HSC CHEMISTRY LESSON PLAN 25

3.2.3 Identify data, plan, select equipment and perform first-hand investigations to measure the
sulfate content of lawn fertiliser and explain the chemistry involved

METHOD

1. Grind up a portion of lawn food with a mortar and pestle

2. Accurately weigh out 2 grams of the crushed food in a pre-weighed and clean 250mL beaker
on an electronic balance. It does not matter what the mass is, but it is important that the
mass obtained is recorded
3. Add 100mL of HCl (1 mol/L) and stir until dissolved
4. Add 60mL of 0.5 mol/L barium chloride solution (this is an excess)
5. Stir and then cover with some glad wrap allowing the precipitate to settle overnight
6. Decant the liquid off. Dispose of this liquid in the inorganic waste bottle as it contains
barium ions
7. Add 200mL of distilled , stir, cover and leave to settle overnight
8. Decant liquid and repeat step 7
9. Decant liquid and place beaker in a drying oven overnight
10. Utilising the same electronic balance calculate the mass of the beaker, and subsequently the
mass of the dry precipitate
11. Calculate the mass of sulfate and the % of sulfate in the original sample of lawn food
12. Repeat experiment 10 times for more reliable results

Chemistry Involved

The HCl is added to remove carbonate ions:

2H+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

This is necessary as the carbonate ions may combine with the barium ions to form a precipitate
changing the results of the experiment

Use this space to make your own notes:

3.2.4 Analyse information to evaluate the reliability of the results of the above investigation and to
propose solutions to problems encountered in the procedure

The reliability of this experiment can be considered acceptable. Reliability is aided by the repetition
and gaining of similar results in an experiment. This means that consistent results can be gained by a
continued repetition of this experiment by a variety of people.

Advantages

 The class average of the results was 54.8%, this was very similar to the results we gained
which was 55.6%. The average was gained through 7 results; having similar results means
this is reliable.
 Different samples of the fertiliser will contain varying amounts of sulfate. By repeating the
experiment the factor is able to be minimised. This is because it is an heterogeneous mixture

Disadvantages

 The experiment can only be considered reliable if our experimental procedure was repeated
10 times

The experiment can be considered reliable if similar results are gained following repetition of the
experimental procedure.

Although we did not repeat the experiment, our results were very similar to these gained by the
class, therefore the experiment can be considered acceptably reliable

Solution to problems encountered

 Inefficient decanting lead to the loss of precipitate – a sintered glass crucible can be utilised
to filter out the precipitate. Or utilise a number of filter papers (the ppt is able to go through
one), or heat the fertiliser to close to BP and add BaCl2 slowly, allowing larger ppt particles to
form which can be filtered with paper
 Solubility of Barium Chloride – The sulfate in the barium sulfate ppt, will result in not all
sulfate being extracted out the precipitate. Cooling the beaker in an ice bath aids this as the
solubility of SO42- decreases at low temperatures
 Limited solubility of the fertiliser – Fertiliser not completely soluble in distilled water.
Crushing the food in a mortar and pestle allows increased solubility due to greater surface
area.
 Human errors and BaSO4 loss – By having a check on measurements by more than 1 person
human errors decrease. By using a larger beaker, less fertiliser will be lost during mixing

Use this space to make your own notes:

3.2.5 Gather, process and present information to interpret secondary data from AAS measurements
and evaluate the effectiveness of this in pollution control

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a technique which utilises the absorption of light to determine
the concentration of cations in solutions being analysed. It is a very valuable tool in pollution
management. Developed in 1950s by Dr Alan Walsh at the CSIRO, AAS is a very accurate technique
able to measure the concentration of metal ions in solution down to ppb. A sample is aspirated into
a flame and the intensity of absorption of particular wavelengths of light passed through the flame is
determined. Each metal has its own characteristic absorption spectrum depending on the energy
levels of its electrons.

