ABSTRACT

Hexavalent chromium (chromium (VI), Cr (VI)) refers to chemical compounds that

contain the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state. Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI))
compounds are a large group of chemicals with varying chemical properties, uses, and
workplace exposures. The objective of this experiment are are to determine the Chromium
(VI) content which present in simulated lake water sample using a spectrophotometer, to
demonstrate the proper method of diluting solution to prepare a series standard solutions in
the range of 1 to 100 parts per million (ppm) to be used in the calibration of the
spectrophotometer, and thus, to analyse whether the simulated lake water sample tested is
suitable for drinking water and agriculture proposes. Before the experiment begin, four series
of diluted chromium (VI) solution must be prepared by using the diluted method with
distilled water with the range concentration of 1 until 100 parts per million (ppm) solutions.
In this experiment the concentration of chromium that was used are 30 ppm, 45 ppm, 60 ppm
and 75 ppm. The sample is analysed by spectrophotometer in order to know the absorbance
value and the calibration curve is obtained. In this experiment, the concentration of
Chromium (VI) solution in the lake water sample cannot be concluding because of the cross
contamination.

INTRODUCTION
Hexavalent chromium (chromium (VI), Cr (VI)) refers to chemical compounds that
contain the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state. Virtually all chromium ore is
processed via hexavalent chromium, specifically the salt sodium dichromate. Other
hexavalent chromium compounds are chromium trioxide and various salts of chromate and
dichromate. Hexavalent chromium is used in textile dyes, wood preservation, and as anticorrosion and conversion coatings and a variety of niche uses. Chromium hexavalent
compounds exist in several forms. Industrial uses of hexavalent chromium compounds
include chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics; chromates added as
anticorrosive agents to paints, primers, and other surface coatings; and chromic acid
electroplated onto metal parts to provide a decorative or protective coating.
Inhaled hexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen. Workers in many
occupations are exposed to hexavalent chromium. Problematic exposure is known to occur
among workers who handle chromate-containing products and those who weld, grind, or
braze stainless steel.
Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) compounds are a large group of chemicals with
varying chemical properties, uses, and workplace exposures. Their properties include
corrosion-resistance, durability, and hardness. Workers may be exposed to airborne Cr (VI)
when these compounds are manufactured from other forms of chromium (e.g., the production
of chromates from chromite ore); when products containing Cr (VI) are used to manufacture
other products (e.g., chromate-containing paints, electroplating); or when products containing
other forms of chromium are used in processes that result in the formation of Cr(VI) as a byproduct (e.g., welding).
Chromium occurs in the environment primarily in two valence states, trivalent
chromium (Cr III) and hexavalent chromium (Cr VI). Exposure may occur from natural or
industrial sources of chromium. Chromium III is much less toxic than chromium (VI). The
respiratory tract is also the major target organ for chromium (III) toxicity, similar to
chromium (VI). Chromium (III) is an essential element in humans. The body can detoxify
some amount of chromium (VI) to chromium (III).
The respiratory tract is the major target organ for chromium (VI) toxicity, for acute (shortterm) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposures. Shortness of breath, coughing, and
wheezing were reported from a case of acute exposure to chromium (VI), while perforations
and ulcerations of the septum, bronchitis, decreased pulmonary function, pneumonia, and
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other respiratory effects have been noted from chronic exposure. Human studies have clearly
established that inhaled chromium (VI) is a human carcinogen, resulting in an increased risk
of lung cancer. Animal studies have shown chromium (VI) to cause lung tumors via
inhalation exposure.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of conducting this experiment are:
1. To determine the quantity of Cr (VI) present in a polluted water sample using a
spectrophotometer and a set of standard solution.
2. To determine whether the water sample is suitable for drinking or agricultural
purpose.

THEORY
Chromium (VI) is known to be a strong oxidizing agent, posing a high risk to humans
and animals due to its car-cinogenic and mutagenic properties. The chromium contamination
in water are usually comes from automobiles as it is a part in various automobile breaks as
well as the parts of its engine. Chromium that was accumulated on the road created from
brake dusts and exhaust of vehicle engine can adverse infiltrate into any water source. Water
sources such as lakes and rivers that are nearest too congested with automobile area are most
susceptible are to be contaminated.

