Term: gravimetric method
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.G02694

Definition:
A determination by weight; e.g. in the older method of Cl− ion determination, a weighed amount of sample is dissolved in water, AgNO3 solution added, AgCl is precipitated, dried and weighed. From the known mass fraction of silver in AgCl, the weights of the initial sample and that of the AgCl precipitated, the percentage of chlorine in the sample can be calculated readily.

Related Terms:
1) weight (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.W06668).
2) mass fraction (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03722).

Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2192 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)

Citation: 'gravimetric method' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.G02694

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.