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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

1.1 ABSTRCT/SUMMARY 2

1.2 INTRODUCTION 2

1.3 AIMS 3

1.4 THEORY 3

1.5 APPARATUS AND MATERIALS 5

1.6 METHODOLOGY/PROCEDURE 5

1.7 RESULTS 6

1.8 CALCULATIONS 7

1.9 DISCUSSION 9

2.0 CONCLUSIONS 10

2.1 RECOMMENDATIONS 11

2.2 REFERENCE 11

2.3 APPENDIX 12
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ABSTRACT

Chromium is a chemical element that which the symbol Cr and atomic number is 24.
Chromium does not occur freely in nature. The main mineral is chromite. Chromium (IV) that
we used in the experiment is the strong oxidizing agent and it posses a great deal of toxicity to
human and animal due to its carcinogenetic. This health risky situation has lead tomany studies
and investigationon determining the presenceand quantity of chromiumin biological and
environmental samples. An absorption methodfor the determination of chromium (IV)
concentration is proposed and the method is operated by using spectrophotometer. As the
experiment carried, chromium compound can be found in water only in trace amounts.

INTRODUCTION

Many heavy metal such as chromium, Cr are toxic and low aqueous solution
concentrations. In rivers, lakes and streams, chromium are found in either the trivalent, Cr (III)
or hexavalent, Cr (VI) states. Trivalent Cr (III) compound are not usually considered as health
hazards but hexavalent Cr(VI) compound can be toxic if ingested or inhaled. Cr (IV) is an
established human carcinogen. The lethal dose of poisonous Cr (VI) compound is about one half
teaspoon of material. Chronic exposure Cr (VI) compound can cause permanent eye injury,
unless properly treated. State and federal regulatory agencies consider C (VI) to be toxic at
concentration level >0.100 ppm. Natural water whose Cr(VI) concentrations exceed 0.100 ppm
may not be used for drinking water or foe agricultural purposes. Therefore, it is important to
make sure the level or Cr(VII) concentrations in water sources used for drinking water and
agriculture purpose is lower than 0.100 ppm.
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AIMS

The aims of conducting the experiment are to determine the Chromium (VI) content
that present in the sample of water using a spectrophotometer, by using the right method of
diluting solution to prepare a series of standard solutions in the range of 1 to 100 parts per
million (ppm) to be used in the calibration of the spectrophotometer. Then, to analyze whether
the simulated water sample tested is suitable for drinking and agricultural purpose.

THEORY

One common source of chromium contamination in natural waters is automobiles as it is a

component in various automobile breaks as well s parts of engine. Chromium that is deposited on
highroads originated from brake dusts and exhaust of automobile engine can unfavorable
permeates into any water streams nearby via flowing rainwater. Lakes and water streams which
is nearer a typical congested with automobiles area are the most susceptible areas to be
contaminated by such chromium.

Due to its cancer-risk character and toxicity even at mere concentrations, a lot of federal
environment agencies are doing researches to determine its presence in many environmental
samples. Thus, in this experiment, absorption spectroscopy will be used to detect low level
concentrations of chromium (VI) in a lake water sample.

As a matter of fact, color aqueous solutions have chemical species contents which absorb
significant wavelengths of light. Similarly, heavy metals can be identified via absorption of
wavelength of light. Furthermore, the amount of light absorbed is nearly proportional to the
concentration of the solution metals ions.

Absorption spectroscopy operates on the measuring principle of light before and after it
passes through aqueous metal solutions. The amount of light absorbed by the chemical species in
the sample is equivalent to the difference in amount of light before it enters the sample and after
it exits the sample. For the purpose of light to be absorbed by chemical species, the light must be
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set to a specific wavelength. Every chemical species absorbs distinct wavelength of light. In
absorption spectroscopy, the wavelengths of light absorbed by a metal in solution are detect.
In this experiment, standard solutions will be prepared by diluting 300 parts per million of
Chromium (VI) standards solution. Five standard solutions need to be prepared from the
concentrated Chromium (VI) standard solution. To calculate the dilute solutions volume, the
solution dilution formula can be used, as what us written below:

(M1)(V1) = (M2)(V2) ……………………..(1)

Quantitative analysis using spectrophotometer is based on Beer-Lambert Law:

A= MLC…………………………(2)
Where,

A = absorbance value (dimensionless, thus no units is represented)

M = molar absorbance (L/mol.cm)
L = path length of the cuvette in which the sample is contained (cm)
C = concentration of the compound in solution (mol/L)

Beer-Lambert Law states that absorbance value depends on the total quantity of the absorbing
compound in the light path through the cuvette. Thus, if plot a graph of absorbance versus
concentration of the compound solution, a straight line passing through the origin (0,0) is
determined. The molar absorbance, M, is a constant for a particular substance, therefore if the
concentration of the solution is halved, so is the absorbance value. A compound with a high
molar absorbance is very effective at absorbing light (of the appropriate wavelength), and hence
low concentration of a compound with a high molar absorbance can be easily detected.
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APPARATUS

 Distilled water
 Spectrophotometer
 10 millimeters square cuvette bottle
 pipette
 5 set of 10 millimeters of 1, 20, 60, 85 and 100 ppm of diluted solution of chromium (VI)
 5 set of 300 ppm of standard Chromium (VI) solution of 0.167, 3.33, 10.00, 14.167 and
16.17 millimeters
 Lake water sample.

