Teaching laboratory of qualitative analytical chemistry is still a controversial issue in chemistry courses. However, important researchers and educators in chemistry recognized and highlighted the importance that the contents of this discipline represent in the formation of chemists, once it can provide handling and understanding of microscopic phenomena based on the observation of their macroscopic effects, once such reactions and phenomena are the basis of important instrumental methods of analysis. Thus, a proposal based on a bottom-up approach has been developed, starting with the observation of different reactions of cations in laboratory, followed by a search for the reaction responsible for each resulting phenomenon observed during the experimental step. Then these reactions are related with the separation procedures of each group of cations. Eventually the separation of these groups can also be performed depending on the time available. The proposal has been applied in teaching laboratory of qualitative analytical chemistry at Instituto de Química de São Carlos/USP since 2015, where the discipline is offered duirng 4 hours/week, and a positive feedback regarding the evolution of the methodology and its acceptance by students. Good results were also obtained concerning the appropriation of the contents by the students, using the proposal.

The use of samples from students quotidian can get their attention for teaching contents to be presented. We have already presented a series of simple experiments demonstrating the use of flame atomic emission spectrometry in the determination of cations in samples present in our day life. Here sodium is determined in cachaça (sugar cane spirit), a very popular Brazilian drink, to demonstrate de effect of matrix composition and its physico-chemical properties in the volume of sample nebulized in a flame photometer and consequently in analytical signals by using different ethanol:water solvent mixtures for calibration.

A carbamazepina (CBZ) é um anticonvulsivante frequentemente utilizado no Brasil e em vários países. Ela apresenta quatro formas polimórficas e um diidrato. Todas as formas são ativas farmacologicamente, porém a Forma III é a preferível do ponto de vista farmacêutico, em função de suas propriedades físico-químicas. Entretanto, essa forma é altamente higroscópica, podendo converter-se ao diidrato, menos ativo biologicamente. Nesse trabalho propõe-se avaliar o comportamento térmico da forma hidratada, visando à recuperação da forma ativa, por aquecimento. Para tanto, foi feito um estudo do comportamento térmico por TG/DTG-DTA e DSC em atmosfera dinâmica de ar e nitrogênio, que evidenciou hidratação espontânea da Forma III, gerando um hidrato contendo 1,5 moléculas de água. Essa forma sofre desidratação, seguida de fusão e conversão para a Forma I. Segue-se a decomposição em uma única etapa, na qual ocorre liberação do ácido isociânico, conforme análise de gases evolvidos, por termogravimetria acoplada ao infravermelho (TG-FTIR). Estudos por calorimetria exploratória diferencial mostraram que a Forma III se funde e se cristaliza imediatamente na Forma I, durante o aquecimento. A Forma I também se funde e ciclos de aquecimento/resfriamento posteriores evidenciaram que a substância se cristaliza apenas na Forma I por resfriamento. Estudos cinéticos da decomposição, em estado sólido, mostraram que não há alteração na substância pela eliminação da água por aquecimento, sendo determinados valores de energia de ativação da ordem de 98 ± 2 e 93 ± 2 kJ mol-1, respectivamente, para a amostra hidratada e submetida à secagem, assim como perfis semelhantes nas curvas de energia de ativação em função do fator de conversão.

Carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely used anticonvulsant drug, can crystallize and exhibits four polymorphic forms and one dihydrate. Anhydrous CBZ can spontaneously absorb water and convert to the hydrate form whose different crystallinity leads to lower biological activity. The present study was concerned to the possibility of recovering the hydrated form by heating. The thermal behavior of spontaneously hydrated carbamazepine was investigated by TG/DTG-DTA and DSC in dynamic atmospheres of air and nitrogen, which revealed that the spontaneous hydration of this pharmaceutical resulted in a Form III hydrate with 1.5 water molecules. After dehydration, this anhydrous Form III converted to Form I, which melted and decomposed in a single event, releasing isocyanic acid, as shown by evolved gas analysis using TG-FTIR. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed that Form III melted and crystallized as Form I, and that subsequent cooling cycles only generated Form I by crystallization. Solid state decomposition kinetic studies showed that there was no change in the substance after the elimination of water by heating to 120 °C. Activation energies of 98 ± 2 and 93 ± 2 kJ mol-1 were found for the hydrated and dried samples, respectively, and similar profiles of activation energy as a function of conversion factor were observed for these samples.

This paper presents a proposal for using recycled graphite electrodes obtained from exhausted commercial 1.5 V batteries and its application in electroanalysis. The electrode could be prepared by the students and applied in the simple didactic experiments suggested, such as determination of active electrode area, cyclic voltammetry and useful potential range (also called "potential window"), demonstration and effect of scan rate on cyclic voltammograms. The possibility of using the graphite electrode in quantitative analysis was also demonstrated using the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide reversible redox couple ([Fe(CN)6]3-/[Fe(CN)6]4-) as an electrochemical probe by the dependence of peak current with the analyte concentration and flow injection analysis with amperometric detection.

