LEAD, ZINC, COPPER, AND TIN.[[7]][[60]]
Determinations of lead, zinc, copper, and tin are important in certain mining regions and in places where the water has a solvent action on pipes and other containers. The use of certain “germicides” also makes it necessary to test for some of these metals.
Lead, zinc, and copper may be determined colorimetrically or electrolytically. The colorimetric methods are not so accurate as a combination of both, and are chiefly of value as qualitative tests.
It is possible to make a rough estimation of the amount of lead in clear waters by acidifying with acetic acid, saturating with hydrogen sulfide, and comparing the color produced with that produced by standard lead solutions in Nessler tubes, treated in similar manner. This method, however, is not applicable if the water is colored or contains iron.
Reagents.—1. Standard lead solution. Dissolve 1.60 grams of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) in 1 liter of distilled water. One cc. of this solution contains 1 mg. of lead (Pb). As a check it is desirable to determine lead as sulfate in a measured portion of this solution.
2. Standard copper solution. Dissolve about 0.8 gram of copper sulfate crystals (CuSO4.5H2O) in water and, after the addition of 1 cc. of concentrated sulfuric acid, dilute the solution to 1 liter. Determine the copper in 100 cc. of this solution in the usual way by electrolytic deposition. Dilute the solution so that 1 cc. contains 0.2 milligram copper (Cu). This solution is permanent.
3. Ammonium chloride. Twenty-five per cent solution.
4. Ammonium acetate. Fifty per cent solution.
5. Ammonium hydroxide. (Sp. gr. 0.96.)
6. Hydrogen sulfide. Saturated solution.