Inorganic chem lab: laboratory processes

Proper techniques for handling and transferring solids

what type of process is this?

Solids should be loosened or shaken gently to facilitate easy scooping or pouring from their containers

Small quantities can be precisely transferred using a scoop or spatula, which must be clean to prevent cross-contamination

When transferring solid into test tubes or other narrow vessels, weighing paper is often used as a transfer aid

Avoiding contamination in solid handling

what type of process is this?

Contamination can compromise experimental results; hence, cleanliness in handling solids is crucial.

Using clean spatulas and keeping solid reagent bottles capped properly limits exposure to moisture and airborne contaminants.

Techniques for Transferring Liquids Safely and Accurately

what type of process is this?

One effective technique is to guide the liquid flow using a stirring rod placed alongside the receiving vessel's rim.

Using a funnel is a great way of transferring liquids.

These techniques promote accuracy and safety when handling reactive or hazardous liquids

Heating Liquids and Preventing Bumping

what type of process is this?

• To mitigate bumping, small solid objects like boiling chips, broken glass bits, or a stirring rod are added to the liquid.

• The flame is applied directly beneath these objects, allowing even heat distribution.

• Controlled heating ensures safety

Measuring Liquid Volumes with Accuracy

what type of process is this?

• Pipets and burets offer precise volume delivery, with pipets utilizing suction bulbs

• Volumes in graduated cylinders are approximations and should be read with the eye level

• Dropper use is optimal for dispensing tiny volumes (1.00 mL or less)

Precipitation and Formation of Precipitates

what type of process is this?

• Precipitation is a chemical process where two solutions react to form a solid called the precipitate.

• This solid emerges because the product is insoluble in the solution mixture.

• Precipitation reactions are useful for isolating components from solutions or detecting certain ions

Dilution of Concentrated Solutions

what type of process is this?

• Dilution involves reducing the concentration of a stock solution by adding distilled water.

• It involves accurately measuring a small volume (aliquot) of concentrated solution and mixing it with a larger volume of water.

• Dilution does not change the amount of dissolved solute but changes its concentration per unit volume.

• C1V1 = C2V2

Separation Methods

what type of process is this?

• Sedimentation utilizes gravity to let heavier particles in a suspension settle at the container's bottom forming sediments.

• Decantation involves carefully pouring the top liquid layer away from settled solids or immiscible liquids to separate layers.

• Filtration uses filter media to separate solids from liquids in an insoluble solid-liquid mixture.

Centrifugation Principles and Applications

what type of process is this?

• Centrifugation separates components of a mixture based on density differences by spinning samples at high speeds.

• This method is particularly valuable when particles are too fine to settle easily and cannot be filtered effectively

Evaporation for Soluble Solids Separation

what type of process is this?

• Evaporation extracts soluble solids from liquids by heating the solution until the solvent vaporizes, leaving the solid residue behind.

• This technique leverages the volatility differences between solute and solvent.

Distillation for Purification of Mixed Liquids

what type of process is this?

• Distillation separates mixtures by exploiting differences in boiling points. When a solution is heated, the more volatile component vaporizes first, and its vapor is collected and condensed back to liquid form in a separate container.

• Distillation is a critical technique in chemistry and industry for purifying liquids, producing distilled water, or separating complex mixtures.

precipitation

is a chemical process where two solutions react to form a solid

Dilution

 involves reducing the concentration of a stock solution by adding distilled water

sedimentation

utilizes gravity to let heavier particles in a suspension settle at the container's bottom forming sediments.

Decantation

involves carefully pouring the top liquid layer away from settled solids or immiscible liquids to separate layers.

Filtration

uses filter media to separate solids from liquids in an insoluble solid-liquid mixture.

Centrifugation

separates components of a mixture based on density differences by spinning samples at high speeds

Evaporation

extracts soluble solids from liquids by heating the solution until the solvent vaporizes, leaving the solid residue behind.

Distillation

separates mixtures by exploiting differences in boiling points. When a solution is heated, the more volatile component vaporizes first, and its vapor is collected and condensed back to liquid form in a separate container