]

DETERMINATION OF COPPER IN ORES

Copper ores vary widely in composition from the nearly pure copper minerals, such as malachite and copper sulphide, to very low grade materials which contain such impurities as silica, lead, iron, silver, sulphur, arsenic, and antimony. In nearly all varieties there will be found a siliceous residue insoluble in acids. The method here given, which is a modification of that described by A.H. Low (!J. Am. Chem. Soc.! (1902), 24, 1082), provides for the extraction of the copper from commonly occurring ores, and for the presence of their common impurities. For practice analyses it is advisable to select an ore of a fair degree of purity.

PROCEDURE.-- Weigh out two portions of about 0.5 gram each of the ore (which should be ground until no grit is detected) into 250 cc. Erlenmeyer flasks or small beakers. Add 10 cc. of concentrated nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.42) and heat very gently until the ore is decomposed and the acid evaporated nearly to dryness (Note 1). Add 5 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. 1.2) and warm gently. Then add about 7 cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid (sp. gr. 1.84) and evaporate over a free flame until the sulphuric acid fumes freely (Note 2). It has then displaced nitric and hydrochloric acid from their compounds.

Cool the flask or beaker, add 25 cc. of water, heat the solution to boiling, and boil for two minutes. Filter to remove insoluble sulphates, silica and any silver that may have been precipitated as silver chloride, and receive the filtrate in a small beaker, washing the precipitate and filter paper with warm water until the filtrate and washings amount to 75 cc. Bend a strip of aluminium foil (5 cm. x 12 cm.) into triangular form and place it on edge in the beaker. Cover the beaker and boil the solution (being careful to avoid loss of liquid by spattering) for ten minutes, but do not evaporate to small volume.

Wash the cover glass and sides of the beaker. The copper should now be in the form of a precipitate at the bottom of the beaker or adhering loosely to the aluminium sheet. Remove the sheet, wash it carefully with hydrogen sulphide water and place it in a small beaker. Decant the solution through a filter, wash the precipitated copper twice by decantation with hydrogen sulphide water, and finally transfer the copper to the filter paper, where it is again washed thoroughly, being careful at all times to keep the precipitated copper covered with the wash water. Remove and discard the filtrate and place an Erlenmeyer flask under the funnel. Pour 15 cc. of dilute nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.20) over the aluminium foil in the beaker, thus dissolving any adhering copper. Wash the foil with hot water and remove it. Warm this nitric acid solution and pour it slowly through the filter paper, thereby dissolving the copper on the paper, receiving the acid solution in the Erlenmeyer flask. Before washing the paper, pour 5 cc. of saturated bromine water (Note 3) through it and finally wash the paper carefully with hot water and transfer any particles of copper which may be left on it to the Erlenmeyer flask. Boil to expel the bromine. Add concentrated ammonia drop by drop until the appearance of a deep blue coloration indicates an excess. Boil until the deep blue is displaced by a light bluish green coloration, or until brown stains form on the sides of the flask. Add 10 cc. of strong acetic acid (Note 4) and cool under the water tap. Add a solution containing about 3 grams of potassium iodide, as in the standardization, and titrate with thiosulphate solution until the yellow of the liberated iodine is nearly discharged. Add 1-2 cc. of freshly prepared starch solution and titrate to the disappearance of the blue color.

From the data obtained, calculate the percentage of copper (Cu) in the ore.

[Note 1: Nitric acid, because of its oxidizing power, is used as a solvent for the sulphide ores. As a strong acid it will also dissolve the copper from carbonate ores. The hydrochloric acid is added to dissolve oxides of iron and to precipitate silver and lead. The sulphuric acid displaces the other acids, leaving a solution containing sulphates only. It also, by its dehydrating action, renders silica from silicates insoluble.]

[Note 2: Unless proper precautions are taken to insure the correct concentrations of acid the copper will not precipitate quantitatively on the aluminium foil; hence care must be taken to follow directions carefully at this point. Lead and silver have been almost completely removed as sulphate and chloride respectively, or they too would be precipitated on the aluminium. Bismuth, though precipitated on aluminium, has no effect on the analysis. Arsenic and antimony precipitate on aluminium and would interfere with the titration if allowed to remain in the lower state of oxidation.]

