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-   -   How do you find out the iron content of hair? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=138986)

  • Oct 9, 2007, 05:52 PM
    lost in my little head
    How do you find out the iron content of hair?
    I'm trying to do a science fair experiment on what type of hair color has the best iron content. Problem is that I don't know what tools to use and chemicals I would need to to carry this experiment out. So if anyone knows how to find out the iron content of hair PLEASE let me know ASAP.
  • Oct 9, 2007, 05:57 PM
    Stratmando
    A Magnet, Serious, I would maybe use a spectrometer, this may give you a start:
    Spectrometer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  • Nov 14, 2007, 10:58 AM
    NavyBlue1984
    To carry out that procedure you would need some sort of detector such as a magnet, but you would need to use A LOT of hair. A big clump, when homogenized, will be attracted to a magnetic pull, and by this you can judge the Fe content (Similar to the way an etch-a-sketch works, as you draw pictures with Fe shavings... )
  • Nov 19, 2007, 02:46 PM
    Xrayman
    Okay, I work with VERY strong magnets-the hair would have to be VERY seriously covered with iron-rusted almost, before it would be attracted to the magnet!

    You need to freeze the sample, then grind it in a mortar and pestle, then break the proteins down with a very strong acid, then dissovlve the mix into a specific volume(I forget how to do this) then you need to perform a Titration progressively adding a reagent until the mix changes colour, this indicates how much of the elemental iron is contained within your original sample.

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