Instant Notes: Analytical Chemistry

Table 1. Some methods for sample decomposition and dissolution

Method of attack Type of sample

Heated with concentrated mineral Geological, metallurgical

acids (HCl, HNO 3 , aqua regia) or

strong alkali, including microwave

digestion

Fusion with flux (Na 2 O 2 , Na 2 CO 3 , Geological, refractory materials

LiBO 2 , KHSO 4 , KOH)

Heated with HF and H 2 SO 4 or HClO 4 Silicates where SiO 2 is not the analyte

Acid leaching with HNO 3 Soils and sediments

Dry oxidation by heating in a furnace Organic materials with inorganic analytes

or wet oxidation by boiling with

concentrated H 2 SO 4 and HNO 3 or HClO 4

14 Section A – The nature and scope of analytical chemistry