Basic Instrumental Analysis

Experiment 1
5.4
For the first deviation using ethanol as an interference, the absorbance of the KMnO4 decreased
from 1.559 to 0.850. This negative deviation could be caused due to the ethanol diluting the
existing 100ppm Solution of KMnO4. Therefore in the cell, there is lesser molecules of KMnO4 thus
leading to a smaller absorbance reading.
When potassium dichromate was introduced to the 100ppm stock solution of KMnO4, the
absorbance increased from 1.559 to 1.655. The positive deviation can be caused by the fact that
K2Cr2O7 also absorb radiation at 525.3 nm. Thus the K2Cr2O7 absorbs some of the radiation,
along with the absorption caused by the KMnO4 leads to a positive deviation of the sample.
When the 100ppm solution of KMnO4 solution is analysed in a 10 mm plastic cell, the absorbance
reading shows a positive deviation from 1.559 to 1.610. This is because the plastic cell is not UV
and IR invisible. Thus when the sample is tested, some of the radiation is absorbed by the plastic
cell, leading to a higher absorbance value.