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2007
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February
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In the Laboratory
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Mercury-Free Analysis of Lead in Drinking Water by Anodic Stripping Square Wave Voltammetry
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Jeremy P. Wilburn, Kyle L. Brown, and David E. Cliffel
Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235-1822
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February 2007
Vol. 84 No. 2
p. 312
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| Abstract |
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The analysis of drinking water for lead, which has well-known adverse health effects, provides an instructive example of the use of analytical chemistry to monitor a common hazard of everyday life. Techniques previously utilized for the electrochemical quantitative analysis of lead in tap water have relied on either elemental mercury or a mercury salt to deposit a mercury–lead amalgam on an electrode surface. Modern analytical teaching labs, however, no longer feature mercury setups and avoid most mercuric compounds owing to the toxicity of mercury. We report a mercury-free analytical method for the analysis of lead in drinking water using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Concepts required to successfully complete the experiment include: ppm–ppb concentrations, preparation of standard solutions by serial dilution, construction of a calibration curve, determination of an unknown sample by the standard addition method, and sample matrix effects.
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| Supplement |
Instructions for the students and notes for the instructor are available.
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| More Information |
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Citation |
Wilburn, Jeremy P.; Brown, Kyle L.; Cliffel, David E. J. Chem. Educ. 2007, 84, 312.
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Keywords |
Analytical Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Instrumental Methods; Laboratory Instruction; Quantitative Analysis
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
1/9/2007
2/23/2007
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 Caution! | | Experiments, laboratory exercises, lecture demonstrations, and other descriptions of the use of chemicals, apparatus, instruments, computers, and computer interfaces are presented in the Journal of Chemical Education as illustrative of new or improved ideas or concepts in chemistry instruction and are directed at qualified teachers. Although every effort is made to assure and encourage safe practices and safe use of chemicals, the Journal of Chemical Education cannot assume responsibility for uses made of its published materials. Many chemicals are hazardous. Precautions for the safe use of hazardous chemicals and directions for their proper disposal are described in the Material Safety Data Sheets and on the labels. We strongly urge all those planning to use materials from our pages to make choices and to develop procedures for laboratory and classroom safety in accordance with local needs and situations. |
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