% Copper In An Ore

Quantitative Analysis: % Copper in an Ore

May 3, 2006

Abstract: In this experiment we were given an unknown sample of

ore. Using the spectrophotometric analysis and the electrogravimetric
analysis, we found the unknown percentage of copper in the
unknown sample of ore was to be 17.6% by mass.

Introduction: Chemical analysis takes place under two different

scenarios. In one case, you need to find out the chemical identity of
some material. The first kind of analysis, in which the chemical nature
of a sample is determined in the lab0 or in the field, is called
qualitative analysis. In the second type of analysis, the analyst, in
which amounts of specific substances are measured, is quantitative
analysis. As in this experiment is to determine the mass percentage
of copper in a copper ore sample, using a variety of analytical
methods.

Methods:
Electrolytic Analysis of Cu in an Ore
In order to find the electrolytic analysis of Cu in an Ore, we precisely
weighed out a 3.4585 g of the unknown (#75) ore sample into a 250
ml beaker. We then added 25 ml of de-ionized water, 2 ml of
concentrated sulfuric acid, and 1 ml of concentrated nitric acid. We
then heated the mixture over a hot plate until no more dissolving
occurs. We then cooled the solution and diluted it with de-ionized
water to a 100 ml volume. We then used the, Eberbach Corp #6,
electrolysis machine (serial # 749864) to stir the electrodes in the
beaker of solution for approximately 30 minutes at 3 volts and 1.4
amperes. We then added de-ionized water to bring the volume of
solution up and continued the process. We repeated the adding of
de-ionized water and the stirring of solution until no more blue color
remained in the solution and no further copper plating was observed.
Spectrophotometric Analysis of Cu in an Ore
In order to find the spectrophotometric analysis of Cu in an Ore, we
made a 0.0500 M Cu2+ solution by pouring 35 ml of the stock 0.100
M Cu2+ solution and transferring 25.00 ml