[happydude]

Hi,

I am having a problem with this question:

An industrial plant that specializes in cleaning up waste liquids is confronted with a problem separating the metal ions found in a large vat of solution.  BY analysis, the solution was found to contain varying quantities of silver, barium, and Iron III ions.  Suggest a procedure for separating the metal ions by precipitation.


After some research, I've learned that the best way to separate the metal ions is by using metal hydroxide.  What I'm unsure about is how many different types of hydroxide ions would be needed to separate the different metal ions.  Since there are 3 different metal ions, would 3 different metal hydroxides be required?  ie. Cu(OH)2 to separate the Ag+, ZnOH to separate Fe3+, and KOH to separate Ba.  Am I on the right track or am I completely off?
Thanks

Earl

[Albert]

What I'm unsure about is how many different types of hydroxide ions would be needed to separate the different metal ions.  Since there are 3 different metal ions, would 3 different metal hydroxides be required?  ie. Cu(OH)2 to separate the Ag+, ZnOH to separate Fe3+, and KOH to separate Ba.  Am I on the right track or am I completely off?
Thanks

Earl

AH!!!!!

Every strong hydroxide fits all! It's the anion that counts.

Mind you, I would use Na2SO4 for barium.

[happydude]

Do you mean all 3 metal hydroxides have to be used to cause all the Silver, Barium and Iron ions to precipitate?

[Albert]

No, I said any strong hydroxide can precipitate all of them. If I were you, I'd choose potassium or sodium hydroxide.

However, you can't precipitate the three metals together, if you want to isolate them.

[happydude]

Oh, ok.  Thanks