Question 12.23: Discuss the principle of estimation of halogens, sulphur and phosphorus present in an organic compound.


Neetprep Answer: Estimation of halogens

Halogens are estimated by the Carius method. In this method, a known quantity of organic compound is heated with fuming nitric acid in the presence of silver nitrate, contained in a hard glass tube called the Carius tube, taken in a furnace. Carbon and hydrogen that are present in the compound are oxidized to form CO2 and H2Orespectively and the halogen present in the compound is converted to the form of AgX.

This AgX is then filtered, washed, dried, and weighed.

Let the mass of organic compound be m g.

Mass of AgX formed = m1 g

1 mol of Agx contains 1 mol of X.

Therefore,

Mass of halogen in m1 g of AgX = Atomic mass of X × m1 gMolecular mass of AgX

Thus % of halogen will be = Atomic mass of X × m1 × 100Molecular mass of AgX × m

 

Estimation of Sulphur

In this method, a known quantity of organic compound is heated with either fuming nitric acid or sodium peroxide in a hard glass tube called the Carius tube. Sulphur, present in the compound, is oxidized to form sulphuric acid. On addition of excess of barium chloride to it, the precipitation of barium sulphate takes place. This precipitate is then filtered, washed, dried, and weighed.

Let the mass of organic compound be m g.

Mass of BaSO4 formed = m1 g

1 mol of BaSO4 = 233 g BaSO4 = 32 g of Sulphur

Therefore, m1 g of BaSO4 contains 32 × m1233g of sulphur.

Thus, percentage of sulphur = 32 × m1 × 100233×m

Estimation of phosphorus

In this method, a known quantity of organic compound is heated with fuming nitric acid.Phosphorus, present in the compound, is oxidized to form phosphoric acid. By adding ammonia and ammonium molybdate to the solution, phosphorus can be precipitated as ammonium phosphomolybdate.

Phosphorus can also be estimated by precipitating it as MgNH4PO4 by adding magnesia mixture, which on ignition yields Mg2P2O7.

Let the mass of organic compound be m g.

Mass of ammonium phosphomolybdate formed = m1 g

Molar mass of ammonium phosphomolybdate = 1877 g

Thus, percentage of phosphorous = 31 × m1 × 1001877 × m%

If P is estimated as , Mg2P2O7

Then, percentage of phosphorous = 62 × m1 × 100222 × m%