Metal Reductor Column
Definition and meaning of Metal Reductor Column in chemistry.
A metal reductor column is a glass tube densely packed with a granulated, active metal that is used in analytical chemistry to quantitatively reduce an analyte to a specific, lower oxidation state prior to titration.
In more detail
The column contains a highly reactive metal, typically zinc amalgam or silver, which acts as a robust solid-phase reducing agent as the analyte solution slowly percolates through the bed. This critical pre-reduction step ensures that all of the target analyte is quantitatively converted into a single, well-defined lower oxidation state, making it perfectly suitable for a subsequent volumetric redox titration with a standard oxidizing agent. The most historically famous example is the Jones reductor, which utilizes zinc amalgam, while the Walden reductor employs granular silver metal operating in a hydrochloric acid medium.
Key facts
| Field | Analytical Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Common Types | Jones and Walden reductors |
| Purpose | Reduction for redox titration |
A Jones reductor containing zinc amalgam can be used to completely and rapidly reduce iron(III) to iron(II) in an aqueous sample, which can then be directly titrated with standard potassium permanganate to determine total iron content.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between a Jones reductor and a Walden reductor?
A Jones reductor uses zinc amalgam and is a very strong, non-selective reducing agent, while a Walden reductor uses silver metal and is a milder, somewhat more selective reducing agent that requires a hydrochloric acid solution.