Wet chemistry involves direct experimentation with liquids, including measuring, mixing, and testing various aspects of liquids. It may involve high-tech equipment and is sometimes used synonymously with over-the-counter chemistry. NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander had a wet chemistry lab on board for soil testing.
Wet chemistry is a term that represents a set of scientific techniques that involve direct experimentation with liquids. Since this is a broad industry term, the exact definition can vary from company to company. A general rule that may apply is that if it is a scientist working with liquids by hand and physically observing the results of the experiment, it is wet chemistry. The use of robotics in the laboratory, however, has even challenged this definition to some extent.
This type of chemistry includes basic experimental techniques such as measuring, mixing, and weighing chemicals, as well as testing the concentration, conductivity, density, pH, specific gravity, temperature, viscosity, and other aspects of liquids. Analytical techniques in wet chemistry are usually qualitative in nature, meaning they attempt to determine the presence of a specific chemical rather than the exact amount. However, some quantitative techniques are used and include gravimetry (weighing) and volumetric analysis (measurement).
Over-the-counter chemistry is sometimes used synonymously with wet chemistry. The terms differ in two main ways: first, over-the-counter chemistry may involve dry chemicals, while wet chemistry always involves at least one substance in the liquid phase; secondly, wet chemistry sometimes involves high-tech equipment, while bench chemistry only includes techniques using simple devices in keeping with the spirit of classical chemistry. Both types of chemistry, however, share many of the same techniques and equipment.
NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander had a wet chemistry lab on board when it landed on the red planet in 2008. As one of its experiments, Phoenix collected small amounts of soil, then dissolved the samples in water. The soil solutions were then tested on various aspects including conductivity, pH and redox potential. The instruments also tested for the presence of bromide anions, carbon, chloride anions, magnesium cations, oxygen, sodium cations and sulfate anions.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
