CHAPTER 2

CHEMICAL APPARATUS, AND UNIT

OPERATION OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
 SELECTING AND HANDLING
REAGENTS AND OTHER CHEMICALS
Classifying Chemicals

1. Reagent Grade:

Reagent grade chemical conform to the minimum

standards set forth by the Reagent Chemical committee
of the American Chemical Society and are used
wherever possible in analytical work.
2. Primary Standard Grade:

Extraordinary purity is required for a

primary standard. Primary standard
reagent is carefully analyzed and the
assay is printed on the container label.
3. Special-Purpose Reagent:

chemicals that have been prepared for a

specific application. Included among
these are solvents for spectrophotometry
and high-performance liquid
chromatography.
 RULES FOR HANDLING REAGENTS AND
SOLUTIONS
1. Select the best grade of chemical available
for analytical work.

2. Replace the top of every container

immediately after removal of the reagent.
3. Hold the stoppers of reagent bottles
between your fingers.
4. Never return any excess reagent to a
bottle.

5. Never insert spatulas, spoons, or

knives into a bottle that contains a solid
chemicals.
6. Keep the reagent shelf and the
laboratory balance clean and neat.

7. Observe regulations concerning the

disposal of surplus reagents and
solutions.
Cleaning and marking laboratory
ware
Every beaker, flask, or crucible that will contain the
sample must be thoroughly cleaned before being used.
The apparatus should be washed with a hot detergent
solution and then rinsed, initially with tap water and
finally with several small portions of deionized water.
Organic solvents such as benzene or acetone may be
used to remove grease films.