Investigation Report

Colour of Gold Practical

Titus John TG 12 (Amanda)
ANANLu (Chris)

Introduction
Development of gold nanoparticles can be seen by the change in colour which is
usually to red. A layer of citrate on the surface of the nanoparticles keep them
separated. Making the particle small through the use of Sodium allows the
particles to move to each other resulting in the change of colour (Ilab.psu.edu.
2014).They are formed by using citrate to reduce the amount of gold (III) to gold
solid. The reaction is as follows:
Au3+ (aq) + 3e- Au (s)
Sodium citrate has a major significance in having an effect on the size of the
particle. It effects the poly dispersity and the peak distribution of the UV spectra
in the gold nanoparticle that changes its size in the nano scale (academia.edu
2014).By varying its ratio, sodium synthesises the diameter of the nanoparticles
from 20-80nm. However the low use of sodium citrate can produce large gold
nanoparticles.

Aim
To investigate the relationship between the amount of sodium put into the gold
colloid to determine the size of the gold nano particle.

Hypothesis
As the amount of sodium increases the size of the gold nanoparticle will
decrease.

Constant, Independent and Dependent Variables

Constant: Gold colloid solution
Independent: Amount of sodium citrate solution
Dependent: Size of the gold nanoparticles

Materials

Electric Hotplate
Magnetic Stirrer
Wooden peg
Measuring cylinder
Gold solution (HAuCl4)
Conical flask
Measuring cylinder(s)
Laser Beam
Sodium Citrate
Volumetric Pipette (or micro pipette)
Distilled / demineralized water
Spectrophotometer

Cuvette

Method
Part 1 Making the Gold Colloid
The hot plate was turned on to pre-heat at 300 o Celsius. A measuring cylinder
was used to measure out 20ml of gold solution. This was then poured into a
100ml conical flask. To check the amount of scatter, a laser beam was shined
through the prepared solution. If the beam passed, it is not scattered but if it can
be seen through the solution the amount of scatter is high. This was also done to
test the degree of scattering on the sodium citrate solution.
A magnetic stirrer was added into the beaker which was filled with the gold
colloid solution and was heated on the hot plate until it reached boiling point. It
was switched off occasionally to check the solution. 5% of sodium citrate solution
(we chose to do 60l and 100l) was added to the boiling gold colloid until a
colour change was seen. The solution was then left to boil for an extra 10
minutes (or until the colour changed to dark purple/burgundy)

Part 2 Measuring the colloidal gold particles

A diluted nanoparticle solution was added into a beaker by adding 2ml of the
colloidal solution (created from Part 1) and 8ml distilled water. The solution was
mixed by tightly finger capping the solution a few times. This solution was then
added to the cuvette for the spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer was
used to find the peak absorbance (Abs) and the wavelength (nm) (Refer to part
2a on how to use the spectrophotometer). The results were then used to find the
particle size of the gold colloid

Part 2a: Using the spectrophotometer

The spectrophotometer is used to measure the amount of light absorbed by the
solution. We used this apparatus in the practical to determine the absorption
spectrum and the wavelength of light through the solution. This can help us to
determine the size of the nanoparticle.
Prepare a blank cuvette and place it so that the translucent side of the cuvette
faces you and the transparent sides face left to right. If this is done incorrectly
we would get incorrect results and the instrument will not measure the
wavelength and absorbance properly. Dont try to touch the sides of the cuvette
where light passes as the spectrophotometer could possibly also measure the
absorbance of your fingerprints. Once the cuvette is placed, press the READ
BLANK key and press right arrow key for the spectrophotometer to begin
measuring the cuvette. Once its recorded, remove the cuvette and press the
READ SAMPLE key to note the absorbance that will be displayed. (We may have
to move the arrow keys so that we get an approximate Maximum value in the
graph).

Safety Considerations
1) In any practical investigation, glasses and lab coats are a must and should
be worn at all times in the lab.
2) Using the hotplate: As the method expresses the use of a hotplate to
boil the gold solution to about 300o Celsius, the apparatus should be
periodically switched off to check the solution and to avoid any harm due
to unpredictable boiling of the solution.

