Title

Atomic Absorption of Iron from Cereal

Authors

Devin Tiebout & Trevor Hill

Abstract

During this experiment my partner and I determined the amount of iron that was in the cereal

given, Total. We determined that in 5.0122 grams of Total cereal there was a total of 3.7

milligrams in our 5.0122 gram sampling of cereal. To get this number our group had to digest the

cereal in hydrochloric acid for forty five minutes. To accelerate the digestion the hydrochloric

acid was heated on a hot plate for the duration of the digestion. After the digestion period of

forty five minutes, the heterogeneous mixture was filtered before potassium chloride was added

with the mixture in a 100 milliliter volumetric flask. Finally the mixture was centrifuged for two

minutes, before being analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrometer.

Procedure

All instructions where outlined in the lab handout provided online. The experiment was modified

by the instructor. The instructor gave us the concentrations for values: 20, 40, 60 and 80 and, the

absorbances.

Chemical Reactions

None, the group observed digestion of the cereal in hydrochloric acid while being heated.

Experimental/ Calculated Data

The mass of Total measured was 5.0122 grams.

The cereal was dissolved in fifty milliliters of hydrochloric acid heated for forty five minutes.

Table 1: The Absorbance of Fe from our samples of Cereal

Sample Concentration (ppm) Absorbance

A 20 .043

B 40 .086

C 60 .119

D 80 .157

Unknown 37 .074

The table provided above indicates the concentrations used in this experiment as said, previously in the

Procedure samples A through D where given. The unknown, with concentration of 37ppm was

recorded by our mass of cereal with the included absorbance respectably.

Observations

All balancing was done on Balance number three in the balancing room. The cereal brand our

group used was Total. Which as previously stated was dissolved in hydrochloric acid for fort five

minutes. Throughout the duration of the digesting process the cereal progressively darkened

turning the liquid from a light translucent milky tan to a dark brown similar to that of dark

chocolate. The odor radiated a very foul and pungent aroma; resembling the smell of vomit as

the liquid boiled. The digested cereal was then analyzed with the Perkins-Elmer 2380 Atomic

Absorption Spectrometer was used to determine the amount of iron was left in the cereal. On the

cereal box, the serving size was recorded to be 30.0 grams of cereal.

Calculations

Parts per million = (106 )

?
37 = (106 )
100

=
5 30.0

T= 3.7mg

. 37
=
. 50122 30.0

X=22.2mg of iron in 30g of Total cereal

Results & Discussions

Mass of Fe in 30g of cereal 22.2 milligrams

Percent Error N/A

Our findings and calculations have concluded that the iron content in cereal is approximately the

same as advertised on the cereal box nutrition label. The Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES),

was used to determine how excitability of the electrons. Based on the information from the

graphs and calculations we have determined that the iron content in cereal is about where it

should be in relation to the given values provided on the graph below

 Conclusion

With the table and data shown this group has successfully found that the amount of iron

advertised on the box is approximately the same as the iron that was discovered in the cereal.

References

Laboratory Notebook

Handout provided by instructor via the internet

Appendix