Alkalinity and its determination:
The alkalinity of natural water is mainly due to
the presence of hydroxide, carbonate and
bicarbonate ions. Alkalinity is a measure of the
ability of water to neutralize the acids. It can be
defined as “the concentration of the salts
present in water which increases the
concentration of OH- ions due to hydrolysis
thereby rising pH of water to alkaline range”.
The possible conditions causing alkalinity in natural water are;
(i) OH- only (ii) CO32- only (iii) HCO3- only
(iv) OH- & CO32- together (v) CO32- & HCO3- together.
Hydroxide and bicarbonates do not exist together because
hydroxide ions react with bicarbonate ions to form
carbonate ions. Therefore existence of hydroxide and
bicarbonates ions together is ruled out.
OH- + HCO3- CO32- + H2O
Alkalinity of water is estimated by neutralization titration against
Standard acid solution using phenolphthalein and methyl
orange as internal indicators
Requirements:
Apparatus Required: Burette, pipette, conical flask, beaker,
dropper, etc.
Chemicals Required: Alkaline water sample, standard acid
Solution, phenolphthalein, methyl orange.
Theory:
Alkalinity is determined by titrating the sample with a standard
solution of a strong acid. When the pH of the sample is above
8.3, titration is first carried out using phenolphthalein indicator.
At the first end point, the indicator changes from pink to
colorless, it indicates complete neutralization of hydroxide and
conversion of all the carbonate into bicarbonate ions. The
alkalinity measured up to this point is called phenolphthalein
alkalinity. [P]
Phenolphthalein alkalinity [P] (in mg/l) = ENVP X 1000
Vol of water sample
Here E = Chemical equivalent wt. of CaCO3
N= Normality of Acid solution
VP= Volume of Acid solution used at phenolphthalein end
Titration
point i.e. is
P continued
ml using methyl orange indicator. The color
changes from yellow to red and shows complete neutralization of
all ions. The total volume of acid used in both the stages
corresponds to the neutralization of hydroxide, carbonate and
bicarbonate and is thus, a measure of Total Alkalinity. [M]
Methyl orange alkalinity [M] (in mg/l) = ENVM X 1000
Vol of water sample
Here VM= Total Volume of
Acid solution used
When standard acid solution is added to alkaline water
following reactions takes place ;
(A) Neutralization of hydroxide ions
(1) OH- + H+ H2O
(B) Neutralization of carbonate ions
(2) CO32- + H+ HCO3-
(3) HCO3- + H+ CO2 + H2O
(C) Neutralization of bicarbonate ions
(4) HCO3- + H+ CO2 + H2O
Funnel
Conical Flask
Pipette
Methyl orange
Phenolphthalein
Procedure:
1)Burette is filled with standard acid solution.
2)Alkaline water is pipette out in a conical flask.
3) Alkaline water is titrated with acid solution using
first phenolphthalein and then methyl orange
indicator.
4)The volume of acid solution consumed is noted
at phenolphthalein and methyl orange end points
and same experiment is repeated to get concordant
reading.
Observation Table:
S. Vol Burette Burette Burette Vol of acid Total vol of
No. of reading reading reading Solution used at acid solution
water Initial (ml) P ml M ml Ph. End point, P used, M ml
(ml) ml
1 10 o.o V1 V2
2 10 o.o V3 V4 V3 V4
3 10 0.0 V3 V4
The type and extent of alkalinity of water can be
Calculation: determined by comparing the values of P and M
alkalinities with the help of following table;
Alkalinity OH- CO32- HCO3-
P=0 0 0 M
P=M P or M 0 0
P=M/2 0 2P or M 0
P<M/2 0 2P M-2P
P>M/2 2P-M 2(M-P) 0
Result: The total alkalinity present in the given
water sample is ………….ppm.
Precautions:
1)Burette and pipette should be rinsed before
experiment.
2)Burette should be filled up to zero mark.
3)Air bubbles should be removed from burette.
4)Last drop from pipette should not be transferred
into conical flask.
5)End point should be noted carefully.
