Help w/ Gravimetric Anaylsis of Mercury Oxide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the steps and methods involved in using gravimetric analysis to determine the percentage of mercury in a sample of mercury oxide. Participants explore various techniques and clarify concepts related to the analysis process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the steps needed for gravimetric analysis, suggesting fractional distillation as a method, but expresses uncertainty about the overall process.
  • Another participant challenges the use of fractional distillation, proposing instead a heat to constant mass analysis, and questions the properties of mercury oxide when heated.
  • A participant notes that mercury is volatile, which raises questions about its behavior during the analysis.
  • There is confusion regarding the concept of heat to constant mass analysis, with one participant admitting a lack of familiarity with the term.
  • Participants discuss the nature of mercury oxide when heated, with one asserting that it expands and evaporates due to a low boiling point, while another corrects this by stating that solids do not boil.
  • One participant identifies decomposition as the opposite of synthesis, speculating that heating mercury oxide would yield pure mercury, though they express uncertainty about the chemistry involved.
  • A later reply clarifies that heating mercury oxide produces mercury vapor rather than liquid mercury, suggesting that distillation might be useful for collecting the liquid form for weighing.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriate methods for gravimetric analysis, with no consensus reached on the best approach. Confusion remains regarding the terminology and processes involved in the analysis of mercury oxide.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in their understanding of specific analytical techniques and the behavior of mercury and mercury oxide under heat, indicating a need for further clarification on these topics.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in analytical chemistry, particularly those learning about gravimetric analysis and the properties of mercury compounds.

help4drdu
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1. List the steps needed if a scientist is to use gravimetric analysis to find the percentage of mercury in a sample of mercury oxide. 2. Dont really know how to do it but i know you must use fractional distillation, right? and then everything is a mystery. Help will be greatly appreciated.
 
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I don't think fractional distillation would be called gravimetric analysis. You should go for a heat to constant mass analysis.

What do you know about mercury oxide when heated?
 
Note: mercury is volatile.
 
Kushal said:
I don't think fractional distillation would be called gravimetric analysis. You should go for a heat to constant mass analysis.
I am not sure what is heat to constant mass analysis because i have not learned it yet and though question specifically says 'using gravimetric anaylsis' so I am confused.

Kushal said:
What do you know about mercury oxide when heated?
It expands and evaporates due a low boiling point, right?

Thanks for all the replies at the moment.
 
Last edited:
help4drdu said:
It expands and evaporates due a low boiling point, right?

No. It is solid. Solids don't boil.

What is opposite of synthesis?
 
Borek said:
What is opposite of synthesis?

Decomposition, so if we heat mercury we are removing the oxide [ions or molecules? sorry not v. good chemistry] leaving us w/ pure mercury? [ sort of of a random guess]

I am sort of getting lost. Thanks anyways
 
Last edited:
Decomposition - you are right. Problem is, what is produced is a mercury vapor, not liquid mercury.

That's where the distillation may come handy. Once you have liquid mercury you can weight it...

Note, that most likely no one will do it this way in the real lab.
 
Great thanks for the info Borek, you have been a great help.
 

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