ABSTRACT
A simple sensitive and low cost method is developed as a semi-quantitative screening method for field detection of lead in water, which based on the reaction of lead with 1.5-diphenylthiocarbazone. The test is carried out in a test bottle has a cap contains the dry reagent, while the bottle contains the solvent and activator chemical compounds. To perform the test the sample is added to the bottle, the cap is pressured and the bottle is shaken for one minute which permits the formation of lead- dithizonate causing visually detectable color change. The concentration of lead is determined by comparing the resulting color to the prepared provided color chart. Some samples are tested with this method, and with the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry method. The comparison of results showed that this test has satisfactory sensitivity and it is suitable for the field detection of lead in water as a semi-quantitative test