põlemismeetodi

Põlemismeetodi, also known as combustion analysis, is a chemical analysis technique used to determine the elemental composition of organic compounds. It involves the complete combustion of a sample in an excess of oxygen. This process converts elements like carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen into their respective oxides, carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and nitrogen gas (N2). Sulfur, if present, is converted to sulfur dioxide (SO2).

The combustion products are then passed through a series of detectors or absorption tubes. For example, CO2 can be absorbed by a strong base like sodium hydroxide, and H2O can be absorbed by a desiccant. The mass of the absorbed products is measured, and from this, the mass percentage of each element in the original sample can be calculated. Halogens are typically determined separately using different methods after the initial combustion.

Combustion analysis is a fundamental technique, especially in organic chemistry, for verifying the empirical formula of newly synthesized compounds and for determining the purity of existing substances. It is a quantitative method that provides precise measurements of elemental composition. The accuracy of the method relies heavily on the complete and efficient combustion of the sample and the accurate measurement of the combustion products.