Förbränningsanalys

Förbränningsanalys, often translated as combustion analysis, is a technique used to determine the elemental composition of organic compounds. Specifically, it measures the amount of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and often nitrogen (N) present in a sample. The process involves completely burning a precisely weighed sample of the substance in a stream of pure oxygen. The combustion is typically carried out at high temperatures. During this process, carbon in the sample is converted to carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrogen is converted to water (H2O). If nitrogen is present, it is usually converted to nitrogen gas (N2).

The resulting gases are then passed through a series of absorbent traps or detectors. One trap specifically captures CO2, while another absorbs H2O. The increase in weight of these traps directly corresponds to the mass of CO2 and H2O produced from the sample. By knowing the atomic masses of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the mass of carbon and hydrogen in the original sample can be calculated. If nitrogen is analyzed, its quantity is determined by measuring the volume of N2 gas produced.

From these masses, the percentage by weight of each element in the original compound can be determined. This information is crucial in organic chemistry for verifying the empirical formula and molecular formula of synthesized compounds. It serves as a fundamental analytical method, providing quantitative data on the elemental makeup of organic matter.