Gravimetry: Overview

Gravimetry is a quantitative analytical method where the analyte is isolated and weighed either directly or after conversion into a substance of known composition.

Gravimetric analysis can be further classified as precipitation, electrogravimetry, volatilization, and particulate gravimetry.

In precipitation gravimetry, the analyte is converted to a precipitate and weighed. For example, silver content can be determined by conversion to silver chloride.

In electrogravimetry, ions such as Cu²⁺ are isolated by deposition on an electrode.  

Some samples undergo decomposition to release a volatile species that can be trapped and weighed. Alternatively, the loss in mass of the sample can be measured.

In particulate gravimetry, suspended solids are extracted from the analyte matrix and weighed.