PRACTICAL

Determination of Cu in given sample by UV - Visible

Spectroscopy
Subject: Analytical chemistry
Program: BS-Biotechnology
Smester: 4thSemester
Presented by: Group #10
Group members:
Name Roll no.

Rimsha Khan BSBTM19-03

Fiza Shafaqat BSBTM19-04

Mahzaib Azeem BSBTM19-08

Hafiza Aneeqa Rasool BSBTM19-13

Syeda Taskeen Ejaz BSBTM19-37

Malaika Arif BSBTE19-38

 DETERMINATION OF Cu IN THE GIVEN SAMPLE BY UV-
VISIBLE SPECTROSCOPY:
INTRODUCTION:
Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet–visible
spectrophotometry (UV–Vis or UV/Vis) refers to absorption
spectroscopy or reflectance in which UV-visible light is
absorbed by the molecule. It has been widely used for the
identification and quantification of organic compounds where
only the change in absorbance is measured as a function of
wavelength.

Spectrophotometer

It uses light in part of the ultraviolet and the full, adjacent

visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Copper (II) is one of the most important heavy metals, and a
microelement in mammalian nutrition. In general, a daily
copper intake of 1.5-2.0 mg is essential.
But is toxic, if ingested in large quantity. The symptoms of
copper poisoning are instantaneous hypertension, Kidney
damage, retardation of growth, Wilson’s Alzheimer’s diseases,
gross abnormalities of the vital organs and the risk of skin
cancer. It also caused generalized cancers in laboratory animals.

PRINCIPLE:
To calculate the concentration of unknown sample (Copper), a
graph of observance verses concentration of standard solution,
is constructed. This called the calibration graph.
Brass is an alloy compound of zinc and copper, (can be 65 to
90% Cu) In order to determine the copper content in a sample
of brass, the sample is first dissolved using nitric acid. To
achieve this, nitric acid and strong oxidizing agents are used.

3Cu + 8H+ + 2NO2 2NO + 4H2O + 3Cu2+

CHEMICALS AND EQUIPMENTS:
Brass foil, electronic balance, cuvette or test tubes, burette,
funnel, spectrophotometer, distilled water, nitric acid (6M),
beaker, conical flask or volumetric flask

PROCEDURE:
 Obtain the amount of brass (1.5g) in a beaker.
 Add 20ml of nitric acid to 1.5g of brass in beaker and leave
it for few minutes. Brass will be completely dissolved and
there is evolution of brown smoke and a formation of
green solution.
 Copper in brass will react with nitric Acid and form Cu ions
and, there is an evolution of a brown smoke and a
formation of a blue solution.
  Transfer Cu ions solution to a 100ml volumetric flask and
topped to the mark by diluting with water to make 100ml
total volume of solution.
 Take a small sample of this solution, transfer it to a test
tube and measure the absorbance with the help of
spectrophotometer.
 First set the wavelength of spectrophotometer at 620 nm,
because blue absorbs max at this wavelength.
 Then prepare 5 standard solutions of Cu, of 0.5M, 0.4M,
0.2M, 0.1M and 0.05M by dilution.
 Absorbance of each solution is measured and is plotted
against its concentration.

ANALYSIS AND CALCULATIONS:

 Construct the calibration graph with the absorbance
against concentration.
  With the help of Beer Lambert law, concentration of
copper can be measured.
𝐴
A = εlc c=
εl

 Where, A= absorbance,
 ε= molar extinction coefficient (which depends on the
nature of the chemical and the wavelength of the light
used),
 l= length of the path light must travel in the solution in cm.
 c= concentration (Molarity) of solution (dissolved Brass)
(εl (M-1will be measured from graph)

 Mass of copper = 𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑢 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 × Molarity × MM of Cu

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟
 Percentage of Copper = 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 (𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑠)
× 100

PRECAUTIONS:
 Be careful from corrosive chemicals from the graph.

RESULT:
The concentration of copper (Cu) in the given sample is
“69mg\L” or 70%.