PROCEDURE

1. All the materials and apparatus is set up.

2. 10 millimeters of square cuvette bottle is filled up with distilled water and placed on
the spectrophotometer slot. A zeroing step is done to obtained all the data is accurate.
3. 5 series of diluted solution is prepared by using the diluted method with distilled water
with the range concentration of 1 until 100 parts per million (ppm) solutions. (1 ppm, 20 ppm, 60
ppm, 85 ppm and 100 ppm)
4. 10 millimeters of each series of diluted solution is poured into square cuvette bottle
and placed on the spectrophotometer slot to check the absorbance value by using the
spectrophotometer.
5. All data obtained is recorded.
6. 10 millimeters of lake water sample is poured into the square cuvette bottle and
spectrophotometer is used to determine the Chromium (VI) concentration contained
in the water sample collected.
7. All the value is analyzed, the observation and the data obtained is recorded.
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RESULT

Volume of Chromium(mL) 0.167 3.333 10.000 14.170 16.670

Concentration of Chromium,
part per million (p.p.m) 1 20 60 85 100
Absorbance value, trial 1 0.095 0.138 0.320 0.465 0.556
trial 2 0.007 0.057 0.160 0.478 0.520
trial 3 0.009 0.044 0.116 0.474 0.531
Average value 0.037 0.080 0.199 0.472 0.536
Table 1: Determination of absorbance value at difference concentration
of Chromium (VI) solution using spectrophotometer

Water sample Absorbance value

Trial 1 0.303
Trial 2 0.313
Trial 3 0.368
Average value 0.328
Table 2: Determination of absorbance value of water sample using
spectrophotometer

Graph of absorbance value versus

concentrattion of Cr (VI) in p.p.m
0.6

0.5
Absorbance value

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
-0.1
Concentration of chromium (VI) in units of p.p.m
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Figure 1: Graph of absorbance value versus concentration of Chromium (VI) in units ppm

SAMPLE CALCULATION

 To dilute 50 mL of standard solution of 1 p.p.m, the solution dilution formula is used in

order to calculate the volume of Chromium solution (VI) solution.

M1V1=M2V2...............................(1)

(300 p.p.m)(V1) = (1 p.p.m) (50mL)

V1 = 0.167 mL

 To dilute 50mL of standard solution of 20 p.p.m, 3.333mL of Chromium (VI) solution is

needed.

(300 ppm)(V1) = (20 p.p.m) (50mL)

V1 = 3.333 mL

 To dilute 50mL of standard solution of 60 p.p.m, 10mL of Chromium (VI) solution is

needed.

(300 p.p.m)(V1) = (60 p.p.m) (50mL)

V1 = 10 mL

 To dilute 50mL of standard solution of 85 p.p.m, 14.17mL of Chromium (VI) solution is

needed.

(300 p.p.m)(V1) = (85 p.p.m) (50mL)

V1 = 14.17 mL
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 To dilute 50mL of standard solution of 100 p.p.m, 16.67mL of Chromium (VI) solution is
needed.

(300 p.p.m)(V1) = (100 p.p.m) ( 50mL)

V1 = 16.67 mL

By interpolating graph absorbance value versus concentration of Chromium (VI) solution in

units ppm in figure 1, the equation of the linear line is given as:

y = mx + c

y = 0.00505 x – 0.02

By substituting y with the average of absorbance value of water sample, which is 0.328, hence
we get that the value of x is:

x = y + 0.02
0.00505

= 68.91

x is equivalent to the concentration of Chromium (VI) solution contains in water sample

according to the graph in figure 1 which is 68.91 ppm

SAMPLE ERROR CALCULATION

In this experiment, dilution 50 mL of standard solution of 1 ppm is needed to prepare, thus the
solution dilution formula is used in order to calculate the volume of Chromium solution (VI)
solution. The calculation of volume Chromium (VI) solution at below is wrong. This because the
calculation shows that we need to dilute 50 mL of standard solution of 300 ppm.

M1V1=M2V2...............................(1)

(300 ppm)(50 mL) = (1 ppm) ( V1)

V1 = 15000 mL
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DISCUSSION

This experiment is conducted to achieve the main objectives of the experiment which is to
determine the content of the Chromium (VI) which present in stimulated lake water sample using
a spectrophotometer. The value that we take during the experiment is the absorbance value for
Chromium (VI) solution and water sample. In this experiment, to detect the low level
concentrations of Chromium (VI) in a water sample, absorption spectroscopy or
spectrophotometer is used. The wavelengths of light absorbed by a metal in solution which is
Chromium (VI) solution that used in this experiment are detected in spectrophotometer.

