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R o b e r t C. Atkins
M a d ~ s o nCollege
Harrisonburg, Virg~nla22801
I in Vitamin Supplement Tablets
i e a p n t ~ a d Fe ~ S O . . , N ~ ~ , , ~ S O , . ~in
~
H ~j0
~ - ~~
O ml of wnrcr con-
simple calculation involving dilutions used for the particular
sample allows the amount of iron in the original tablet to be
taintng 1 ml uf cuncd H2SO.. Transfer to a 1-1 volumetrrc flask readily determined.
and dilute to the mark with water.
Results
Calibration Curve
The calibration curve is linear in the absorbance range
Pipet a 10-ml aliquot of the standard iron solution into a beak- (0.09-0.88) used. The iron complex is stable, and shows no deteet-
er and test the p H using the pHydrion paper. Add sodium ci- able (as measured on the Speetranie 20) change in color intensity
trate solution dmpwise until a pH of about 3.5 is obtained as de- during the period from 10 min to 1 hr after mixing of the re-
termined by the pHydrion paper color (about 30 drops (1.5 ml dis- agents.
pensed from a buret) of sodium citrate should suffice). Now pipet The experimental results obtained for the amount of iron per
a second 10-ml aliquot of the iron solution into a 100-ml volumet- vitamin tablet are in good agreement with the contents of the
ric flask. Add the same number of drops of sodium citrate fol- tablet a s listed on the manufacturer's label (see the table). As a
lowed by 2 ml hydraquinone solution and 3 ml of o-phenanthro- control experiment a tablet listed as having no iron (One-A-Day
line (dispensed from hurets). Dilute to the mark with distilled brand-Regular) was analyzed. Only background absorption was
water and mix well. This solution now contains 4 ppm (4 mg/l) of observed at a dilution where 1 mg of iron per tablet would have
imn. Prepare three other standard solutions (2., 0.8, 0.4 ppm) by been identifiable.
pipetting 5, 2 and 1ml, respectively, of the standard iron solution
into 100-ml volumetric flasks, adding the appropriate amount of
sodium citrate solution to each, and proceeding as described Sandell, E. B., "Colorimetric Determination of Traces of Met-
above. als," 2nd Ed., Wiley-Interscience, New York,1950, p p 375-378;
Allow the standard solutions to stand 10 min and measure the Skoog, Douglas A,, and West, Donald M., "Analytical Chemistry,
absorbance of each solution at 508 nm against a blank containing An Introduction," Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1965, pp 477-479.
all of the reagents except the iron solution. The colorimetric method for the determination of iron in vita-
The standard solutions need only be prepared once for a class. min tablets is the official method approved by the Association of
The absorbance values are obtained for each eolorimeter, and Official Analytical Chemmts. See Horwitz, William, (Editor),
those values prominently displayed. Each student should then "Official Methods of Analysis of the A.O.A.C.," 11th Ed., Wash-
canstruct a calibration curve by platting absorbance versus ppm ington, D.C., 1970, pp212-213,672.
Fe. Laswick, P. H., J. CHEM. EDUC., 50,132 (1973).