AAS has been used extensively to determine concentrations of heavy metals such as lead in air, soil
and tissue. It has been used extensively in a program in Bangladesh to determine the arsenic
concentrations of ground water. Arsenic is present in the Earth’s crust in a number of compounds
which become disrupted and dissolve in ground water due to activities such as well building:

As2S3 (aq) + 6H2O (l) 2H3AsO3 (aq) + 3H2S (g)

Constant drinking of this water can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning which can lead to the formation
of hard patches on the skin, skin cancer, lung cancer, kidney and bladder cancer and gangrene. At
very high concentrations it can cause brain damage and death. The WHO recommends 10ppb
(0.01mg/L) as the limit of arsenic in ground water. However a 1998 study by the British Geological
Survey showed that out of the shallow tube wells in 61 of 64 of Bangladesh’s districts, 46% had an
arsenic concentration above the limit. At 2000, BGS calculated that the number of people exposed to
higher concentrations than 0.01mg/L of arsenic in groundwater was about 47-56 million. This data
was collected using AAS and was used to implement a series of warning programs about the dangers
of arsenic concentrations of specific groundwater supplies in a variety of areas. This shows AAS to be
extremely successful in pollution and human injury management.

Mercury is another heavy metal which has had its concentrations monitored. The main source of Hg
is the smelting of Hg containing ores:

2HgO (s) + C (s) 2Hg (s) + CO2 (g)

Exposure to Hg damages the central nervous system, endocrine system, kidneys and other organs. It
also causes adverse effects in mouth, gums and teeth. Consistent exposure can cause brain damage
and death. There is increased chance of birth deformities if the pregnant women have been exposed
to mercury. It is also able to bioaccumulates in the food chain. AAS can determine Hg concentrations
down to two part per billion and so can analyse food and soil/water samples to ensure it is safe,
saving human lives and managing pollution.

Other important human-generated sources include gold production, non-ferrous metal production,
cement production, waste disposal, crematoria, caustic soda production, pig iron and steel
production, mercury production (mostly for batteries), and biomass burning. . Exposure over long
periods of time or heavy exposure to mercury vapour can result in brain damage and ultimately
death. Mercury and its compounds are particularly toxic to foetuses and infants.
Lead is another toxic heavy metal which can damage the brain, kidneys and reproductive system by
disrupting enzyme systems mediated by other metals such as calcium, iron and zinc. Lead ions inhibit
the formation of haemoglobin in blood and can cause learning, hearing and behavioural disabilities
in children. Blood levels should be below 100μ/L. AAS can be used to monitor these levels. Lead
from sources such as leaded petrol, mining and refining of lead, manufacturing paints, lead glazing of
pottery and many other sources can be ingested by the organisms at the bottom of the food chain
and it accumulates as it passes from one organism to another as it is unable to be metabolised. This
bioaccumulation is another reason why lead concentrations need to be monitored in the
atmosphere, water, food and soil. The equation below shows how extraction of lead from lead ores
is one source of lead which if handled incorrectly, could accumulate in workers or the environment:

2PbO(s) + C(s) 2Pb(s) + CO2(g)

It is actually extremely accurate and is able to measure concentrations as low as ppm and even ppb.
This is extremely useful in managing pollution as many of the pollutants are harmful at very low
concentrations as well. It is also extremely useful as it enables the particular component of a mixture
to be analysed without actually physically separating the mixture. Excluding the set up cost, it is also
an inexpensive piece of equipment to use which enables many pollution authorities to gain access to
it. This helps in pollution management as it is able to be set up in a variety of areas and gain a variety
of pollution information.

However the process also has a number of disadvantages. It is only able to measure one substance
at a time; this causes time problems as it must be consistently reloaded for a new material. The
machine must also be recalibrated for each material you are testing for and this creates time
problems. Although inexpensive to operate, the apparatus is expensive to initially set up and
unfortunately is not able to be afforded by all pollution monitoring agencies. AAS is also a
destructive means of testing as the sample utilised for the testing cannot be utilised again. A
different lamp specific to each ion must be used. The relevant standard solutions must have been
pre tested to create a calibration curve. A suitable instrument for pollution control will be one that
can detect very low quantities of harmful chemicals hence enabling us to counter this pollutant and
protect the environment. It should also be a proven instrument and be easy to use.

AAS is a very effective tool for pollution control as it detects very small quantities of pollutants
including arsenic and mercury at a very accurate level. Although it is initially expensive, it has a low
running cost and has proven its success in pollution monitoring programs such as the one in
Bangladesh.

Use this space to make your own notes:

Questions (Remember the key thing is the timing according to the marks, not the number of lines)

1. In class you have performed a first hand investigation to explore the sulfate content of lawn
fertiliser. Describe the procedure that you utilised and chemistry involved (3 marks)
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Explain how you addressed the problems encountered and evaluate the reliability of the
procedure (4 Marks)
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2. Evaluate the influence of AAS on society and the environment (6 marks)
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