ME LABORATORY 1

EXPERIMENT NO. 5A
ORSAT APPARATUS

Objectives of the Experiment:

This experiment is for the students to understand and define what an Orsat analysis is, and what an
Orsat Apparatus is and its working principle.

Procedure:
Answer/define the following:
1. WHAT IS ORSAT ANALYSIS?

A measurement of the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide in a mixture of gases, usually from
the exhaust of combustion processes such as boilers, furnaces, fired heaters, and combustion engines.
Orsat analysis is a laboratory method used to determine the composition of a gas mixture, particularly
its oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen content. The analysis is named after its inventor, German
chemist Wilhelm Orsat, and is commonly used in industries such as power generation, petrochemicals,
and metallurgy.

In an Orsat analysis, a sample of gas is drawn into a specialized glass apparatus called an Orsat
apparatus. The apparatus typically consists of a gas burette, pipettes, and absorption bulbs containing
chemical solutions that selectively react with different components of the gas mixture. The gas is first
passed through a solution that removes any water vapor present in the sample, and then through a
series of absorption bulbs containing chemicals that react with specific components of the gas mixture.

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2. WHAT EQUIPMENT IS USED FOR ORSAT ANALYSIS? WHO INVENTED IT, AND WHAT IS ITS WORKING
PRINCIPLE?
The equipment used for Orsat analysis includes an Orsat apparatus, which consists of a gas burette,
pipettes, and absorption bulbs containing chemical solutions.

The gas burette is a graduated glass tube that allows the volume of gas being analyzed to be accurately
measured. The pipettes are used to measure and transfer precise volumes of chemical solutions into the
absorption bulbs. The absorption bulbs contain chemical solutions that react selectively with different
components of the gas mixture, allowing their concentration to be measured.
Louis Hengist Orsat was born 14/8/1837 in Paris.

The working principle of Orsat analysis is based on the selective absorption of different gas components
by chemical solutions. The gas sample is drawn into the Orsat apparatus, and any water vapor present in
the sample is removed by passing it through a solution of calcium chloride. The gas is then passed
through a series of absorption bulbs containing chemical solutions that react selectively with different
gas components.

3. ATTACH A PHOTO OF THE APPARATUS USED FOR ORSAT ANALYSIS AND LABEL EACH PART

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 Consists of a water-jacketed measuring burette, connected in series to a set of three absorption
bulbs, each through a stop-cock.
 The other end is provided with a three-way stop-cock, the free end of which is further
connected to a U-tube packed with glass wool (for avoiding the incoming of any smoke particles,
etc.)
 The graduated burette is surrounded by a water-jacket to keep the temperature of the gas
constant during the experiment.
 The lower end of the burette is connected to a water reservoir by means of a long rubber
tubing.
 The absorption bulbs are usually filled with glass tubes, so that the surface area of contact
between the gas and the solution is increased.

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