Importance Of Qualitative Analysis In Chemistry

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What is qualitative analysis? Qualitative analysis is when one measures the quality of a sample rather then its quantity. Qualitative chemical analysis helps us identify an element or grouping of elements present in a sample. It is an analysis that identifies elements, substances, ions and compounds of a sample and there are many different ways to identify the ions found in a substance using qualitative analysis. Three examples are the flame test, looking at the colour of the solution, and looking at the formation of a precipitate.

The first qualitative analysis to identify ions is the flame test. The flame test is a qualitative analysis that allows us to identify different metal ions in a solution. When metal ions are heated in a flame, they turn a unique colour, and when examining the colour of the flame, one can try to identify the ions present in the solution. For example, when lithium ions are heated they turn crimson red, but when potassium ions are heated they turn lavender. One problem with flame tests is that they are very sensitive, so when conducting an experiment, it is advised to only use tiny samples to increase the test’s accuracy. An extremely useful tool when conducting flame tests is the Bunsen burner. The Bunsen burner was named for Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen (1811-1899), a German chemist who contributed to its invention only in a minor way. The Bunsen burner produces a clean, hot flame and is used along with a wire loop (usually platinum or an alloy of nickel and chromium) to perform flame tests. When using aqueous solutions, one must simply dip the wire into the solution and then place it into the flame. When using solid solutions, one must first combine the solution with hydrochloric acid or nitric acid,...

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... standards that address the parameters that affect the consumer’s acceptance of drinking water, such as taste, odour and colour, but they are not health hazards. An example of aesthetic objectives is that only 250 mg/L of chloride, which is used for water treatment, can be used.
Drinking water is essential to life, yet it is naturally exposed to pathogens and chemical, physical and radiological contaminants. These organisms can affect human health, both in the short-term and the long-term, and are known to contribute to a large range of adverse health effects including cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, the disruption of the endocrine system, and gastrointestinal illnesses. For these reasons, it is important that standards and guidelines are set to protect the human population. Standards ensure that our water is safe, clean, tasty and healthy.

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