Separation and Qualitative Analysis of Carbonate, Phosphate and Chromate Anions in Qualitative Inorganic Courses

Abstract

In the present work, our experience with a new methodology for separation and characterization of carbonate, phosphate and chromate anions is discussed. Since 2014 this laboratory experiment has been applied in undergraduate Chemistry courses in University of Lavras, Brazil, has shown to be satisfactory along Qualitative Inorganic or Analytical courses. In order to understand and to discuss the experiment, concepts involving equilibria of precipitation, acidity and basicity, liquid-liquid extraction, as well as the notions of solubility, phases distribution of solutes, and distribution diagram of the species were explored.