In this experiment, the value of concentration of Chromium (VI) is contain 68.91 parts
per million (ppm) after the calculation is done. According to this value, it is indicates that
obviously means that there is a significant content of chromium ions in the water sample. From
Beer-Lambert Law that states absorbance value is depend on the total quantity of the absorbing
compound in light path through the cuvette. Therefore, from graph plotted in figure 1, we
obtained a straight line. This indicated that the amount of light absorbed is linearly proportional
to the concentration of the solution metal ions.

Other objective of this experiment is to analyze whether the stimulated lake water sample
is suitable for drinking water and agriculture purposes. Based on the consideration of state and
federal regulatory agencies, if the concentration of Chromium (VI) solution contains higher than
0.100 parts per million, the natural waters are considered to be toxic and it is can concluded that
the water is unsafe which can cause the cancer and non-hygienic for drinking water for public
consumption and agriculture proposes.

In addition, the purposes of this experiment is to demonstrate the proper method of

diluting solution to prepare a series of standard solutions in the range 1 to 100 parts per million
(ppm) to be used in calibration of the spectrophotometer. However, there must be small errors
that can be done during the preparations of a series of standard solution which results in such an
extreme value of Chromium (VI) content. There could be the techniques applied to measure such
a small volume of diluting substance is not suitable. This will cause the difficulties during
measure the volume of Chromium (VI) solution needed to dilute the standard solutions.
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Moreover, the error that might be occur is the way of holding the square cuvette bottle
that contain the diluted solutions is wrong. This leads to the reading of the absorbance value by
the spectrophotometer may not be accurate. This is because when there any fingerprints on the
outer surface of the square cuvette bottle, the solutions difficult to absorbs the wavelengths of
light in the spectrophotometer.

Furthermore, the inaccurate contents of either Chromium (VI) solution or the standard
solution might be happen when the square cuvette bottle is not cleansed properly with distilled
water each time before it is used for another attempt.

Besides that, in order to get accurate the absorbance values for Chromium (VI) solution
and water sample, the zeroing must be done each time before the absorbance value is taken.
Also, this experiment should be done at least three times so that the average value can be
obtained from the results and therefore, the accuracy of the value taken is considered as
convincing. During the experiment, among of the member of group less clearly about how to use
the spectrophotometer and this leads to the disturbance fo smoothness of the experiment.

CONCLUSION

The main objectives of this experiment are accomplished. The concentration of Chromium (VI)
solution in the water sample tested is 68.91 parts per million (ppm). The water sample is
concluded to be contaminated since the concentration of Chromium (VI) solution in water
sample is more than 0.100 ppm as what has been standardized by federal and regulatory
agencies. Thus, this water sample not suitable use for drinking or agricultural proposes as it
unsafe and unhygienic that can give bad consequences to the consumer.
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RECOMMENDATION

There are few recommendations that can be taken into account to improve this
experiment. To get a more precise concentration of Cr (VI), the result obtained in this
experiment should be compared to other result obtained by using different approach. One of the
method that can be considered is by using Ion Chromatography. According to an article from
Metrohm, Ion Chromatography and Voltamery to determine Chromium (VI) (2011), this
approach is highly more sensitive to Cr (VI) compared to any other method.

Besides that, there are also other option that could be conducted to detect the presence of
Chromium (VI) in water. According to Mary S. Herrmann, The Journal of Chemical Education
(1994), sensitive colorimetric reagent can be used to detect its presence. The amount of Cr (VI)
is determined by absorbance or visual comparison with the standard solution.

REFERENCES

[1]Carl D. Palmer (1994). Ground Water Issue. 1-2

[2]Mary S. Herrmann (1994). The Journal of Chemical Education. 323-324
[3]Mike Kirsten (2008). Spectrometry and Its Working Principles. Retrieved oct 23rd 2011, from
http://ezinearticles.com/?Spectrophotometry-and-Its-Working-Principle&id=1697937
[4]Metrohm (2011). Ion Chromatography and Voltammetry to determine Chromium (VI).
Retrieved oct 25th 2011 from
http://www.metrohm.com/system/galleries/htmlgalleries/Herisau/news/news_128.html
[5]"Chemistry - Parts per Million." Chemistry Daily - Articles on Every Chemistry Topic. Web.
29 Oct. 2011. <http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Parts_per_million>.
[6]Mohamed, Ashraf A., Saleh A. Ahmed, and Mohamed F. El-Shahat. "Catalytic
Spectrophotometric Determination Of Hexavalent Chromium." Journal of Trace and Microprobe
Techniques 19.2 (2001): 297-311.
[7]Brown, Theodore L. Chemistry the Central Science. [Upper Saddle River, N.J.]: Prentice
Hall, 2012.
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APPENDICES

An overview of electromagnetic radiation absorption. This example discusses the general

principle using visible light as a specific example. A white beam source – emitting light of
multiple wavelengths – is focused on a sample (the complementary colourpairs are indicated by
the yellow dotted lines). Upon striking the sample, photons that match the energy gap of
the molecules present (green light in this example) is absorbed in order to excite the molecule.
Other photons transmit unaffected and, if the radiation is in the visible region (400-700nm), the
sample color is the complementary color of the absorbed light. By comparing the attenuation of
the transmitted light with the incident, an absorption spectrum can be obtained.