Gravimetric method is an analysis based on the measurement of mass or a measured weight. The analyte is selectively converted to an insoluble form. The separated precipitate is dried or ignited, possibly to another form, and is accurately weighed.
In this experiment, the chloride (Cl-) content of a soluble sample is determined by precipitating silver chloride with added silver nitrate, filtering, drying and weighing the precipitate. The chloride content is calculated from the weight of AgCl. The chemical reaction used for precipitating chloride ion by silver ion was shown in equation 2-1.