Experiment 6: Toxicants in Commercial Products

I. Introduction
If applicable; do not include properties of toxicant anymore

II. Methods
Schematic diagram of procedure excluding qualitative tests

III. Results and Discussion

o Principle Involved
o Sample Computation (Calibration curve, etc)

IV. Qualitative Tests

Test Procedure Reaction Theoretical Result Notes

Reagents used and methods chemical reaction; species responsible visible results of the test (eg. Principle involved, notes from discussion
should be in bold face color, gas formation)

Bismuth

Ammonium sulfide test
1 mL sample + 0.5 mL acidified ammonium Black precipitate standard solution produced a white precipitate in
sulfide solution clear, colorless solution. The precipitate was soluble
Soluble in dilute HCl and in dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid. It
Test solubility of the precipitate in ammonium sulfide was
- diluted HCl Yellow precipitate upon addition
of hot HNO3
- ammonium sulfide

- hot nitric acid

Sodium hydroxide test
1 mL sample + 0.5 mL NaOH TS
Test solubility of precipitate in
- diluted HCl
- diluted sulfuric acid
- excess NaOH in cold solution
Bi3+ + 3OH- → Bi(OH)3 ↓
Bi(OH)3 ↓ + 3H+ → Bi3+ + 3 H2O
Bi(OH)3 ↓→ BiO●OH ↓ + H2O
White precipitate
Soluble in dilute HCl
Soluble in dilute H2SO4 and upon
heating
Insoluble in excess NaOH
In the sodium hydroxide test performed, the bismuth
insoluble in excess sodium hydroxide. And a yellow
precipitate was produced upon heating. The yellow
precipitate was due to the addition of excess sodium
hydroxide followed by continuous heating; bismuth
(III) oxide was produced.

Mercury

Ammonia solution test
1 mL sample + 0.5 mL acidified ammonium
sulfide solution
Test solubility of the precipitate in
- diluted HCl
2 Hg22+(aq) + 4 NH3(aq) + NO3-(aq) + H2O(l)
→ 2 Hg(l) + Hg2ONH2NO3 (s) + 3NH4+
(aq)
HgCl2(aq) + 2NH3(aq) → HgNH2Cl(s) +
Mixture of black and white Aqueous ammonia reacts with mercury (I) to
precipitate produce metallic mercury (black) and mercury(II)
amido salt (white) in a disproportionation reaction (a)
(Svehla, 1996). The precipitate is in insoluble in
excess ammonia. This reaction can be used to
differentiate between mercury(l) and mercury(II). In
contrast, mercury (II) produces white amido salts
 - ammonium sulfide
- hot nitric acid
Sodium hydroxide test 1 mL sample + 0.5 mL NaOH TS
Test solubility of precipitate in
- diluted HCl
- diluted sulfuric acid
- excess NaOH in cold solution
Potassium hydroxide test 1 mL cold neutralized solution of test
substance + KI solution added slowly
2NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
Hg2Cl2￬ + 2NaOH → Hg2O￬
2NaCl
Hg2O￬ + NaOH → Hg2￬O + NaOH
Hg2O￬ + 2HCl → Hg2Cl2￬ + 2H2O
Hg2O￬ + H2SO4 → Hg2O￬ + H2SO4
Hg2O￬ -Δ-> HgO￬ + Hg￬
Hg2Cl2+ 2KI → Hg2I2￬ + H2O + 2KCl
Hg2I2￬ + 2KI→ Hg￬ + K2[HgI4]
HgCl2+ 2KI → HgI2￬ + H2O + 2KCl
HgI2￬ + 2KI → K2[HgI4]
+ H2O + Black precipitate
Insoluble in dilute HCl
Insoluble in dilute sulfuric acid
Insoluble in excess NaOH
Mercury (I)
Green precipitate
Black precipitate upon addition of
excess KI
Mercury (II)
Red precipitate
Soluble in excess KI
whose composition depends on the mercury(II) salt
present in the solution (b). The precipitate is
insoluble in excess aqueous ammonia, but do
dissolve in hot dilute acid and sodium hydroxide.
Mercury (I) will produce black finely divided mercury
metal and yellow Mercury(II) Oxide (a).
Mercury (II) will only produce a yellow precipitate of
mercury (II) oxide (b). It insoluble in excess
hydroxide but is soluble in acids (Svehla, 1996)
Addition of KI to Mercury (I) salt will produce green
precipitate of mercury(I) iodide (a). If excess reagent
is added, a disproportionation reaction takes place,
soluble tetraiodomercurate(II) ions and a black
precipitate of finely divided mercury is formed (b).
(Svehla, 1996)
In contrast, mercury (II) salt will produce yellow
mercuric (II) iodide precipitates and rapidly turns red.
The precipitate soluble in excess reagent. (Svehla,
1996)