How to Analyze Ion Concentrations in a Mixture of Salts?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the challenge of separating and quantifying various inorganic compounds dissolved in water, specifically compounds like boric acid, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and others. The user seeks effective methods for this analysis and has considered techniques such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), and spectroscopy. However, confusion arises regarding the applicability of these methods for inorganic compounds, as the solution contains individual ions rather than intact compounds. It is emphasized that while identical solutions can be created from different salts, the analysis will only reveal the concentrations of the ions present, not the original compounds. The consensus suggests that determining the concentration of each ion separately is the most feasible approach, with HPLC being a potential method for achieving this, although it may not be straightforward for all compounds.
vead
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Hello

I need some ideas . there are about nine or ten compounds that are present in water

[((H3BO3),Ca(No3)2),KNO3, KH2PO4), (K2SO4, (ZnSO4)]how to separate the compounds ? how to measure quantity of each ?

I did google search , I got the HPLC , GC , spectroscopy , but I don't understand which method should I have to use ?
 
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You don't have these compound in water, but individual ions. All you can do its to determine concentration of each ion separately.

One method that fits them all can be difficult to find. ASA would be probably closest.
 
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Borek said:
You don't have these compound in water, but individual ions. All you can do its to determine concentration of each ion separately.

One method that fits them all can be difficult to find. ASA would be probably closest.
actually I am mixing all inorganic compound in water then I want to know the quantity of each compound ?
I did search , I don't have any Idea that HPLC , GC work to separate inorganic compound
 
vead said:
actually I am mixing all inorganic compound in water then I want to know the quantity of each compound ?

Identical solutions can be prepared using different compounds. If you dissolve NaCl and KBr, produced solution is identical to the one prepared by dissolving NaBr and KCl (assuming properly chosen quantities of salts). Thus you can't know what compounds are present, you can just list ions and their concentrations.
 
Borek said:
Identical solutions can be prepared using different compounds. If you dissolve NaCl and KBr, produced solution is identical to the one prepared by dissolving NaBr and KCl (assuming properly chosen quantities of salts). Thus you can't know what compounds are present, you can just list ions and their concentrations.
Hello
I got definition from page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chromatography
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; formerly referred to as high-pressure liquid chromatography), is a technique in analytical chemistry used to separate the components in a mixture, to identify each component, and to quantify each component

do you have any idea ? Its very important to know quantity of each compound.
 
Components in the solution of a mixture of salts are ions, not salts themselves. I gave you an example why it is the case.
 

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