FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA
ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
(CHE485)
GROUP MEMBERS : - MUHAMMAD FAISAL BIN NOOR JAMIN (2016239034)
- MUHAMMAD HAMIZAN BINJOHARI (2016238914)
- MUHAMMAD IZZAIRY IZNY BIN IBRAHIM (2016249948)
- MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ BIN RAMLAN (2016238878)
GROUP : EH220
EXPERIMENT :3
DATE PERFORMED : 15/4 28/4
SEMESTER :2
PROGRAMME/CODE : CHE485
SUBMIT TO : MADAM NURUL ASYIKIN
No. Title Allocated marks (%) Marks
1 Abstract/Summary 5
2 Introduction 10
3 Aims 5
4 Theory 10
5 Apparatus 5
6 Methodology/Procedure 10
7 Results 10
8 Calculations 10
9 Discussions 20
0 Conclusion 5
11 Recommendations 5
12 Reference/Appendix 5
TOTAL 100
Remarks:
Checked by:
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Date:
ABSTRACT
Chromium (VI) is classified as a strong oxidation agent and it poses a great deal of toxicity to
humans and animals as well due to its carcinogenetic. This health-risky situation has lead to many
studies and investigations on determining the presence and quantity of chromium in biological and
environmental samples. In the present study, an absorption method for the determination of chromium
(VI) concentration is proposed and the method is operated spectrophotometrically by tracing the
presence of chromium (VI) at a wavelength of 435 nanometres. The concentration of Chromium (VI)
in the lake water sample tested is 238 parts per million. The experiment is completed and successfully
conducted
INTRODUCTION
Many heavy metals, such as chromium, are undeniably toxic at low aqueous solution
concentrations. Chromium ions are commonly found in either trivalent, Chromium (III), or hexavalent,
Chromium (VI), states. Chromium (VI) formation is favoured by an oxidizing environment, while
Chromium (III) is favoured by a reducing environment. It is found that naturally alkaline rivers and
lakes have much lower risk of such heavy metal contamination of chromium ions in comparison with
naturally acidic water streams.
Chromium (VI) is known to be a strong oxidizing agent, which apparently poses a high risk
yet negative impact to humans and animals due to its carcinogenetic properties. That is why there are a
lots of studies that have been done profusely in order to determine the health-risky chromium in
environmental as well as biological samples.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of conducting this experiment are to determine the Chromium (VI) content
which present in simulated lake water sample using a spectrophotometer, to demonstrate the proper
method of diluting solution to prepare a series of standard solutions in the range of 1 to 250 parts per
million (p.p.m) to be used in the calibration of the spectrophotometer, and thus, to analyze whether the
simulated lake water sample tested is suitable for drinking water and agriculture purposes.
EXPERIMENTALS
One common source of chromium contamination in natural waters is automobiles as it is a
component in various automobile brakes as well as parts of engine. Chromium that is deposited on
highroads originated from brake dusts and exhaust of automobile engine can unfavourably permeate
into any water streams nearby via flowing rainwater. Lakes and water streams which is nearer a typical
congested with automobiles areas are the most susceptible areas to be contaminated by such
chromium.
Due to its cancer-risk character and toxicity even at mere concentrations, a lot of federal
environmental agencies are doing researches to determine its presence in many environmental
samples. Thus, in this experiment, absorption spectroscopy will be used to detect low level
concentrations of Chromium (VI) in a lake water sample.
As a matter of fact, coloured aqueous solutions have chemical species contents which absorb
significant wavelengths of light. Similarly, heavy metals can be identified via absorption of
wavelengths of light. Furthermore, the amount of light absorbed is linearly proportional to the
concentration of the solution metal ions.
Absorption spectroscopy operates on the measuring principle of light before and after it passes
through an aqueous metal solution. The amount of light absorbed by the chemical species in the
sample is equivalent to the difference in the amount of light before it enters the sample and after it
exits the sample. For the purpose of light to be absorbed by chemical species, the light must be set to a
specific wavelength. Every chemical species absorbs distinct wavelengths of light. In absorption
spectroscopy, the wavelengths of light absorbed by a metal in solution are detected.
