QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF COPPER (II) CONCENTRATION

BY SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

D. JAROPOJOP
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY 1101, PHILIPPINES
DATE SUBMITTED: 5 JULY 2016
DATE PERFORMED: 8 JULY 2016

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. What is the significance of the addition of ammonia to Cu (II) solutions?

The addition of ammonia forms the copper-(II) ammonia complex which is very important
for spectrophotometry. The complex allows for efficient detection of absorbance in sample solution
[2].

2. Why is Beer-Lambert Law expressed in terms of absorbance instead of transmittance?

The expression of the Law in absorbance allows easier calculations. This is due to its linear
relationship. The linear equation derived from the linear relationship is simple compared to
expressing it in transmittance which would give an exponential equation [3].

3. What are the limitations of the Beers Law?

The law is only limited to determining the absorption of solutions below 0.01 M. Once the
concentrations get higher, the absorptivity coefficients deviate due to electrostatic interactions
between molecules that are close to each other. Changes in refractive indexes also happen which can
affect the absorbances recorded [3].

4. Why is it siginificant to scan over a wavelength range? Why is the analytical wavelength
used in the determination of the absorbance of the standard and sample solutions?

It is important to scan over a wavelength range in order for the spectrophotometer to be

calibrated. The device checks if Beers Law conforms with the wavelengths recorded. It also
determines the most suitable wavelength which is called the analytical wavelength; it is where
maximum absorbance was recorded. Determining the analytical wavelength is essential because it
provides an electronic structure of the analyte, maintains high sensitivity and lessens deviations from
Beers law [1].

5. Why do we have to measure absorbance reading against reagent blank solutions?

Absorbance is measured along reagent blank solutions because it allows for accurate results.
The absorbance recorded from the reagent blank solution serve as the reference solution from which
the spectrophotometer records and sets it to zero absorbance. The other higher concentrated
solutions would have absorbance readings based from the absorbance reference solution [1].

1|Page
6. What is the significance of the y-intercept of your calibration curve? Discuss its deviation
from the theoretical value.

The y-intercept is the baseline adjustment. It accounts the errors of absorption [1].

7. Cite other analytical applications of spectrophotometry.

Theres a variety of applications of spectrophotometry. To name a few, one type of

spectroscopy is chemiluminescence. It is used to determine the power emitted by the analyte.
Multicomponent analysis is also another application of spectrophotometry. It determines the
concentration of one analyte in the presence of a matrix for simultaneous assaying of few analytes
[1].

8. What are the possible sources of errors and their effect on the calculated parameters?
Rationalize.

Presence of stray light would be a possible source of error. This comes from the radiation
that came from instrument that is outside the nominal wavelength. This would affect the true value
of the resulting absorbance. Another possible source could be mismatched cells. This greatly affects
the calibration curve.

REFERENCES

[1] Kenkel, John. Analytical Chemistry for Technicians. Boca Raton: Lewis, 2003. Print.
[2] Lawrance, Geoffrey A. Introduction to Coordination Chemistry. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley, 2010. Print.
[3] Skoog, Douglas A., Donald M. West, F. James Holler, and Stanley R. Crouch. Fundamentals of
Analytical Chemistry. 9th ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2014.

2|Page
APPENDICES

A. Figures

Figure 1. Plot of Absrobance vs Concentration Cu(II)

Figure 2. Diagram of single-beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer

Figure 3. Diagram of beam as light travels to cuvette containing sample

3|Page
B. Working Equations

a. Determining Concentration of Standard Cu(II) solution

1 1
2 =
2

b. Eqauation of Line (Determining Equivalence Pt. of Plot 3)

y = 0.0009x + 0.0029

4|Page