INTRODUCTION

Gravimetric method is one of the three subgroups of quantitative analytical method. It is based on
measuring the weight of unknown substance which is related to the analyte and by using the relation determining
the quantity. Gravimetric analysis is divided into three subgroups: precipitation, volatilization, and electro
deposition. In this experiment precipitation is being used.

Solubility varies for all compounds. There are such compounds that nearly insoluble. Precipitation method
is based on this principle that precipitating a soluble analyte is insoluble compound of it and weighing the
precipitation. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the value of SO 42- in the sample solution. By this way
the students will become familiar with basic processes of gravimetric analysis.

METHODOLOGY

The experiment was started by dissolving unknown sample in distilled water and 6M HCL solution. The
addition of BaCl2 solution to form precipitate of BaSO4 was carried out slowly and with continuous stirring to let the
reaction completion. In this experiment, it is needed to have large crystal formation through crystal precipitation to
obtain higher percentage yield of the SO42- present in the unknown sample by slowly adding the 0.1 M BaCl 2.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The table below shows the data needed to compute the percentage of sulfate present in the unknown
sample through gravimetric analysis. The amount of BaSO4 precipitated filtered after drying the unknown sample
in trial 1,2 and 3 was determined to be 0.391g, 0.4053g and 0.3076g. The sample calculation was shown below.

Weight of BaSO4 = (weight of filter paper + residue) – (weight of empty filter paper)

= 2.0320g−1.6410g = 0.391g

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑂4
Weight of SO42- = (Weight of BaSO4) ×
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂4

96.06𝑔
Weight of SO42- = 0.391g ×
233.38𝑔
= 0.1609g

mass of SO42-
% SO42- = × 100
mass of sample
0.1609𝑔
% SO42- = × 100 = 50%
0.3235𝑔
Table 1. Summary of Results

Parameters Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Weight of sample (Unknown) 0.3235g 0.3324g 0.3128g
Weight of empty filter paper (g) 1.6410g 1.6232g 1.6409g
Weight of filter paper + residue (g) 2.0320g 2.0285g 1.9485g
Weight of residue (BaSO4) (g) 0.391g 0.4053g 0.3076g
Weight of SO42- (g) 0.1609g 0.1668g 0.1266g
% SO42- 50% 50.18% 40.47%

The table below shows the statistical evaluation of the % SO42- were the percent error is equal to .52%.
To get the value of percent error, calculate first the theoretical yield and then compare it to the actual yield which
is 50. The sample calculation for the % error was shown below.

MSO4 + BaCl2 ----- BaSO4 + MCl2

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑆𝑂4 96.06𝑔

0.391g BaSO4 × BaSO4 × × SO4 = 0.1609g
233.38𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂4 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑂4
% Theoretical yield = × 100 = 49.74%
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑛𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒

𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑−𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 50−49.74

% Error = × 100 = × 100 = 0.52%
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 49.74

Table 2. Statistical Evaluation

STATISTICAL PARAMETER RESULTS

Mean 46.88
Median 50
Range 9.71
Average Deviation 0.0033 or 3.33x10-3
Standard Deviation, s 5.55
Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) 11.84
% Error 0.52%
Reported Value 124.5
CONCLUSION

The experiment was successful and the results obtained were desirable. According to the results, the
conducted experiment yielded to 50%, 50.18% and 40.47% of sulfate present in the unknown sample of each trial.
The percent error was 0.52%, errors that caused the loss of precipitate will be avoided and countered; and the
skills will be improved for the next experiments. The dynamics of precipitation has been explained and were
comprehended by the experimenters. The skills of accurate weighing, transferring of liquids, precipitating, filtrating
and getting the constant were learned and mastered by the experimenters, which is reflecting the accuracy of the
results. Filtration of the precipitate may have been taking the time but experimenters were able to learn new and
conspire techniques to speed up the entire filtration by constant washing and stirring.

REFERENCES

https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Laboratory_Experiments/Wet_Lab_Experiments/Online_Chemi
stry_Lab_Manual/Chem_11_Experiments/07%3A_Gravimetric_Analysis_(Experiment)

http://www5.csudh.edu/oliver/che230/labmanual/gravsulf.htm

https://www.academia.edu/11589569/Gravimetric_Determination_of_SO3_in_a_Soluble_Sulfate