In this experiment, standard solutions will be prepared by diluting 300 parts per million of
Chromium (VI) standard solution. Five standard solutions need to be prepared from the concentrated
Chromium (VI) standard solution. To calculate the dilute solutions volume, the solution dilution
formula can be used, as what is written below:
(M1) (V1) = (M2) (V2) ....................(1)
Quantitative analysis using spectrophotometer is based on Beer-Lambert Law:
A = LC
where
A = absorbance value (dimensionless, thus no units is
represented)
= molar absorbance (L / mol.cm)
L = path length of the cuvette in which the sample is contained (cm)
C = concentration of the compound in solution (mol / L)
Beer-Lambert Law states that absorbance value depends on the total quantity of the absorbing
compound in the light path through the cuvette. Thus, if we plot a graph of absorbance versus
concentration of the compound solution, we get a straight line passing through the origin (0, 0). The
molar absorbance, , is a constant for a particular substance, therefore if the concentration of the
solution is halved, so is the absorbance value. A compound with a high molar absorbance is very
effective at absorbing light (of the appropriate wavelength), and hence low concentrations of a
compound with a high molar absorbance can be easily detected.
APPARATUS AND REAGENTS
Distilled water.
10 mL square cuvette bottle.
Spectrophotometer.
Pipette.
5 sets of 20 mL of 1, 100, 150, 200 and 250 p.p.m of diluted solution of Chromium (VI).
5 sets of 300 p.p.m of standard Chromium (VI) solution of 0.066, 6.667, 10.000, 13.333 and
16.667 mL.
Lake water sample.
PROCEDURE
1. All the materials and apparatus are set up.
2. The 10 millilitres of square cuvette bottle is filled up with distilled water and placed on the
spectrophotometer slot. A zeroing step is done to ensure that all the data obtained later is
accurate.
3. 5 series of diluted solution are prepared by using the diluted method with distilled water with
the range concentration of 1 until 250 parts per million (p.p.m) solutions. (1 p.p.m, 100 p.p.m,
150 p.p.m, 200 p.p.m and 250 p.p.m).
4. 10 millilitres of each series of diluted solution is poured into square cuvette bottle and placed
on the spectrophotometer slot to check the absorbance value by using the spectrophotometer.
5. All data obtained are recorded.
6. 10 millilitres of lake water sample is poured into the square cuvette bottle and
spectrophotometer is used to determine the Chromium (VI) concentration contained in the
water sample collected.
7. All the value is analyzed; the observation and the data obtained are recorded.
RESULTS
Volume of Chromium (VI),
mL 0.066 6.667 10.000 13.333 16.667
Concentrations of Chromium
(IV), parts per million (p.p.m) 1 100 150 200 250
Absorbance value 0.039 0.046 0.088 0.094 0.114
Table 1.1 Determination of absorbance value using spectrophotometer
Lake water sample Absorbance value
Trial 1 0.098
Trial 2 0.100
Average value 0.099
Table 1.2 Determination of absorbance value of water sample using spectrophotometer
Graph of absorbance value vs concentration
of Cr (IV) in p.p.m
0.14
0.12
y = 0.0004x + 0.0038
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
-50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Graph 1.1 Graph of Absorbance Value vs Concentration of Chromium (IV) in p.p.m
CALCULATIONS
To dilute 10 millilitres standard solution of 1 p.p.m, the solution dilution formula is used in order to
calculate the volume of chromium (VI) solution.
(M1) (V1) = (M2) (V2).................... (1)
(300 ppm) (V1) = (1 ppm) (20 mL)
V1 = 0.066 mL
(300 ppm) (V1) = (100 ppm) (20 mL)
V1 = 6.667 mL
(300 ppm) (V1) = (150 ppm) (20 mL)
V1 = 10.000 mL
(300 ppm) (V1) = (200 ppm) (20 mL)
V1 = 13.333 mL
(300 ppm) (V1) = (100 ppm) (20 mL)
V1 = 16.667 mL
By interpolating Graph 1.1, the equation of the linear line is given as ;
y = 0.0004x + 0.0038
By substituting y with the average of absorbance value of water sample, which is 0.099, hence we get
that;
Notice that x is equivalent to the concentration of Chromium (VI) contains in the water sample, which
is 238 parts per million.
DISCUSSIONS
This experiment is conducted to achieve a few objectives, which are to determine the
Chromium (VI) content which present in simulated lake water sample using a spectrophotometer, to
demonstrate the proper method of diluting solution to prepare a series of standard solutions in the
range of 1 to 250 parts per million (p.p.m) to be used in the calibration of the spectrophotometer, and
thus, to analyze whether the simulated lake water sample tested is suitable for drinking water and
agriculture purposes.
The lake water sample used to test for presence of chromium is believed to be contaminated as
the lake is situated near a roadway where road users with automobiles use it every day. As mentioned
before, rivers, lakes and any water streams which are near to congested areas have the highest risk or
most susceptible to contain heavy metals such as chromium itself and is then classified as
contaminated water source.
According to the values of concentration of chromium (VI) which is apparently calculated to
contain 238 parts per million, this obviously means that there is a significant content of chromium ions
in the water. Based on the consideration of state and federal regulatory agencies, natural waters are
regarded to be toxic if the concentration of Chromium (VI) is any higher than 0.100 parts per million.
The lake water sample tested is then concluded to be unsafe and unhygienic for drinking water for
public consumption or even agricultural purposes.
However, a few steps might be done erroneously which results in such an outrageous value of
chromium (VI) content. First and foremost, the techniques applied to measure such a small volume of
diluting substance might not be suitable. This might lead to difficulties when measuring the volume of
chromium (VI) needed to dilute the standard solutions.
Besides that, wrong way of holding the square cuvette bottle used to contain the diluted
solutions might also lead to errors. Any fingerprints or smudge imprinted on the outer surface of the
cuvette can become an unfavourably interference for the solutions to absorb wavelengths of light in
the spectrophotometer. Thus, the reading of absorbance by the instruments may not be accurate.
In addition, the experiment conducted to determine the absorbance value of diluted solutions
that contain chromium (VI) is done only once. Thus, no average value can be obtained from the
results, and so the accuracy of the value taken is not much convincing.
Others, the square cuvette bottle might not be cleansed properly with distilled water each time
before it is used for another attempt. This will lead to inaccurate contents of either standard solutions
or the chromium solution.
CONCLUSIONS
The concentration of Chromium (VI) in the lake water sample tested is 238 parts per million.
Since it is more than 0.100 parts per million as what has been standardized by state and federal
regulatory agencies, the water sample is concluded to be contaminated and thus, not suitable for
drinking or agricultural purposes.
In order to get more accurate values, a few recommendations and precautions must be
considered when performing the experiment.
Firstly, in this experiment, selection of wavelength value of light in the spectrophotometer is
quite essential. To get an ideal value, it is preferably to use a wavelength where the component absorbs
substantially.
Next, avoid leaving a fingerprints or any kind of smudge on the outer surface which will
corrupt the reading of absorbance value of spectrophotometer.
Besides that, the determination of the absorbance value of each diluted solutions must be done
at least 3 trials. By doing so, more accurate values can be obtained.
Likewise, the square cuvette bottle must be cleansed thoroughly and properly.
REFERENCES
1. Retrieved from, www.googlebooks.com/experimentingeneralchemistryfrommeasurenet
2. Retrieved from, https://www.scribd.com/doc/141643891/39166236-Determination-of-
Chromium-VI-Concentration-via-Absorption-Spectroscopy-Experiment-1