Due to its cancer-risk character and toxicity even at mere concentrations, a lot of federal
environment agencies are doing researches to determine its presence in many environmental
samples. Thus, in this experiment, absorption spectroscopy will be used to detect low level
concentrations of chromium (VI) in a lake water sample.
As a matter of fact, color aqueous solutions have chemical species contents which absorb
significant wavelengths of light. Similarly, heavy metals can be identified via absorption of
wavelength of light. Furthermore, the amount of light absorbed is nearly proportional to the
concentration of the solution metals ions.
Absorption spectroscopy, commonly referred as spectrophotometer, which defined as the
analytical approach based on the measured amount of light absorbed by a sample at a given
wavelength. Absorption spectroscopy refers to spectroscopic techniques that measure
the absorption of radiation, as a function of frequency or wavelength, due to its interaction
with a sample. The sample absorbs energy, i.e., photons, from the radiating field. The
intensity of the absorption varies as a function of frequency, and this variation is the
absorption spectrum. Absorption spectroscopy is performed across the electromagnetic
spectrum.
A spectrophotometer, one of the most convenient physics lab equipment that combined
two devices which area a spectrometer and a photometer. Spectrometer is used for producing
light of any selected wavelength or a color while a photometer is used for measuring the
intensity of light. The two devices are placed at either side of a cuvette filled with a liquid.
Spectrometer produces the light of desired wavelength and it passes through the tube and
reaches photometer that measures its intensity. Then the photometer produces a voltage signal
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to a display device, usually a galvanometer. As the amount of light absorbed by the liquid
changes the signal also changes. The concentration of a substance in solution can be
measured by calculating the amount of absorption of light at the appropriate wavelength or a
particular

color.

The spectrophotometer quantitatively compares the amount of light passing through

the standard solution and compares the amount of light reflecting from the water sample. The
spectrophotometer must be calibrated before the water sample being analyse and the
procedure is known as zeroing. Calibration is done by using the reference substance and the
absorbencies are measured relative to the standard solution. Five standard solutions from the
concentrated Chromium (VI) standard solution need to be prepared in order to measure the
absorbance value. Standard solution is calculated by using the solution dilution equation.
In this experiment, the standard solutions will be prepared by diluting 300 part per million (ppm)
of Chromium (VI) standard solution. Five standard solutions are need to be prepared from the
Chromium (VI) standard solution. For calculate the volume of Chromium (VI), the solution dilution
formula was used. The general equation is written:

M 1 V 1=M 2 V 2
Other ways to find the value of absorption by using spectrophotometer is based on beerLamber Law :
A=LC

(2)

Where,
A = absorbance value (dimensionless)

= molar absorbance (L/mol.cm)

c = concentration of the compound in solution (mol/L)

Form the equation that Beer-Lambert law state that to obtain the value of the
absorption process is depends to the total value of the absorbing compound in the light path.
In other word, a graph can be plot which is graph of absorbance versus concentration of the
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sample/compound solution. A straight line from the origin in the graph can show how the
value of the absorbance versus concentration by using straight line equation. The molar
absorbance for a particular substance is a constant value and it will effect by the
concentration of the solution. High value of molar absorbance occurred when a compound is
absorbing light more during the spectroscopy process.

PROCEDURE
1. Five standard solution of chromium was prepared with different
concentrations which are 7.5 ppm, 30 ppm, 45 ppm, 60 ppm, and 75
ppm.
2. 0.5 ml, 2 ml, 3ml, 4 ml and 5 ml volume of chromium Cr (VI) solution
was prepared by using pipette and placed in different 20 ml of
volumetric flask. All preparations were done in fume hood.
3. The volumetric flask containing chromium solution was filled with
distilled water until it reached the mark and was shaking to make sure
the chromium solution and distilled water mixed well.
4. Distilled water was filled into the cuvette and then was placed in the
spectrometer slot. A zeroing step was done to ensure all the reading is
accurate.
5. After zeroing step was done, each of the five standard solution
prepared

was

transferred

into

the

cuvette

and

placed

into

the

spectrometer slot one by one and the absorbance value was recorded.
6. The water sample then was filled into the cuvette and placed into
spectrometer slot. The absorbance value for water sample was recorded.
7. The graph absorbance versus concentration of chromium (VI) was
plotted.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

MATERIALS
Distilled water
Chromium (VI) solution
Lake water sample

APPARATUS
Pipette
10 ml square cuvette bottle
Spectrophotometer
20 ml volumetric flask

RESULT
Volume of Chromium
(VI) (ml)
Concentration of

0.5

Chromium (VI) (ppm)

