LIMIT TEST

• Limit test is defined as the quantitative or semi-quantitative test designed to

identify and control small quantities of impurity which is likely to be present
in the substance.
IMPORTANCE OF LIMIT TEST
• To find out the harmful amount of impurities.
• To find out the avoidable/unavoidable amount of impurities.
Limit test involves the simple comparisons of opalescence, turbidity or colour
produced in test with that of standard.
TYPES OF LIMIT TEST
• limit test for Chloride,
• Sulphate,
• Iron,
• Arsenic,
• Lead and
• Heavy metals,
• Modified limit test for chloride and sulphate.
LIMIT TEST FOR CHLORIDE
• Principle

This test is mainly used to control chloride impurity in an inorganic substance.

• Limit test for chloride is based upon the reaction of chloride impurities with silver
nitrate in the presence of dilute nitric acid.
• The insoluble silver chloride makes the solution opalescent which is compared with a
standard opalescence produced in a standard solution containing a known amount of
chloride.
• If the opalescence produced in the test is less intense than that of standard
opalescence, the sample passes the limit test for chloride and vice-versa.
REAGENTS USED IN LIMIT TEST FOR
CHLORIDE
1 Dilute Nitric acid (10 %)
• Nitric acid is added in the limit test of chloride to make solution acidic and helps
silver chloride to precipitate and make the solution turbid at the end of process.
• It also dissolves effect the unwanted impurities like carbonates , sulphates,
phosphates.
• It also provides a common ion effect.
2. Silver nitrate (5%).
3. Sodium chloride ( 0.05845% w/v solution of NaCl)