Spin speed: As the spin speed determines the speed of the magnetic
stirrer, it should not be increased to the max as this will lead to
breakage of the flask.
- Switches: When reaching for the switch, make sure you dont touch
any part of the hotplate itself it could possibly lead to burns and should
be reported to the teacher immediately.
3) Using the volumetric pipette: When refilling the pipette filler, make
sure that it is held as near as possible to the point where it is actually
being inserted to the pipette filler. Failure in following this instruction could
lead to a broken pipette.
4) Hot flasks: After heating the flasks to boil the solutions, they should only
be moved with the use of a wooden peg and must be placed on a heat
proof surface.
5) Laser Beam: Do not point the laser beam to the eye as it will damage
your retina and could make you blind, looking at its source is just similar to
pointing it towards your eye the light will reflect more and is very
hazardous.

Results
Table 1. Final Results
Reading
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Outliers.

Amount
(l)
4.0
10
15
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
100
150
200
250
300

of

Sodium

Graph 1. Relationship between amount

nanoparticle. INCLUDING OUTILERS

of

Approx.
Size
Nanoparticle (nm)
85
22
23
83
97
21
80
105
99
80
62
79
45
24
160
sodium

and

size

of

of

Amount of Sodium VS Size of Nanoparticles

(Raw Data)

Graph 2. Relationship between amount

nanoparticle. REMOVING OUTLIERS

of

sodium

and

size

of

Amount of Sodium VS Size of Nanoparticle

Discussion
As seen in the graph (Graph 1.) there are lots of outliers produced and plotted
into the graph. This could be because of human errors caused while not
measuring the sodium citrate properly or not calibrating the micro pipette. The
pattern of graph expected was negative skew as in the research it said that the
lower the sodium the higher are the size of the nano particles.
With the graph now plotted with the data set that we got. The size of the particle
decreased gradually and often fluctuated because of the outliers plotted from the
table. (See Table 1). The graph had a polynomial trend line. When the outliers
were removed, (see Graph 2.) the trend had a linear relationship as the amount

of sodium increased, the size of the nanoparticles decreased. This supports the
initial hypothesis which stated: As the amount of sodium increased the size of
the nano particle decreased.
Gold nanoparticle is currently used to work on photothermal therapy to prevent
cancer. This investigation could possibly help them into progressing in their
research. This is because they are studying on using different size and shape of
dependent absorption of gold nanoparticles to see their efficiency into assisting
to cure cancer.

Errors
The main error in our practical was the use of micro pipette. This human error
decreased the accuracy of the results and gave us incorrect results for one of the
data set. The heating plate was let on maximum and thus heated more than it is
meant to, this couldve reduced the precision of getting the size of the nano
particles. Another error was that the cuvette was held on the clear side
accidently and had to clean it up with a tissue. Though that mightve resolved
the issue, it couldve reduced the accuracy of the wavelength and absorbance,
making them incorrect.

Analysis of Procedure
The use of micro pipette really enabled the practical to have accurate and
precise results, using the spectrophotometer to find the wavelength and
absorbance also was a plus to help answer the investigation question.
The use of new instruments without any practice also brought in outliers for the
data and decreased the accuracy of the results. They had to be taken out to get
better and clear results when analysing
Getting a reliable machine that checked the scatter of the solution couldve been
a plus. The use of laser was not very accurate into getting information of the
degree of scatter. Having an accurate way of checking the size of the
nanoparticle instead of guessing it wouldve given us an accurate result.

Conclusion
From the graphs and results that we have gained from the practical we have
understood that the investigation had been answered. The amount of sodium
does affect the size of the particle as it changes the spectra of the nano
particles. Therefore the hypothesis is supported by the results.

References
1) Ilab.psu.edu. 2014. Synthesis of Colloidal Gold. Available at:
http://ilab.psu.edu/colloidal_gold.htm [Accessed: 1 Apr 2014].
2) Nanocomposix.com. 2014. nanoComposix: Gold Colloid. Available at:
http://nanocomposix.com/technology/gold [Accessed: 1 Apr 2014].
3) depts.noctrl.edu. 2014. Using the spectrophotometer. 2014. Available at:
http://depts.noctrl.edu/biology/resource/handbook/spec.pdf [Accessed: 1
Apr 2014].

4) Academia.edu. 2014. CONTROLLING THE SIZE AND SIZEDISTRIBUTION OF

GOLD NANOPARTICLES: A DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT STUDY. Available at:
http://www.academia.edu/1413825/CONTROLLING_THE_SIZE_AND_SIZE_DI
STRIBUTION_OF_GOLD_NANOPARTICLES_A_DESIGN_OF_EXPERIMENT_STUD
Y [Accessed: 2 Apr 2014].