Absorbance Value

7.5
0.05

30
0.002

45
0.016

60
0.030

75
0.045

Table 1: Absorbance value of Chromium (VI)

Lake Water Sample

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average value

Absorbance Value
0.053
0.019
0.040
0.037

Table 2: Absorbance value of water sample

Graph of absorbance versus concentration of chromium

Absorbance

0.05
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0

f(x) = 0.01x - 0.01

R = 1

30

45

60

75

concentration (ppm)

Figure 1: Graph of absorbance value versus concentration of Chromium (VI) soluiton in

units of ppm
SAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS
Calculation for diluting the 300 ppm of Chromium (VI) solution to a desired concentration in
this experiment:

M 1 V 1=M 2 V 2

Concentration of Chromium (VI) solution,

Volume of Chromium (VI) solution,

parts per million

30

millilitres
M1V1 = M2V2
(300 ppm) (V1) = (30 ppm) (20 mL)

40

V1 = 2 mL
M1V1 = M2V2
(300 ppm) (V1) = (40 ppm) (20 mL)

60

V1 = 3 mL
M1V1 = M2V2
(300 ppm) (V1) = (60 ppm) (20 mL)

75

V1 = 4 mL
M1V1 = M2V2
(300 ppm) (V1) = (75 ppm) (20 mL)
V1 = 5 mL
Table 3: Volume of Chromium (VI) solutions
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By interpolating the graph, the equation of the linear line obtained is,
y = 0.0143x 0.0125
then, by substituting y with the average value of the absorbance value of water sample, which
is 0.037, hence we get the value x which is equivalent to the concentration of chromium (VI)
contains in the water sample:
x=

y+ 0.0125
0.0143

x=3.462 ppm
DISCUSSION
The experiment was conducted to determine the concentration of chromium (VI)
solution that present in the lake water sample that are taken from Shah Alam lake by using
appropriate technique which is absorption spectroscopy. The right method of diluting solution
to prepare a series standard solution in the range of 1 to 100 part per million (ppm was
demonstrated.
From the graph above, it show the relationship between absorbance value and the
concentration of chromium (VI) solution in unit of ppm. From the graph, it can be shown that
greater concentration of chromium (VI) solution, have greater absorbance value. The
absorbance value is obtained by preparing a series standard solution of chromium (VI)
meanwhile the concentration of chromium (VI) solutions that is used in this experiment is
obtained from the equation shown above. The R2 value of the calibration unit is 0.9997 and
the equation of straight line is y = y = 0.0143x 0.0125. All this values can be obtained after
plotting all the values that was obtained during the experiment.
From the result obtained after conducting the experiment, the average value of the
absorbance value of the water sample is 0.037 ppm and the quantity of the chromium (VI) in
the water sample is 3.462 ppm. However, it seems that the absorbance value of water sample
is not constant from trial 1 until 3. It keeps changing and therefore average value of the
absorbance value cannot be used to measure the quantity of the chromium (VI) in the water
sample. This might occur due to the cross contamination of the water sample. The water
sample may be exposed too long to the open air and the get infected by bacteria. The water
sample might be mixed with the chromium during the dilution process.
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There are a few step might be done erroneously in this experiment that failed to
determine the third aim which is the technique applied to measure the small volume of
diluting substance might not be suitable. Next, the volumes of concentration chromium (VI)
solution to make a standard solution was not pipette correctly and thus, effect the reading of
absorbance value. After that, the wrong way of holding the square cuvette bottle can also take
a part of a failure experiment. This is because, the fingerprints imprinted on the outer surface
of the square cuvette bottle can become unfavourably interference for the solutions to absorb
wavelength of light in the spectrophotometer. Therefore, the reading of absorbance value by
the instruments is not accurate.

CONCLUSION
The objective of this experiment is to determine the quantity of chromium exists in
the water sample. From the result obtained, the quantity of the chromium in the water sample
cannot be determined since there is error due to cross contamination. The water sample might
be contaminated by the bacteria result of being exposed to the open air during filtration
process. In conclusions, the experiment was unsuccessful.
RECOMMENDATION
1. The lake water sample must be taken freshly before conducting the experiment.
2. Make sure that all the equipment used in the experiment is cleanly free from the
mixture of other substance that can affect the results.
3. Make sure to determine the absorbance value of each diluted solutions at least 3 trials.
4. The set of standard solutions must be safely prepared in order to obtained accurate
results and prevent accidents.

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