Precipitation Gravimetry

Precipitation Gravimetry

Precipitation gravimetry is based on the formation of an insoluble compound fol- lowing the addition of a precipitating reagent, or precipitant, to a solution of the analyte. In most methods the precipitate is the product of a simple metathesis reac- tion between the analyte and precipitant; however, any reaction generating a pre- cipitate can potentially serve as a gravimetric method. Most precipitation gravimet- ric methods were developed in the nineteenth century as a means for analyzing ores. Many of these methods continue to serve as standard methods of analysis.