OH H HO CO H HCO HCO H HCO Hoco
OH H HO CO H HCO HCO H HCO Hoco
OH H HO CO H HCO HCO H HCO Hoco
Principle:
Alkalinity in water is due to the presence of OH-, CO32- and HCO3- ions. The alkalinity of a
given sample of water can be obtained by neutralizing the above mentioned ions with standard
HCl. Titrating the given sample of water at a pH of 8.3 or till the pink color (which appears on
addition of Phenolphthalein indicator) disappears will indicate the complete neutralization of
OH- ions and half of CO32- ions. Titrating the same sample of water at a pH of 4.4 or till a sharp
color change from yellow to orange of methyl orange indicator will indicate the total alkalinity
i.e. the amount of OH-, CO32- and HCO3- present in the given sample
OH H H 2 O
CO32 H HCO3
OH- and HCO3- ions cannot exist in water together because they combine instantaneously to form
CO32- ions.
OH HCO3 CO32 H 2O
It is for this reason, the three ions OH-, CO32- and HCO3- cannot exist together.
Requirements
Reagents and solutions:
Standard solutions of sodium carbonate (0.1N), hydrochloric acid (0.1N), waste water
sample, methyl orange and phenolphthalein indicator solutions.
Apparatus: Burette, pipette, conical flask, standard flask and burette stand
Procedure
Titration I: Standardization of hydrochloric acid
Pipette out 20 mL of standard sodium carbonate solution (0.1 N) into a clean 250 mL conical
flask. Add 2 or 3 drops of methyl orange indicator to it. Titrate this mixture against hydrochloric
acid taken in the burette. The end point of the titration is indicated by the colour change from
yellow to orange. Repeat the titration for concordant titre values. From the titre value the
strength of hydrochloric acid is calculated.
To the same solution, add two drops of methyl orange indicator and continue the titration. The
end point is color change from pale yellow to orange. This end point indicates complete
neutralization of alkalinity present in water sample and is known as methyl orange end point [m].
Repeat the titration for concordant titre values.
OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS
Titration I - Standardization of hydrochloric acid
Burette: HCl solution
Conical Flask: 20 mL of sodium carbonate + 2 drops of methyl orange
End point: Yellow to orange-red
= (8.8*0.1047*50*100)/20
= (12.1*0.1047*50*100)/20
ALKALINITY TABLE:
Evaluation of result