Electrochemistry sulfuric acid test for dilution and base metals?

[steyr223]

hello everyone
I was about to hook up the cell and I was just wondering about my sulfuric acid, is there a way to tell if it contains
Any base metals or if it is diluted? is there a quick test.?

I have had approximately 1 gallon on the truck for around 1 year and have done about 500 gold plated chips(porcelain shell. On stainless )
And at least 6-10 lbs of assorted pins

I have not used in about 2 months but is in a tightly sealed container (outside)
Thanks steyr223 rob

 

[goldsilverpro]

It's not going to evaporate or change. If it's sealed and you haven't diluted it or allowed rain water to get in it, it should be the same as when you left it.

 

[butcher]

specific gravity can give you an idea of the concentration.
note: without expensive scales, and measurement, the result may just give you a general idea.

You could also titrate a sample of H2SO4.
https://www.google.com/#q=titrate+a+sample+of+H2SO4.

As for metal content I guess you could add a few drops of the H2SO4 to some water to dilute it, carefully add some NaOH and bring the pH up to 9, and check for a precipitant.

There may be better ways, but I think this should work, enough to give you a rough idea.

I think there may be some iron in most drain cleaners.

 

[steyr223]

Thanks gsp
I understand that if it's sealed properly it won't change .
What bothers me is that I've been using it for so long and I'm not exactly the proper lab procedure guy :shock:
so when I pull my material out of sulfuric acid I put it into my wash water and then sometimes track water back into the acid .
I have a towel that i wipe my clamp or dry my stainless steel strainer off with
But they will remain moist which i am sure after a couple hundred times adds up

Butcher thanks
I will check the specific gravity and bring the ph up and look for precipitant

Would electrical conductivity be a possable measurment of any metal
Or maybe resistance
i guess i could get a brand new bottle and do some comparisons

Thanks steyr223 rob
I have almost every meter known to mankind(probaly not in your guys world) but around 100 or so

 

[butcher]

Well if this was battery acid I would say a hydrometer could be used, to test the specific gravity of the acid.
Your Hydrometer for this would need to have the range needed to test the acid you are using it on, so with concentrated sulfuric acid a hydrometer used to check battery acid would not work, you would need a hydrometer for the density range of the concentrated acid.

 

[steyr223]

I will see if i kave.a hydrometer
Might only be a variable resistor needed to change the value to do concentrated acid.
Thanks butcher

Steyr223 rob

 

[steyr223]

Interesting link on hydrometers and batteries

http://www.diy-nos.freeserve.co.uk/testing-battery.htm


I guess its not a resistor but i wil bet
If i get a.brand new bottle of h2s04
And mark the level that i can compare,

Thanks again Steyr223 rob
Afterthought i will just fill one of my
Origianal h2s04 bottles up and compare to the weight printed at the bottom and then do the math 8)

 

[rickbb]

If your worried about water dilution you could just boil the water off. With any base metals couldn't you electroplate them out with the proper cathode/anode setup?

 

[steyr223]

If your worried about water dilution you could just boil the water off. With any base metals couldn't you electroplate them out with the proper cathode/anode setup?

Hello
Boiling h2s04 is dangerous to the professional in a controled environment (lab)

I live in my truck ,i am accident prone, i definitively dont practice proper lab procedures (i am getting better)and i have been told i am dangerous,

Now you were saying :shock: :lol:
At least i know who i am.

About plating out the base metals, Not sure?
i will do a search
If you could wouldn't you need a different anode/cathode for each metal

Thanks steyr223 rob

 

[butcher]

carbon electrodes, but then you are adding some carbon to the acid as the graphite anode is attacked.

If the acid had enough metal in it to even need removing I would forget about using that acid in a cell, it may be useful somewhere else to dissolve base metals in another recovery process, in this case a new jug of sulfuric acid would be a cheap investment for the cell.

 

[steyr223]

As always butcher
your words are always spoken so eloquently, I had to get my phone to spell that 8)
I wasn't considering using my sulfuric if it was diluted or if base metals found .I had just wanted to test so i could determine if i need to buy more

I am still a bit spooked from my big 10 gram nugget which turned out to be a half gram because of. Dilution and base metals

Thank you everyone very much
I appreciate all your input