FOUNDATION OF CHEMISTRY II (EP103)

LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT NO.: 10
EXPERIMENT TITLE: DETERMINATION OF CONCENTRATION OF POTASSIUM
DICHROMATE SOLUTION BY UV-VIS ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
OBJECTIVES

STUDENT NAME: ESHBINDER KAUR GILL

STUDENT ID.: 1000923655
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE & BUILT ENVIRONMENT

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction

Material and procedure

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Limitation of Experiment

Reference

Experiment 10

Title:
Determination of concentration of potassium dichromate solution by uv-vis absorption of
potassium.

Objectives:
1) To determine the wavelength (color) of maximum absorbance, max for a potassium
dichromate solution
2) To prepare and run a standard calibration curve, and determine the concentration of an
unknown potassium dichromate solution.
3) To examine the relationship between the absorbance and concentration of a potassium
dichromate solution.

Material and apparatus:

Pipette, pipette pump, 50mL and 100mL volumetric flasks, beakers, analytical balance
Distilled water, potassium dichromate, unknown potassium dichromate solution

Introduction:
The spectrophotometer has well been called the workhorse of the modern laboratory. In
particular, ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer is the method of choice in most laboratories
concerned with the identification and measurement of organic and inorganic compounds in a
wide range of products and processes - in nucleic acids and proteins, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals
and fertilizers, in mineral oils and in paint. In every branch of molecular biology, medicine and
the life sciences, the spectrophotometer is an essential aid to both research and routine control.
Modern spectrophotometers are quick, accurate and reliable and make only small demands on
the time and skills of the operator. However, the user who wants to optimize the functions of his
instrument and to be able to monitor its performance in critical areas will need to understand the
elementary physics of the absorption process as well as the basic elements of spectrophotometer
design. The molecular biologist, biochemist, geologist or the pathologist, the pharmacist or the
metallurgist - almost any scientist whose discipline involves materials analysis - may feel more
secure in his or her mastery of the mechanics of UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometer with this
introduction to the underlying principles. Spectrophotometer is used for both qualitative and
quantitative investigations of samples. The wavelength at the maximum of the absorption band
will give information about the structure of the molecule or ion and the extent of the absorption
is proportional with the amount of the species absorbing the light. Quantitative measurements are
based on Beers Law

Procedure:
Preliminary Preparations
1) The instrument was turned on so that the light sources warmed up and stabilized. Next
prepared or gathered all of the samples that needed in order to perform the experiment.
Part A. Stock solution of Chromium (100ppm)
1) 100mL volumetric flask was used to prepare a Cr stock solution by pipeting 4.9 mL of
potassium dichromate (0.02mol/L) and diluted it to the mark with distilled water.
Part B. Preparation of Calibration Solutions of Cr
1) 50 ml volumetric flasks was used to prepare five standard solutions with concentration.
2) 2.5ppm, 5ppm, 7.5ppm, 10ppm and 12.5ppm prepared from stock solution which
prepared in part I.
3) The mixture was diluted to 100mL with distilled water. Dilution was done by using
pipette.
Part C. Measurement
1) The absorbance of the standard solutions was measured by using distilled water as blank.
Firstly a blank was prepared by filling a curette 3/4 full with distilled water.
2) The absorbance for each of the solutions was measured, by placing them into the
colorimeter, aligned the reference marks, the lid was closed, and the wavelength of the
maximum absorbance (max) was measured as well as their absorbance.
3) The results were recorded on the spreadsheet and included the value of the wavelength
at the point where measurements were marked
4) A graph was plot for absorbance vs. concentration by using excel. The equation of the
best-fit line was obtained, y-intercept was set to zero and the correlation coefficient
(r2) in this linear regression equation was determined.
5) A cuvette was filled about 3/4 full with the unknown sample of potassium dichromate.
The unknown number was recorded. The absorbance of the unknown was measure as
before. If the absorbance was greater than the measurements used to prepare the

trendline, thus the solution was diluted and measured the absorbance again. The volumes
used in the dilution were taken down.
6)
Beer's Law was used and the equation of best-fit line was used to determine the
concentration of the unknown solution. Unknown solution has been diluted and
calculated the concentration of the undiluted solution and reported the result. Clearly
labeled the unknown number and its concentration as well.
7) The solutions were discarded and the cuvettes have been cleaned after the experiment.

Results:

Dichromate concentration

Absorbance, A

Wavelength,

(ppm)
2.5
5.0
7.5
10.0

0.128
0.218
0.365
0.502

352
352
350
351

12.5
Unknown

0.513
0.324

350
352

A graph of absorbance versus concentration

0.6
f(x) = 0.04x + 0.03

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
2

10

12

14

Discussion:
1) The concentration of unknown when,
y=0.334 of absorbance
(0.334)= (0.0453) x
x=7.373
Therefore the unknown solution is dichromate solution with concentration of 7.373ppm.

2) The BeerLambert law relates the absorption of light to the properties of the material
through which the light is traveling. The law states that there is a logarithmic dependence
between the transmission, t, of light through a substance and the product of the absorption
coefficient of the substance, , and the distance the light travels through the material, .
The absorption coefficient can, in turn, be written as a product of either a molar
absorptive of the absorber, , and the concentration c of absorbing species in the material,
or an absorption cross section, , and the (number) density N' of absorbers.
3) Blank is defined as water that has been used as blank in this case because water has no
wavelength and thus this makes wavelength from zero and able to determine wavelength
of another solution. An accurate value for wavelength for another solution can be
obtained by using this method.

4) The UV-visible range is a thin part of the total electromagnetic spectrum, and is generally
taken to be from wavelengths of 190 nm at the high energy UV end to about 750 nm at
the red end of the spectrum. The photons in this energy range promote various electron
transitions within a molecule. Other regions of the spectrum correspond to different types
of transitions and hence different types of spectroscopy. For example, IR radiation is not
energetic enough to cause electron transitions.
Electromagnetic waves:

Limitations and error:

1) Avoid parallax error while recording down the results.
2) Always rinse the equipment we are going to use with the solution of chromate to avoid
any residue reacting with the solution.
3) Error might occur when the reading was taken down due to bubbles in the water.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the wavelength (color) of maximum absorbance, max for a potassium dichromate
solution is from 350 to 352 nm and its dark red. The absorbance is proportion to concentration of
a potassium dichromate solution. The concentration of an unknown potassium dichromate
solution is 352nm.

References:
1) D.J. Keller, Real World Quality Systems, Cleveland, Ohio,
2) http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/reports/2002/TM-2002-211507.pdf
3) Treanor, chemistry Fordham University Press, 2006