This work proposes the use of a graphite-Araldite® 70% (graphite, m/m) composite electrode in didactic experiments, specifically in the quantitative determination of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in a sample of pharmaceutical formulation. The goal is to demonstrate the possibility of using voltammetric techniques in quality control of medicines, besides covering some concepts such as the influence of pH on the redox process, the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique, the optimization of experiments and comparison with an official method described in the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Um procedimento simples de análise por injeção em fluxo foi desenvolvido para a determinação de captopril em formulações farmacêuticas empregando um novo reator em fase sólida contendo tiocianato de prata imobilizado em resina poliuretana obtida a partir de óleo de mamona. O método foi baseado na formação de um mercapto composto de prata, no reator em fase sólida, obtido entre o captopril e Ag (I) imobilizada. Durante a reação, íons SCN- eram liberados e reagiam com Fe3+, gerando o complexo FeSCN2+, que foi continuamente monitorado em 480 nm. A curva analítica foi linear no intervalo de concentração de captopril entre 3,0 × 10-4 a 1,1 × 10-3 mol L-1 com um limite de detecção de 8,0 × 10-5 mol L-1. Recuperações entre 97,5-103% e desvio padrão relativo de 2% para uma solução contendo 6,0 × 10-4 mol L-1 de captopril (n = 12) foram obtidos. A frequência de amostragem foi de 40 h-1 e os resultados obtidos para captopril em formulações farmacêuticas utilizando este procedimento e o da Farmacopeia, estão de acordo em um nível de confiança de 95%.

A simple flow-injection analysis procedure was developed for determining captopril in pharmaceutical formulations employing a novel solid-phase reactor containing silver thiocyanate immobilized in a castor oil derivative polyurethane resin. The method was based on silver mercaptide formation between the captopril and Ag(I) in the solid-phase reactor. During such a reaction, the SCN- anion was released and reacted with Fe3+, which generated the FeSCN2+ complex that was continuously monitored at 480 nm. The analytical curve was linear in the captopril concentration range from 3.0 × 10-4 mol L-1 to 1.1 × 10-3 mol L-1 with a detection limit of 8.0 × 10-5 mol L-1. Recoveries between 97.5% and 103% and a relative standard deviation of 2% for a solution containing 6.0 × 10-4 mol L-1 captopril (n = 12) were obtained. The sample throughput was 40 h-1 and the results obtained for captopril in pharmaceutical formulations using this procedure and those obtained using a pharmacopoeia procedure were in agreement at a 95% confidence level.

Polyethilenetherephtalate (PET) is commonly used in manufacturing of beverage bottles representing a didactic appeal in thermal analysis education due to its presence in the student's day life. Additionally such polymer presents well defined thermal analytical curves and a well known thermal behavior. TGA curve is used to present the thermal stability. The thermal history effects in the thermal properties of a PET sample from a soft drink bottle are used to demonstrate the effect of different heating/cooling conditions on glass transition, melting, crystallization and crystalline degree using DSC curves.

Um método clássico para a determinação de minoxidil em formulações farmacêuticas é proposto baseado na reação redox entre KMnO4 e o minoxidil. Os melhores resultados na permanganometria foram obtidos usando concentrações de 1,00 x 10-2 mol L-1 para o permanganato. O minoxidil foi usado como titulante na concentração de 2,00 x 10-2 mol L-1 diluído em solução de H2SO4 2,00 mol L-1. As recuperações para método proposto foram da ordem de 94,5 a 95,2 % dependendo da amostra comercial. O método proposto foi aplicado à amostras comerciais contendo minoxidil e comparado com resultados obtidos a partir de procedimentos cromatográficos com erros relativos da ordem de -1 a -5,26%. O procedimento se mostrou simples, rápido e pode ser uma alternativa para a determinação de minoxidil em amostras farmacêuticas, nas quais a concentração do fármaco é relativamente elevada.

A titrimetric procedure for the determination of minoxidil using KMnO4 as oxidizing agent is described. The best conditions were optimized considering the H2SO4, KMnO4 and minoxidil concentrations, the temperature of the system and the order of addition of the reactants. The method was applied to commercial samples and compared with the results from a standard chromatographic procedure. Recoveries from 94.5 to 95.2 % were observed depending on the sample. Comparison with the chromatographic procedure reveled relative errors of -1.00 to - 5.26 %. The method was relatively fast, easy to perform and can be a low cost alternative for pharmaceutical samples in which minoxidil concentration is relatively high..

