Question

You have been given a 1 L bottle of a colourless liquid to analyze. Preliminary tests show that the sample is aqueous and upon heating to dryness a series of water-soluble salts collected on the bottom of the container. A few qualitative wet tests indicated that the sample was composed of the salts of halides (F^–, Cl^–, Br^–, etc.), sulfate (SO₄^2–) and ions of alkali metals (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ etc.).

The client would like you to quantitatively determine the concentration of cations and anions in the solution. Select the best method.

Question 6 options:

	HPLC - Ion Chromatography with a conductivity detector
	Gas chromtography with a conductivity detector
	HPLC -Ion chromatography with a flame ionization detector
	HPLC with a UV detector

Answer 1

It requires quantitative detection.

HPLC ion chromatography with conductivity detector will be the best choice.

Here determination of the inorganic ions are based on their conductivity value which is related to the concentration.

Flame ionization detector will not provide quantitative result. HPLC is more efficient than gas chromatography.

UV detector depends on the absorption but it has limitations.