Determination of the Atomic Weight of Cadmium and the Preparation of Certain of Its Sub-CompoundsJones, Harry C. (Harry Clary)
Science
Determination of the Atomic Weight of Cadmium and the Preparation of Certain of Its Sub-Compounds
Jones, Harry C. (Harry Clary)
Atomic weights; Cadmium; Thesis (Ph. D.)
1 The great advantage of the method is its extreme
simplicity. From the beginning of an experiment until
the end the contents of the crucible are not brought
into contact with any foreign substance. By this means
small errors resulting from incomplete precipitation,
and filtration and all other errors incident to ordinary
processes of analysis were avoided.
2 The nature of the metal and its oxide rendered them well
adapted to weighing. The specific gravity of the metal and
oxide approached so closely to that of the weights, that
it was unnecessary to reduce the weighings to a vacuum
standard.
3 The advantages derived from weighing by tares have been
pointed out.
4 The closely agreeing results speak strongly in favor of
the accuracy of the method.
The Oxalate Method.
The method consists in taking a weighed amount of cadmium oxalate,
decomposing it by heat, when a mixture of oxide and metal are said
to be formed, dissolving this mixture in nitric acid, converting the
nitrate into oxide and weighing the oxide.
Lenssen[8] obtained results by this method which agree very closely
with those recorded in the earlier part of this dissertation.
Working with the same method, Partridge[9] arrived at a value about one
fourth of a unit lower than that of Lenssen.
[8] Journ. f. prakt. Chem. 79, 281.
[9] Amer. Journ. Science XL, 377.
It appeared desirable that this method should be repeated with the
greatest care to ascertain what result it would give under the most
favorable conditions.
Having a supply of pure cadmium it was necessary to prepare pure oxalic
acid.
Preparation of Pure Oxalic Acid.
The commercial acid was crystallized three times from cold water to
separate it from acid oxalates. It was then boiled for two days with
a 15 per cent solution of hydrochloric acid, to remove any mineral
matter present. The acid which crystallized from the hydrochloric acid
solution was recrystallized twice from hot, redistilled alcohol and
twice from pure ether. It was finally boiled with water to decompose
any ethyl oxalate and twice crystallized from pure water. The acid was
dried in the air at ordinary temperatures. This acid left no residue on
ignition.
Preparation of Cadmium Oxalate.
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