1. Removing the woodscrews which hold the support clamps in position.
2. Carefully place the ion exchange column onto the support stand and replace the support clamps. Do not overtighten the screws!
3. Open the bottle of Amberlite IR-120 Resin and pour into a bearker an amount approximately equal to half the vo,ume of the ion exchange column.
4. Add distilled water to the beaker and stir the mixture.
5. Crumple some wet filter paper to form a ball, place it in the ion exchang column and push it down to form a plug at the bottom.
6. Transfer the resin and water mixture to the column, ideally there should be approximately 20 mm of water above the resin in the column after the water has drained away and the resin has settled.
7. Place the separatory funnel in position on top of the ion exchange column.
8. Dilute 360 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid with 1 liter of distilled water, observing the usual safety precautions regarding protective goggles, clothing etc.
9. Using suitable rubber hoses, connect a vacum pump to a dessicator to act as a water trap, and connect the other side of the dessicator to the outlet tube of the ion exchange column.
10. Pour 100 ml of the diluted acid into the separatory column, and replace the glass stopper.
11. Switch on the vacum pump and allow the acid to flow through the column aided by yhe vacum. this activates the resin.
12. As the level of acid falls, add distilled water to the separatory funnel and continue with the vacum pump.
13. Continue this process and test the water passing out of the column with about 1 ml of Silver Nitrate acidified with a few drops of Nitric Acid until no chloride is observed.

The column is now activated ready for use. After four consecutive determination, re-activate the resin by repeating the above steps.