1. The total ionic strength adjustment buffer serves several purposes in
this procedure. Identify these purposes.
The composition of the TISAB has three purposes:
(a) The high concentration of NaCl (the final solutions are approximately
1 M NaCl) ensures that the ionic strength of each external
standard and each sample is essentially identical. Because the
activity coefficient for fluoride is the same in all solutions, we can
write the Nernst equation in terms of fluoride’s concentration
instead of its activity.
(b) The combination of glacial acetic acid and NaOH creates an acetic
acid/acetate buffer of pH 5–5.5. As shown in Figure 11.23, the
pH of this buffer is high enough to ensure that the predominate
form of fluoride is F–
instead of HF. This pH also is sufficiently
acidic that it avoids an interference from OH–
(see Example
11.8).
(c) DCTA is added as a complexing agent for Fe3+ or Al3+, preventing
the formation of FeF6
3– or AlF6
3–.
2. Why is a fluoride-free toothpaste added to the standard solutions?
Adding a fluoride-free toothpaste protects against any unaccounted
for matrix effects that might influence the ion-selective electrode’s
response. This assumes, of course, that the matrices of the two toothpastes
are otherwise similar.
3. The procedure specifies that the standards and the sample should be
stored in plastic containers. Why is it a bad idea to store the solutions
in glass containers?
The fluoride ion is capable of reacting with glass to form SiF4.
4. Suppose that your calibration curve has a slope of –57.98 mV for each
10-fold change in the concentration of F–
. The ideal slope from the
Nernst equation is –59.16 mV per 10-fold change in concentration.
What effect does this have on the quantitative analysis for fluoride in
toothpaste?
No effect at all! This is why we prepare a calibration curve using multiple
standards.