Elemental Analysis

Grade 11
 Types of analysis

1. Qualitative Analysis: determines the nature of elements found in a

certain sample.

2. Quantitative Analysis: determines the exact quantity of the

element found in a certain sample.

 Identification of some gases
• Carbon dioxide: it turbid lime water.

• Water vapor : it turns blue anhydrous copper sulfate.

• Hydrogen: it lights up with a bang.

• Oxygen: it burns and rekindled a nearly extinct match.

• Ammonia: it turns blue wet litmus.

 Qualitative Analysis
1. Analysis of presence of carbon element :
The carbon element can be identified by:
i. The complete combustion reaction of the organic compound: it
gives a carbon dioxide CO2, colorless which disorder (turbid) the lime
water.

ii. The pyrolysis reaction in the absence of oxygen or the incomplete

combustion reaction : it gives a black deposit which carbon solid C
(s).
 
 Qualitative Analysis

2. The hydrogen element is identified by:

The combustion reaction: it gives the steam(vapor) that turns blue the
white anhydrous copper sulfate CuSO4.
 
3. The oxygen element is identified by:
The pyrolysis reaction: it also provides water vapor H2O which is formed
of the elements H and O.
 Qualitative Analysis
4. Elements (N, S, halogen X = Cl; Br; I):

•We can identify the presence of the elements nitrogen N, sulfur S, the
halogens chlorine Cl, bromine Br or iodine I, by a method called
mineralization analysis; which transforms these elements to inorganic
ones, followed by identification tests to determine the nature of the
components.

•Mineralization is carried out by hot molten sodium.

 
 Qualitative Analysis
A. The element sulfur S is converted to sulfide ion S2- which is
identified by its action on a solution containing Pb2+ ions. It forms a
black precipitate of lead sulfide PbS:

Pb2+ + S2- → PbS (black)

 
B. The element nitrogen N is converted to cyanide ion CN- which is
identified by its action on a solution containing Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. It
forms a blue compound of Prussia.
 Qualitative Analysis

C. The halogen X (Cl, Br, I) is converted to halide ion X- (Cl-, Br-, I-) which is
identified by its action on a solution of the Ag + ions. It forms a colored
precipitate depends on the ion X:

i. The chloride ion Cl- gives a white precipitate of silver chloride AgCl which has

blackened light. According to the balance equation:Ag + + Cl- → AgCl white

ii. The bromide ion Br- gives a cream precipitate of silver bromide AgBr

According to the balance equation:Ag+ + Br- → AgBr cream

iii. The iodide ion I- gives a light yellow precipitate of silver iodide AgI as the
balance equation:Ag+ + I- → AgI light yellow
 Quantitative Analysis
1-Determining the mass percentage of carbon C:
We can determine the% by mass of C from the mass of CO2 formed.
n (CO2) =
n (C) = n (CO2) ;
m(C) /M(C) = m(CO2)/M(CO2)
Then m (C) = x m (CO2)
Therefore :
% By mass of C = = M(C) x m(CO2)x100/m(o.c.) xM(CO2)
 Quantitative Analysis
2-Determining the mass percentage of hydrogen H
We can determine the% by mass of H from the mass of the H2O
formed.
n (H) = 2x n (H2O)
m(H)/M(H)= 2xm(H2O)/M(H2O)
m(H)= 2xm(H2O) xM(H)/M(H2O)
Therefore :
% By mass of H = = 2xm(H2O)xM(H)x100/m(0.c.) x M(H2O)
 Quantitative Analysis
 
3-Determining the mass percentage of oxygen O:

If the organic compound contains C, H and O, the % O is deduced from

the % C% H from the relationship:% O = 100 - (% C +% H)
 Quantitative Analysis

4-Determining the mass percentage of nitrogen N

We can determine the% by mass of N from N2 or the mass of the NH3
formed.
From NH3:
From N2: n(NH3) =
2N  N2 N2 + 3 H2 → 2NH3
Acc. To S.R According to the stoichiometry of the
n (N2) = reaction, we have:
Then n (N) = n (N2) × 2 n (N2) = = ,
Then, m(N) = n(N) x M(N) Then n(N) = n (NH3)

% By mass of N =
 
 Quantitative Analysis
5-Determining the mass percentage of sulfur S:
We can determine the mass% of S from the precipitate mass of PbS
formed.
n (PbS) =
Pb 2++ S2- → PbS , S + 2e - S2-
According to the stoichiometry of the reaction, we have:
n (S2- ) =n (PbS)
Then m (S) = n (S) × M (S)
Therefore :
% By mass of S =
 Quantitative Analysis

6- Determining the mass percentage X% of the halogen:

We can determine the mass % of X (Cl, Br, or I) from the mass of precipitate
formed AgX.
n (AgX) =
Ag + + X- → AgX , X + electron  X-
According to the stoichiometry of the reaction, we have:
n (X) = n (AgX)
Then m (X) = n (X) × M (X)
Therefore :
% By mass of X =
 Empirical Formula
let an organic compound CxHyO containing the elements C, H and O.
Its mass percentage composition: % C = 66.9 % H = 13.6 %O = 21.5
Find the empirical formula:
= 5,575
= 13.6
= 1.343
Divide the numbers obtained ny the smallest number 1.343:
C = = 4.15 ≈ 4
H = =10.12 ≈ 10
O= =1
So the empirical formula is (C4H10O )n
 Molecular Formula
Find the molecular formula of (C4H10O) n and where its molar mass is M =
148 g.mol-1
M = [4 x M (C) + 10 x M (H) + M (O)] × n = 148
Then (48 + 10 + 16) × n = 148
74 × n = 148
n=2
ÞMolecular formula : (C4H10O) 2
Þ C8H20O2
Another method for determining the molecular formula: CxHyOz
According to the law of proportions defined by: