Chemistry 101: Tutorial 1

Chemistry 101
Tutorial 1: For completion during Week 2 Module A: Principles of Analytical Chemistry Question 1: For the following situations where chemical analysis is required which analytical technique in the list presented below (1 to 8) would you select as most suitable on the basis of the information provided? In each case explain your answer. (a) (b) (c) Determination of the identity of a suspected volatile organic chemical adulterant in a sample of olive oil. Measurement of trace levels of a range of metals in acid mine drainage. Determination of the level of acidity in a sample of white wine. Techniques: (1) Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, (2) titration, (3) high performance liquid chromatography with UV-Visible absorbance detection, (4) high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (5) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, (6) ame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, (7) gravimetry, (8) differential scanning calorimetry.

Question 2: The diagram below illustrates the results of replicate analyses, with the central point (bullseye) representing the true value for the analyte concentration. Comment on the precision and accuracy of the results illustrated in diagrams A and B.

Page 1 of 2

Chemistry 101: Tutorial 1

Question 3: The determination of the concentration of acetic acid in a sample of commercial white vinegar was carried out by titration with a standard sodium hydroxide solution. A 20 mL portion of the vinegar was transferred using a pipette into a 100 mL volumetric ask and made up to the mark with deionised water. A 20.00 ml portion of this dilute solution of vinegar (measured with a pipette) was titrated with 0.201 0.002 M sodium hydroxide solution. The titration readings were:

Final reading Initial reading Volume delivered

26.05 mL 1.20 mL 24.85 mL

(a) Calculate the concentration of acetic acid (in g/L) in the diluted white vinegar with its associated relative and absolute uncertainty. (b) Calculate the concentration of acetic acid (in % w/v) in the undiluted white vinegar. Note: Use the following random uncertainties for volumetric glassware: Pipette: 0.05 mL for a 20 mL pipette Burette: 0.05 mL for each reading Volumetric asks: 0.02 mL for each 100 mL capacity

Page 2 of 2