[Note 3: Bromine is added to oxidize arsenious and antimonious compounds from the original sample, and to oxidize nitrous acid formed by the action of nitric acid on copper and copper sulphide.]

[Note 4: This reaction can be carried out in the presence of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids as well as acetic acid, but in the presence of these strong acids arsenic and antimonic acids may react with the hydriodic acid produced with the liberation of free iodine, thereby reversing the process and introducing an error.]

DETERMINATION OF ANTIMONY IN STIBNITE

Stibnite is native antimony sulphide. Nearly pure samples of this mineral are easily obtainable and should be used for practice, since many impurities, notably iron, seriously interfere with the accurate determination of the antimony by iodometric methods. It is, moreover, essential that the directions with respect to amounts of reagents employed and concentration of solutions should be followed closely.

PROCEDURE.--Grind the mineral with great care, and weigh out two portions of 0.35-0.40 gram into small, dry beakers (100 cc.). Cover the beakers and pour over the stibnite 5 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. 1.20) and warm gently on the water bath (Note 1). When the residue is white, add to each beaker 2 grams of powdered tartaric acid (Note 2). Warm the solution on the water bath for ten minutes longer, dilute the solution very cautiously by adding water in portions of 5 cc., stopping if the solution turns red. It is possible that no coloration will appear, in which case cautiously continue the dilution to 125 cc. If a red precipitate or coloration does appear, warm the solution until it is colorless, and again dilute cautiously to a total volume of 125 cc. and boil for a minute (Note 3).

If a white precipitate of the oxychloride separates during dilution (which should not occur if the directions are followed), it is best to discard the determination and to start anew.

Carefully neutralize most of the acid with ammonium hydroxide solution (sp. gr. 0.96), but leave it distinctly acid (Note 4). Dissolve 3 grams of sodium bicarbonate in 200 cc. of water in a 500 cc. beaker, and pour the cold solution of the antimony chloride into this, avoiding loss by effervescence. Make sure that the solution contains an excess of the bicarbonate, and then add 1 cc. or 2 cc. of starch solution and titrate with iodine solution to the appearance of the blue, avoiding excess (Notes 5 and 6).

From the corrected volume of the iodine solution required to oxidize the antimony, calculate the percentage of antimony (Sb) in the stibnite.

[Note 1: Antimony chloride is volatile with steam from its concentrated solutions; hence these solutions must not be boiled until they have been diluted.]

[Note 2: Antimony salts, such as the chloride, are readily hydrolyzed, and compounds such as SbOCl are formed which are often relatively insoluble; but in the presence of tartaric acid compounds with complex ions are formed, and these are soluble. An excess of hydrochloric acid also prevents precipitation of the oxychloride because the H^{+} ions from the acid lessen the dissociation of the water and thus prevent any considerable hydrolysis.]

[Note 3: The action of hydrochloric acid upon the sulphide sets free sulphureted hydrogen, a part of which is held in solution by the acid. This is usually expelled by the heating upon the water bath; but if it is not wholly driven out, a point is reached during dilution at which the antimony sulphide, being no longer held in solution by the acid, separates. If the dilution is immediately stopped and the solution warmed, this sulphide is again brought into solution and at the same time more of the sulphureted hydrogen is expelled. This procedure must be continued until the sulphureted hydrogen is all removed, since it reacts with iodine. If no precipitation of the sulphide occurs, it is an indication that the sulphureted hydrogen was all expelled on solution of the stibnite.]

[Note 4: Ammonium hydroxide is added to neutralize most of the acid, thus lessening the amount of sodium bicarbonate to be added. The ammonia should not neutralize all of the acid.]

[Note 5: The reaction which takes place during titration may be expressed thus:

Na_{3}SbO_{3} + 2NaHCO_{3} + I_{2} --> Na_{3}SbO_{4} + 2NaI + H_{2}O + 2CO_{2}.]

