This article focuses on wet chemical methods that have stood the test of time in laboratories around the world. It begins with a description of the appropriateness of classical wet methods. This is followed by sections on sampling procedures, basic chemical equilibria, and wet analytical chemistry. Mechanical methods and nonoxidizing acids and/or acid mixtures for dissolving solid samples for wet chemical analysis are then reviewed. Qualitative methods that are used to identify materials by wet chemical reaction are also included. The article provides information on various methods for the separation of chemical mixtures and on the types of gravimetry and titrimetry. Strategies for removing inclusions are also included to aid in their compositional understanding. The article also briefly describes the processes involved in chemical surface studies and partitioning of oxidation states. It ends by presenting some examples of the applications of classical wet methods.

This article describes various methods of electrochemical analysis, namely coulometry, electrogravimetry, voltammetry, electrometric titration, and nanometer electrochemistry. The discussion covers the general uses, sample requirements, application examples, advantages, and limitations of these methods. Some of the factors pertinent to electrochemical cells are also provided. In addition, the article provides information on various potentiometric membrane electrodes used to quantify numerous ionic and nonionic species.

Phosphating is used in the metalworking industry to treat substrates like iron, steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, copper, and magnesium and its alloys. This article provides an overview of the types, uses, and theory of phosphate coatings and their formation. It also discusses the composition of phosphating baths, phosphate layers, and their analysis, as well as the process hardware necessary to realize these treatments. A summary of the different types of phosphate layers is tabulated, and the chemical formulas for a number of different phosphate compounds that are theoretically possible in crystalline phosphate layers are illustrated. The article presents four chemically important phosphating steps, namely, cleaning, activation or conditioning, phosphating, and posttreatment plus standard rinsing. It describes the physical and chemical properties by gravimetric analysis, chemical analysis, structure and morphology, thermal analysis, and alkaline resistance.

Electrogravimetry is the oldest electroanalytical technique in which the element of interest is deposited electrolytically onto an electrode and weighed. This article discusses the principles involved in determining the electrolysis rate of the solution, and describes different methods for the separation of ion in the electrolyte and their corresponding instrumentation. Furthermore, it explores the various types of analysis, such as the separation and quantitative determination of metal ions and internal electrolysis, and provides a detailed account of the applications of electrogravimetry with examples.

This article provides information on basic chemical equilibria, wet analytical chemistry, and the appropriateness of classical wet methods. It focuses on nonoxidizing acids and oxidizing acids. The article includes information on the qualitative methods used to identify materials by wet chemical reaction. Gravimetry, in which a chemical species is weighed; titrimetry, which involves volume measurement of a liquid reactant; and a host of separation techniques, which require diverse forms of laboratory manipulation, are discussed. The article briefly describes the partitioning of oxidation states as well as those applications in surface studies and rapid material identification in which chemical techniques have proved useful.