Um método potenciométrico para a determinação de minoxidil em formulações farmacêuticas baseado na reação redox entre K2Cr2O7 e o minoxidil, foi desenvolvido. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos usando concentrações de 1,00 x 10-2 mol L-1 para o minoxidil e 1,00 x 10-3 mol L-1 para o K2Cr2O7 ambos diluídos em uma solução em de H2SO4 2,00 mol L-1, a 60°C. As recuperações para método proposto foram da ordem de 98,7 % a 97,4 % dependendo da amostra comercial. O método proposto foi aplicado à amostras comerciais contendo minoxidil e, quando comparado com resultados obtidos a partir de procedimentos cromatográficos, apresentou concordância no nível de confiança de 95%, de acordo com o teste t-Student.

A potentiometric titration method for the determination of minoxidil based on its redox reaction with K2Cr2O7 is described. The best results were observed using 1.00 x 10-3 mol L-1 K2Cr2O7 and 1.00 x 10-2 mol L-1 minoxidil solutions, and the minoxidil as titrant in 2.00 mol L-1 H2SO4 medium. The method was applied to commercial samples and compared with the results from a chromatographic procedure. Recoveries from 97.4 to 98.7 % were observed depending on the sample. Comparison with the chromatographic procedure reveled agreement within 90% confidence level.

Thiol-functionalised silica films were deposited on various electrode surfaces (gold, platinum, glassy carbon) by spin-coating sol-gel mixtures in the presence of a surfactant template. Film formation occurred by evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) involving the hydrolysis and (co)condensation of silane and organosilane precursors on the electrode surface. The characterization of such material was performed by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), elemental analysis (EA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV).

Um eletrodo compósito de grafite-poliuretana sem modificação foi avaliado como um detector amperométrico para análise em fluxo, na determinação de paracetamol (APAP) em formulações farmacêuticas. Uma curva analítica foi obtida com região linear entre 5,00 x 10-5 e 5,00 x 10-3 mol L-1, com um limite de detecção de 18,9 µmol L-1 e 180 determinações por hora, depois de parâmetros otimizados como potencial de detecção, volume de amostragem, e vazão da solução carregadora. Interferência de ácido ascórbico foi observada, entretanto foi possível contorná-la, como visto pelos resultados que concordaram com HPLC com nível de confiança de 95%. Estes resultados mostraram que o compósito grafite-poliuretana pode ser usado como um detector amperométrico para análise em fluxo na determinação de APAP.

A bare graphite-polyurethane composite was evaluated as an amperometric flow injection detector in the determination of paracetamol (APAP) in pharmaceutical formulations. A linear analytical curve was observed in the 5.00 x 10-5 to 5.00 x 10-3 mol L-1 range with a minimum detectable net concentration of 18.9 µmol L-1 and 180 determinations h-1, after optimization of parameters such as the detection potential, sample loop volume, and carrier solution flow rate. Interference of ascorbic acid was observed, however, it was possible overcome the interference, reaching results that agreed with HPLC within 95% confidence level. These results showed that the graphite-polyurethane composite can be used as an amperometric detector for flow analysis in the determination of APAP.

Alkaline salts of the palmitic acid were synthesized and characterized from aqueous and ethanolic medium. The salts were characterized by elemental analysis (EA) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). EA and IR, being its synthesis comproved, also characterized the ethyl palmitate. All the salts and the ester were submitted to thermal analysis using thermogravimetry (TG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) in the temperature ranging from room to 700 ºC under air dynamic atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were taken from -90 ºC up to temperatures close to the starting of the decomposition temperature, determined by thermogravimetry, using heating and cooling cycles.

Thermoanalytical behavior of sodium and potassium salts of pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (pyr), piperidineditiocarbamate (pip), morpholinedithiocarbamate (mor), hexametileneiminedithiocarbamate (hex), were investigated. In a first step the salts were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elementar analysis. Finally, thermal analytical (TG/DTG and DSC) studies were performed in order to evaluate the thermal stability, as well as the pathways of the thermal decomposition based in the intermediate and final decomposition products.

A composite electrode prepared by mixing a commercial epoxy resin Araldite® and graphite powder is proposed to be used in didactic experiments. The electrode is prepared by the students and applied in simple experiments to demonstrate the effect of the composite composition on the conductivity and the voltammetric response of the resulting electrode, as well as the response in relation to the scan rate dependence on mass transport. The possibility of using the composite electrode in quantitative analysis is also demonstrated.

The adsorption of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution by chitosan using a column in a closed hydrodynamic flow system is described. The adsorption capacities as a function of contact time of copper(II) ions and chitosan were determined by varying the ionic strength, temperature and the flow of the metal solution. The Langmuir model reproduced the adsorption isothermal data better than the Freundlich model. The experimental kinetic data correlate properly with the second-order kinetic reaction for the whole set of experimental adsorption conditions. The rate constants exercise great influence on the time taken for equilibrium to be established by complexation or electrostatic interaction between the amino groups of chitosan and the metal.