[Note 6: If the end-point is not permanent, that is, if the blue of the iodo-starch is discharged after standing a few moments, the cause may be an insufficient quantity of sodium bicarbonate, leaving the solution slightly acid, or a very slight precipitation of an antimony compound which is slowly acted upon by the iodine when the latter is momentarily present in excess. In either case it is better to discard the analysis and to repeat the process, using greater care in the amounts of reagents employed.]

CHLORIMETRY

The processes included under the term !chlorimetry! comprise those employed to determine chlorine, hypochlorites, bromine, and hypobromites. The reagent employed is sodium arsenite in the presence of sodium bicarbonate. The reaction in the case of the hypochlorites is

NaClO + Na_{3}AsO_{3} --> Na_{3}AsO_{4} + NaCl.

The sodium arsenite may be prepared from pure arsenious oxide, as described below, and is stable for considerable periods; but commercial oxide requires resublimation to remove arsenic sulphide, which may be present in small quantity. To prepare the solution, dissolve about 5 grams of the powdered oxide, accurately weighed, in 10 cc. of a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, dilute the solution to 300 cc., and make it faintly acid with dilute hydrochloric acid. Add 30 grams of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in a little water, and dilute the solution to exactly 1000 cc. in a measuring flask. Transfer the solution to a dry liter bottle and mix thoroughly.

It is possible to dissolve the arsenious oxide directly in a solution of sodium bicarbonate, with gentle warming, but solution in sodium hydroxide takes place much more rapidly, and the excess of the hydroxide is readily neutralized by hydrochloric acid, with subsequent addition of the bicarbonate to maintain neutrality during the titration.

The indicator required for this process is made by dipping strips of filter paper in a starch solution prepared as described on page 76, to which 1 gram of potassium iodide has been added. These strips are allowed to drain and spread upon a watch-glass until dry. When touched by a drop of the solution the paper turns blue until the hypochlorite has all been reduced and an excess of the arsenite has been added.

DETERMINATION OF THE AVAILABLE CHLORINE IN BLEACHING POWDER

Bleaching powder consists mainly of a calcium compound which is a derivative of both hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids. Its formula is CaClOCl. Its use as a bleaching or disinfecting agent, or as a source of chlorine, depends upon the amount of hypochlorous acid which it yields when treated with a stronger acid. It is customary to express the value of bleaching powder in terms of "available chlorine," by which is meant the chlorine present as hypochlorite, but not the chlorine present as chloride.

PROCEDURE.--Weigh out from a stoppered test tube into a porcelain mortar about 3.5 grams of bleaching powder (Note 1). Triturate the powder in the mortar with successive portions of water until it is well ground and wash the contents into a 500 cc. measuring flask (Note 2). Fill the flask to the mark with water and shake thoroughly. Measure off 25 cc. of this semi-solution in a measuring flask, or pipette, observing the precaution that the liquid removed shall contain approximately its proportion of suspended matter.

Empty the flask or pipette into a beaker and wash it out. Run in the arsenite solution from a burette until no further reaction takes place on the starch-iodide paper when touched by a drop of the solution of bleaching powder. Repeat the titration, using a second 25 cc. portion.

From the volume of solution required to react with the bleaching powder, calculate the percentage of available chlorine in the latter, assuming the titration reaction to be that between chlorine and arsenious oxide:

As_{4}O_{6} + 4Cl_{2} + 4H_{2}O --> 2As_{2}O_{5} + 8HCl

Note that only one twentieth of the original weight of bleaching powder enters into the reaction.

[Note 1: The powder must be triturated until it is fine, otherwise the lumps will inclose calcium hypochlorite, which will fail to react with the arsenious acid. The clear supernatant liquid gives percentages which are below, and the sediment percentages which are above, the average. The liquid measured off should, therefore, carry with it its proper proportion of the sediment, so far as that can be brought about by shaking the solution just before removal of the aliquot part for titration.]

[Note 2: Bleaching powder is easily acted upon by the carbonic acid in the air, which liberates the weak hypochlorous acid. This, of course, results in a loss of available chlorine. The original material for analysis should be kept in a closed container and protected form the air as far as possible. It is difficult to obtain analytical samples which are accurately representative of a large quantity of the bleaching powder. The procedure, as outlined, will yield results which are sufficiently exact for technical purposes.]

