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International Letters of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy

8(3) (2013) 205-209 ISSN 2299-3843

Spectrophotometric determination of copper as

copper Piperazine

Ch. Kavitha1, M. Sarath Babu2,*, K. Saraswathi3

1
Depatrment of Chemistry, V. R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Kanuru-520007, A. P., India
2
MIC College of Technology, Kanchikacherla-521180, A. P., India
3
NRI Institute of Technology, Nunna-521212, A. P., India
*E-mail address: sarathmogallapu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Spectrophotometric method for determination of Cu(II) in the trace quantities was developed by
using piperazine as ligand in ammonium acetate medium. The Procedure developed was applied for
the estimation Cu(II) in microgram quantities in the samples of alloys and the method was found to
be simple, rapid and comparable to routine analytical methods for trace level analysis of metal ions in
environmental samples in any laboratory where sophisticated and expensive instruments are not
available. UV visible spectrophotometer is cost effective and available in almost all laboratories. The
complexes of piperazine in aqueous solutions are not reported so far and this is the first attempt in this
area of spectrophotometric analysis.

Keywords: Spectophotometry, Cu(II), piperazine.

1. INTRODUCTION

Copper is one of the several metals that play an important role in the biological
systems. Copper occurs naturally in many vegetables, meat and grains.
Increased copper levels in drinking water may also cause increase in lead levels which
in turn may be associated with liver damage and kidney diseases [1]. Copper kills a variety of
potentially harmful pathogens. On Feb 29, 2008 the United States EPA registered 275 alloys
containing greater than 65 % nominal copper content as anti-microbial materials [2].
In view of the important role played by copper in biological and environmental areas,
an attempt has been made to study copper through spectrophotometric determination by using
piperazine as a reagent.
The method was also applied to samples of alloys and results were co-related with the
standard samples [3].
 International Letters of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy 8(3) (2013) 205-209

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Copper reacts with piperazine forming blue coloured complex in ammonium acetate
and shows maximum absorption at 667 nm. Since the Cu-piperazine complex has maximum
absorption at 667 nm, the experiment was carried out at the same wavelength. SL 191 double
beam UV – Visible spectrophotometer was used for recording absorption spectrum of the
solutions. Digital pH meter ELICO LI 127 provided with temperature control knob was used
throughout the work. Analytical grade chemicals and double distilled water have been used in
all the experiments.

Fig.1. Ammonium acetate solution shows maximum absorbance.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The experimental conditions for quantitative results have been developed by studying
the effect of various parameters that follow.

Effect of ammonium acetate:

By keeping all the factors constant the volume of ammonium acetate solution was
changed from 0.5 ml to 3.0 ml and the subsequent effect was noted. It was observed that 1ml
of 3 M ammonium acetate solution shows maximum absorbance followed by decrease in the
same. The complex is appreciably stable in this medium at 1 ml as there is no change in the
absorbance even after a day i.e., 24 hours (Fig. 1).

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Effect of reagent concentration:

The effect of reagent concentration on cu-piperazine complex was studied by
maintaining a metal ion concentration of 2 ml of 0.05 M, 2 ml of 3 M CH3COONH4 and by
varying the reagent concentration between 0.5 ml to 5.0 ml of 0.05 M piperazine and the
absorbance values were noted.

Appilacability of Beer’s Law:

A set of test tubes are taken and into each test tube, 2 ml of 0.05 M reagent solution, 1
ml of 3 M ammonium acetate and different known concentration of Cu(II) solution are
transferred. The total volume was made upto 10 ml by adding double distilled water. The
solutions were shaken for a minute and the absorbance values were measured at 667 nm. A
graph is plotted between volume of Cu(II) in milliliters and absorbance values (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Applicability of Beer’s Law.

Job’s method of continous variation:

A Series of solutions of varying mole fractions of Cu(II) and piperazine were prepared
keeping the total volume constant. In each case 1 ml of 3 M ammonium acetate was added
and the final volume was made up to 10 ml with distilled water. The test tubes were shaken
well and the absorbance values in each case were measured at 667 nm. A graph was plotted
between absorption and mole fraction of the ligand and from the graph it is observed that two
moles of copper chelates with 4 moles of piperazine indicating that the compositions of the
complex as 1:2 in Cu-piperazine complex [4, 5].

Mole ratio method:

To 1.0 ml of 0.05 M cupric solution, 1 ml of 3 M ammonium acetate (3 M) and
required volume of piperazine solution were added and shaken well. The absorbance of the
complex was measured at 667 nm. The experiment was repeated with different volumes of

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the reagent ranging from 0.5 ml to 8 ml and the absorbance values were noted. A graph was
plotted between volume of ligand and absorbance and it is observed that 1 mole of copper
chelates with 2 moles of piperazine (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Mole Ratio Method.

Asmus method:
The experimental part for Asmus method was same as the procedure followed in mole
ratio method. A linear plot was obtained between 1/m and 1/v2 confirming the ratio of the
metal to ligand as 1:2. The instability constant of the copper complex calculated is found to
be 5.95 X
Application of the method:
Piperazine: 0.05 M
Ammonium acetate: 1 ml of 3 M
Certified amounts [6-8] (%) Cu: 67.4, Zn:28.6, Sn:1.09, Pb:2.23, Fe:0.30, Ni: 0.33, P: 0.01.

Table 1. Determination of Cu(II) in alloys of brass sample.

Sample S. No. % of copper found

i 67.20
ii 67.30
I
iii 67.10
iv 67.04
Average: 67.25
% of Error: 0.22

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4. CONCLUSION
Copper can be conveniently estimated in its trace amounts as Copper Piperazine by
Spectrophotometric method. This method developed is simple, accurate and effective.
Conditions like effect of pH, reagent concentration can be fixed by studying them in detail.
The composition of the complex formed by copper can also be established by studying the
same. The method developed can be successfully applied to estimation of copper in various
samples of alloys like brass, bronze etc. This method also can be tried for other
environmental samples like water, industrial waste water etc.

REFERENCES

[1] Smith William F., Hashemi Javad, Foundations of Materials Science and
Engineering, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003, p. 223.
[2] Hammond C. R., The Elements, in Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 81st edition,
CRC Press, 2004.
[3] Ackerman R., A Bottom In Sight For Copper, Forbes, 02-04-2009.
[4] "CSA – Discovery Guides, A Brief History of Copper", Csa.com. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
[5] Lynch Martin, Mining in World History, 2004-04-15, pp. 60.
[6] "Gold Jewellery Alloys", World Gold Council. Retrieved, 2009-06-06.
[7] "EPA registers copper-containing alloy products", US Environmental Protection Agency,
Retrieved, 2009-06-06.
[8] "Pesticide Information Profile for Copper Sulfate", Cornell University, Retrieved
2008- 07-10.

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