Name Date ____________

Experiment 5: Spectrophotometric Analysis

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phosphate in Cola

Aim:

Procedure: the procedure was as given in the laboratory manual. (Make a note
here of any deviations from the procedure, and of any observations you made.)

Concentration of PO42- Measured absorbance

mL phosphate standard
solution @ 400 nm
added
0

8.0

16

24

32

40

- Sample R1

Sample R2

Sample R3

Calculation of PO42-in cola sample:

(Please attach a copy of the Excel calibration graph)

The graph must include the equation of the line, the trend-line and the R2 value.
Remove the gridlines and greyscale background.

Equation of the line

Calculation of Concentration of PO42- in

aliquot (ppm)

Concentration of phosphate in cola sample

% Relative Error
Comprehension questions:

1. Show, with calculations, if your results are significantly different from the stated
value.

2. Why does the solution need to stand for 10 minutes?

3. Discuss the function of the ammonium molybdate and vanadate solutions in this
experiment.

4. Does the colour of the cola sample matter? Why?

5. Calculate the mass of phosphate in the sample.