ABSTRACT / SUMMARY

Chro miu m (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 chromiu m in biological and environmental sa mples. In the present study, an absorption method for the deter mination of chro miu m (VI) concentration is proposed and the method is operated spectrophoto metrically by tracing the presence of chro miu m (VI) at a wavelength of 435 nano metres. The concentration of Chromiu m ( VI) in the lake water sa mple tested is 49.8 parts per million. The experiment is co mpleted and successfully conducted.

INTRODUCTION

Many heavy metals, such as chro miu m, are undeniabl y toxic at low aqueous solution concentrations. Chromiu m ions are co mmonly found in either trivalent, Chromiu m (III), or he xavalent, Chromiu m ( VI), states. Chro miu m (VI) for mation is favoured by an oxidizing environment, while Chro miu m (III) is favoured by a reducing environment. It is found that naturally alkaline rivers and lakes have much lo wer risk of such heavy metal conta mination of chromiu m ions in comparison with naturally acidic water strea ms.

1|P a ge

Chro miu m (VI) is kno wn to be a strong oxidizing agent, which apparently poses a high risk yet negative impact to hu mans and ani mals due to its carcinogenetic properties. That is why there are a lots of studies that have been done profusely in order to determine the healthrisky chromiu m in environ mental as we ll as biological samples.

AIMS / OBJECTIVES

The objectives of conducting this expe riment are to deter mine the Chro miu m (VI) content which present in simulated lake water sa mple using a spectrophotometer, to de monst rate the proper method of diluting solution to prepare a series of standard solutions in the range of 1 to 100 parts per million (p.p.m) to be used in the calibration of the spectrophoto meter, and thus, to analyze whether the si mulated lake water sa mple tested is suitable for drinking water and agriculture purposes.

THEORY

One co mmon source of chro miu m cont a mination in natural waters is auto mobiles as it is a component in va rious automobile brakes as well as parts of engine. Chromiu m that is depo sited on highroads originated from brake dusts and exhaust of auto mobile engine can unfavourably permeate into any water strea ms nearby via flowing rainwater. Lakes and water
2|P a ge

strea ms which is nearer a typical congested with auto mobiles areas are the most susceptible areas to be contaminated by su ch chro miu m.

Due to its cancer-risk character and toxicity even at mere concentrations, a lot of federal environmental agencies are doing researches to deter mine its presence in many environ mental sa mples. Thus, in this experiment, absorption spectroscopy will be used to detect low level concentrations of Chromiu m ( VI) in a lake water sa mple.

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 a mount 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 a mount of light absorbed by the chemi cal species in the sample is equivalent to the difference in the amo unt of light before it enters the sa mple and after it exits the sa mple. For the purpose of light to be absorbed by che mical species, the light must be set to a specific wavelength. Every che mical species absorbs distinct wavelengths of light. In absorption spectroscopy, the wavele ngths of light absorbed by a metal in solution are detected.

In this experi ment, standard solutions will be prepared by diluting 300 parts per million of Chromiu m (VI) standard solution. Five standard
3|P a ge

solutions need to be prepared from the concentrated Chro miu m (VI) standard solution. To calculate the dilute solutions volume, the solution dilution formula can be used, as what is written below: (M 1 ) ( V 1 ) = (M 2 ) (V 2 ) ................ ....(1)

Quantitative analysis using spectrophoto meter is based on BeerLa mbert La w: A = where A = absorbance value (dimensionless, thus no units is represented) = molar absorbance (L / mol.cm) L = path length of the cuvette in which the sa mple is contained (cm) C = concentration of the co mpound in solution (mol / L) LC

Beer-La mbert La w states that ab sorbance 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 co mpound 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 co mpound with a high molar absorbance is very effective at absorbing light (of the appropriate wavelength), and hence low concentrations of a co mpound with a high molar absorbance can be easily detected.
4|P a ge

APPARATUS / REAGENTS

Distilled water spectrophoto meter 10 millilitres square cuvette bottle pipette 5 set of 10 millilitres of 1, 20, 60, 85 and 100 p.p. m of diluted solution of Chromiu m (VI)

5 set of 300 p.p. m of standard Chro miu m (VI) solution of 0.03, 0.67, 2.00, 2.83 and 3.33 millilitres. lake water sa mple.

EXPERIMENTAL 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 usi ng the diluted method with distilled water with the range concentration of 1 until 100 parts per million (p.p.m) solutions. (1 p.p.m, 20 p.p. m, 60 p.p. m, 85 p.p. m and 100 p.p. m)

5|P a ge

4. 10 millilitres of each series of diluted solution is poured into square cuvette bottle and placed on the spectrophoto meter slot to check the absorbance value by using the spectrophoto meter. 5. All the data obtained is recorded. 6. 10 millilitres of lake water sa mple is poured into the square cuvette bottle and spectrophotometer is used t o deter mine the Chro miu m (VI) concentration contained in the water sa mple collected. 7. All the value is analyzed; the observation and the data obtained are recorded.

