Outline a way in which a student could determine the phosphate and nitrate levels of water (4 marks)
Monitoring nitrate:
Pass the sample through of granulated Cd/Cu which reduces the nitrate to nitrite
Then add certain reagents to form an azo-dye of pink/purple colour
Then determine concentration of NO3- relative to standards
Monitoring phosphate:
Add acidified ammonium molybdate -> a yellow precipitate will form if phosphate is present
Then add ascorbic acid, which redissolves the precipitate by forming an intense blue complex ion
Determine concentration of PO43- relative to standards
Pretty shitty response I know...
I don't exactly understand the Kjeldahl method if someone could explain?
Convert N to NH4(SO4)2 by adding H2SO4
Add base to form NH3, and remove by distillation
Add excess acid then back titrate with standard sodium carbonate... hmm... yeah no i dont understand