INORGANIC MICRO ANALYSIS

Abstract

It has always been the desire to get away from the use of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in the laboratory. In the macro system Brockman (16) developed a method which dispensed with its use. In the June issue of Journal of Chemical Education for 1934 there appeared a system developed by Gerstenzang (17) which dispensed with the use of HaS in micro analysis. With the idea that the system might prove useful here in the University, I undertook a semi-quantitative investigation of it, under the direction of Professor W.0. Walker, to determine the sensitivity of the tests. Solutions of the cations were made up in 500 c.c. bottles so that each c.c. contained 20 mg. of the cation. Smaller dropping bottles were provided so that 1 mg. quantities were easily available. Test reagents were made up according to Treadwell-Hall (19) as specified in the instructions. In all procedures the instructions were followed closely in the first attempts. If difficulties were found in procedure, quantities were varied in an attempt to clear up or overcome the difficulty.