RESULTS
Volu me of Chro miu m (VI) , millilitres Concentration of Chro miu m (VI), parts per million Absorbance Value 0.008 0.131 0.342 0.498 0.594 1 20 60 85 100 0.03 0.67 2.00 2.83 3.33

Table 1.1 Determination of absorbance value using spectrophotometer

Lake W ater Sa mple Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average value :

Absorbance Value 0.247 0.257 0.256 0.253

Table 1.2 Determination of absorbance value of water sa mple using spectrophoto meter

6|P a ge

Graph of Absorbance Value versus Concentration of Cr (VI) in ppm

0.65 0.6 0.55 0.5 0.45 0.4 0.35 0.3 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0

Absorbance Value
R = 0.998 0.498 0.594

0.342

0.131

0.008 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Concentration of Chromium (VI) in unit of p.p.m

Graph 1.1 Graph of Absorbance Value versus Concentration of Chro miu m (VI) in units of p.p. m

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

To dilute 10 millilitres standard solution of 1 p.p. m, the solution dilution for mula is used in order to calculate the volume of chro miu m (VI) solution. (M 1 ) ( V 1 ) = (M 2 ) (V 2 )................. ... (1) (300 pp m) (V1) = (1 pp m) (10 mL) V 1 = 0.03 mL All the volumes of chro miu m ( VI) solution needed to dilute each standard solution are stated in Table 1.1.

7|P a ge

By interpolating Graph 1.1, the equation of the linear line is given as; y = 0.005 x + 0.004

By substituting y with the average of absorbance value of water sa mple, which is 0.253, hence we get that;

= y 0.004 0.005 = 0.253 0.004 0.005 = 49.8

Notice that x is equivalent to the concentration of Chromiu m (VI) contains in the water sa mple, which is 49.8 parts per million.

DISCUSSION

This experiment is conducted to achieve a few ob jectives, which are to deter mine the Chro miu m (VI) conten t which present in simulated lake water sa mple using a spectrophoto met er, to de monstrate the proper method of diluting solution to prepare a series of standard solutions in the range of 1 to 100 parts per million (p.p. m) to be used in the calibration of the spectrophoto meter, and thus, to an alyze whether the si mulated lake water sa mple tested is suitable for drinking water and agriculture purposes.

8|P a ge

The lake water sa mple used to test for presence of chro miu m is believed to be conta minated as the lake is situated near a roadway where road users with auto mobiles use it every day. As mentioned before, rivers, lakes and any water strea ms which are near to congested areas have the highest risk or most susceptible to contain heavy metals such as chro miu m itself and is then classified as conta minated water source.

According to the values of concentration of chro miu m (VI) which is apparently calculated to contain 49.8 parts per million, this obviously means that there is a significant content of chro miu m 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 Chromiu m (VI) is any higher than 0.100 parts per million. The lake water sa mple tested is then concluded to be unsafe and unhygieni c for drinking water for public consu mption or even agricultural purposes.

Ho wever, a fe w steps might be done er roneously whi ch results in such an outrageous value of chromiu m (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 chro miu m (VI ) needed to dil ute 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 s mudge i mprinted on the outer surface of the cuvette can beco me an unfavourably interference for the solutions to absorb wa velengths of light

9|P a ge

in the spectrophotometer. Thus, the re ading of absorbance by the instruments may not be accurate.

In addition, the experiment conducted to deter mine the absorbance value of diluted solutions that contain chro miu m (VI) is done only once. Thus, no average value can be obtained fro m the results, and so the accuracy of the value taken is not mu ch 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 chro miu m solution.

CONCLUSION

The concentration of Chromiu m (VI) in the lake water sa mple tested is 49.8 parts per million. Since it is mo re than 0.100 parts per million as what has been standardized by state and federal regulatory agencies, the water sa mple is concluded to be contaminated and thus, not suitable for drinking or agricultural purposes.

10 | P a g e

RECOMMENDATIONS

In order to get more accurate values, a few reco mmendations and precautions must be considered when performing the e xperi ment.

Firstly, in this experiment, selection of wavelength value of light in the spectrophoto meter is quite essential. To get an ideal value, it is preferably to use a wavelength where t he co mponent 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 spectrophoto meter.

Besides that, the deter mination 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 mu st be cleansed thoroughly and properly.

11 | P a g e

REFERENCES

1. Ressalan S, Chauhan RS, Goswa mi AK, Purohit DN. (1997) Review of spectrophoto metric methods for deter mination of chro miu m. Rev. Anal. Che m. 16 (2), 69-171. 2. 13. Moha med AA, Ah med SA, El-Shahat MF. (2001) Catalytic spectrophoto metric deter mination of hexavalent chro miu m. J. Trace Microprobe Tech. 19 (2), 297-311. 3. www.googlebooks.co m/e xperi mentin generalchemistryfro mmeasurenet

RECOMMENDATIONS

Refer to the attach ment provided on the next page.

12 | P a g e