III. PRECIPITATION METHODS

DETERMINATION OF SILVER BY THE THIOCYANATE PROCESS

The addition of a solution of potassium or ammonium thiocyanate to one of silver in nitric acid causes a deposition of silver thiocyanate as a white, curdy precipitate. If ferric nitrate is also present, the slightest excess of the thiocyanate over that required to combine with the silver is indicated by the deep red which is characteristic of the thiocyanate test for iron.

The reactions involved are:

AgNO_{3} + KSCN --> AgSCN + KNO_{3}, 3KSCN + Fe(NO_{3})_{3} --> Fe(SCN)_{3} + 3KNO_{3}.

The ferric thiocyanate differs from the great majority of salts in that it is but very little dissociated in aqueous solutions, and the characteristic color appears to be occasioned by the formation of the un-ionized ferric salt.

The normal solution of potassium thiocyanate should contain an amount of the salt per liter of solution which would yield sufficient (CNS)^{-} to combine with one gram of hydrogen to form HCNS, i.e., a gram-molecular weight of the salt or 97.17 grams. If the ammonium thiocyanate is used, the amount is 76.08 grams. To prepare the solution for this determination, which should be approximately 0.05 N, dissolve about 5 grams of potassium thiocyanate, or 4 grams of ammonium thiocyanate, in a small amount of water; dilute this solution to 1000 cc. in a liter bottle and mix as usual.

Prepare 20 cc. of a saturated solution of ferric alum and add 5 cc. of dilute nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.20). About 5 cc. of this solution should be used as an indicator.

STANDARDIZATION

PROCEDURE.--Crush a small quantity of silver nitrate crystals in a mortar (Note 1). Transfer them to a watch-glass and dry them for an hour at 110°C., protecting them from dust or other organic matter (Note 2). Weigh out two portions of about 0.5 gram each and dissolve them in 50 cc. of water. Add 10 cc. of dilute nitric acid which has been recently boiled to expel the lower oxides of nitrogen, if any, and then add 5 cc. of the indicator solution. Run in the thiocyanate solution from a burette, with constant stirring, allowing the precipitate to settle occasionally to obtain an exact recognition of the end-point, until a faint red tinge can be detected in the solution.

From the data obtained, calculate the relation of the thiocyanate solution to the normal.

[Note 1: The thiocyanate cannot be accurately weighed; its solutions must, therefore, be standardized against silver nitrate (or pure silver), either in the form of a standard solution or in small, weighed portions.]

[Note 2: The crystals of silver nitrate sometimes inclose water which is expelled on drying. If the nitrate has come into contact with organic bodies it suffers a reduction and blackens during the heating.

It is plain that a standard solution of silver nitrate (made by weighing out the crystals) is convenient or necessary if many titrations of this nature are to be made. In the absence of such a solution the liability of passing the end-point is lessened by setting aside a small fraction of the silver solution, to be added near the close of the titration.]

DETERMINATION OF SILVER IN COIN

PROCEDURE.-- Weigh out two portions of the coin of about 0.5 gram each. Dissolve them in 15 cc. of dilute nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.2) and boil until all the nitrous compounds are expelled (Note 1). Cool the solution, dilute to 50 cc., and add 5 cc. of the indicator solution, and titrate with the thiocyanate to the appearance of the faint red coloration (Note 2).

From the corrected volume of the thiocyanate solution required, calculate the percentage of silver in the coin.

[Note 1: The reaction with silver may be carried out in nitric acid solutions and in the presence of copper, if the latter does not exceed 70 per cent. Above that percentage it is necessary to add silver in known quantity to the solution. The liquid must be cold at the time of titration and entirely free from nitrous compounds, as these sometimes cause a reddening of the indicator solution. All utensils, distilled water, the nitric acid and the beakers must be free from chlorides, as the presence of these will cause precipitation of silver chloride, thereby introducing an error.]

[Note 2: The solution containing the silver precipitate, as well as those from the standardization, should be placed in the receptacle for "silver residues" as a matter of economy.]