Wet chemistry

Wet chemistry is a term used to refer to chemistry generally done in the liquid phase. It is also known as bench chemistry because many of the tests performed are done at a lab bench.

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Materials

Traditionally, it involves the use of laboratory glassware, such as beakers and flasks, and excludes quantitative chemical analysis using instrumentation. Many high school and college laboratories teach students basic wet chemistry methods.

History

Before the age of theoretical and computational chemistry it was the predominant form of scientific discovery in the chemical field. This is why it is sometimes referred to as classic chemistry or classical chemistry. Because of the high volume of wet chemistry that must be done in today's society and quality control requirements, many wet chemistry methods have been automated and computerized for streamlined analysis.

Uses

Wet chemistry techniques can be used for qualitative chemical measurements, such as changes in color (colorimetry), but often involves more quantitative chemical measurements, using methods such as gravimetry and titrimetry. Some uses for wet chemistry include tests for:

• pH (acidity, alkalinity)
• concentration
• conductivity (Specific Conductance)
• cloud point (nonionic surfactants)
• hardness
• solids or dissolved solids
• salinity
• specific gravity
• density
• turbidity
• viscosity
• moisture (Karl Fischer titration)

Wet chemistry is also used in environmental chemistry settings and is used for to test:

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• Chemical Oxygen Demand
• eutrophication
• coating identification

It can also involve the elemental analysis of samples, e.g., water sources, for items like:

• Ammonia Nitrogen
• Chloride
• Chromium
• Cyanide
• dissolved Oxygen
• Fluoride
• Nitrogen
• Nitrate
• Phenols
• Phosphate
• Phosphorus
• Silica
• Sulfate, Sulfide

See also

• Wet laboratory