Date:

Expt. No.t
ions using
Quantitativecolorimetric determination of Ni* metal methods
Experiment conventionaland smart phone digital-imaging
amount of Ni (acts as
Corrosion protection in steel depends on the
important to analyze the
Problem definition passivating metal) in its composition. Hence, it is
amount of Ni in steel for its use in industry.
increasing concentration
Ni-DMG forms a stable colored complex. With
In turn, the color
of Niin so lution, its color intensity also increases.
Blue and Green, RGB) in
Methodology intensity is a function of co lor coordinates (Red,
the image taken using mobile phone camera.
from the
Estimation ofNi concentration in the unknown sample
Niconcentrations.
Solution calibration graph plotted based on different known
method, perform RGB
Students will learn to perform colorimetric
Student learning different grades of steel
outcomes response analysis and analyze Ni composition in
(i). Principle:
(a). Colorimetric method:
absorbance, (A) as given in Eq. (1).
Photo-sensitive measurements are expressed in terms of analyte
and concentration of the
Further, the linear relationship between absorbance (A)
ecl =A = log(lo/l) ...()
light power, e= molar absorptivity, c =
Where, Io is the incident light power, Ithe transmitted
solution.
concentration of analyte and = thickness of the
(b). Digital-imaging method:
usually 24 bit data (8 bit R + 8bit G +8bit B)
The color and intensity of digital image are
andB lights are added together in various
forming an additive color space, in which R, G
using combination of R, G andB
combinations to reproduce a broad range of colors. By
intensity of each color has 256 levels (from 0
intensities, many co lors can be displayed. The
refers to pure black while R = 255, G = 255, B=
to 255). The value of R= 0, G = 0, B =0
combinations of R, G and B values are allowed.
255 is pure white. With this system, unique
lightness shades. These extensive
providing for millions of different hue, saturation and
quantitative analysis. The goal of this
dynamic colors of images provide the database for
colorimetry for the determination of Ni?+
study is to employ digital images-based
concentration in aqueous samples.
coordinates: c= RGB ... (2)
The concentration of analyte is a function of color
NaOH (1 N) solution,
(iü), Reagents, solutions and Instrumentation: NiSO4 (100 ppm),
Dimethylglyoxime (DMG), K3[Fe(CN)6], Colorimetry and smartphone.
complex in
(iii), Reaction Scheme: DMG reacts with Ni" to form a pink-colored Ni(dmg)>
alkaline medium, and gets oxidized by potassium ferricyanide (Ks[Fe(CN)6]) to form a
brown-red, water so luble oxidized Ni(dmg)> complex (Scheme 1). Absorption spectrum of
the oxidized complex shows absorption maxima at a wavelength of 440 nm (Fig. 1).
Concentration of NI in the given unknown sample is determined from the calibration graph
(Fig. 2).

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 K,Fe(CN)% Oxidizcd form of
+ 2 OH
OH Ni-DMG complex
Ni?+ 2 NH,OH
2 Hz0
NOH

Scheme-1

Beer's Law
A
Standard 1

Standard 2

Standard 3

Standard 4

n
Concentration
of unkoowun

Concentration (mol/L)
Wavelength A (nm)
for Ni(il)
Fig. 2: Model calibration curve
Fig. 1: Absorption spectrum of oxidized Ni(i) determination
DMG complex showing Amx at 440 nm

(iv). Procedure:
volumetric flasks (to prepare 4 known and
(a). Colorimetry method: Take 5 standard 50 mL
ppm). Add 1, 2, 3 and 4 mL
Iunknown solution). Fill the burette with Ni stock solution (100
6 and 8 ppm of steel containing
of the Ni solution in burette to the std. flasks to get 2, 4,
50 ml volumetric
nickel(II) solutions. The unknown sample will be furnished in another
K3[Fe(CN)6] solution
flask. Further, add 0.5 mL of DMG solution followed by 0.5 mL of
well once and waited for 5
using a burette to all the 5 std. flasks. All the flasks are shaken
solution. Allow the
minutes. After that, make up the 50 mL mark in std. flask with IN NaOH
Absorbance of the formed
flasks at least 10 minutes for the complete complex formation.
brown-red solution is measured at 440 nm against NaOH solution (blank). Record these
absorbance readings in Table 1.
Draw a calibration graph taking concentration of Ni (in ppm) as X-axis and absorbance
readings as Y-axis. A straight line that passes through the origin (see Fig. 2) is an indication
that the measured data obeys Beer's Law. From the calibration plot, measure the
concentration of nickel in the given unknown sample.
(b). Digital imaging method: The prepared standard solutions are lined up along with
unknown concentration sample and blank. Using a white paper as background, take a
photograph of the samples by holding the camera around 50 cm away. Calibration curve will
be constructed through the RGB values of analytical response with different conc. of Ni
jons using "RGB Tool" APP. In the plotted graph, RGB response varies linearly vs the
analyte concentration. In order to get precise analysis, follow the steps given below:

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 solution
standard solution and unknown
Transfer prepared colorimetrictest tubes
into different
test tube
solution
Take image of all camera
using smart phone

processing app
Open the image

stored in app and

to gallery, open the image image/conc.
Go for each
extract RGB values
(G/B)
(R/G) or (R/B) or
Process the RGBvalueslinear response
ctc., tillto get

linear
curve using RGB
Plot the calibration
response vs concentration

conc using the

Find the unknown
calibration curve

Table 1: ExperimentalData smartphone device*

S. No.
Datacollected from Data collected from
Colorimetric device R/G G/B R/B
R G
Conc. Abs
(ppm, X-axis) (Y- axis)
1. o:24
2.
4 24
3.

4
5. Unknown a 027 Fig. 2.
that is Iloearly ipefeasing with analyte concentration is used for plotting
*Corresponding ratio
Result: colorimetry) = 2-5 -Ppm (mg/L)
sample (using
(i). Concentration of Ni in steel Ppm (mg/L)
(using digital imaging) =
(ii). Concentration of Ni in steel sample
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