The Mohr titration method is also sometimes referred to as the precipitation titration method.

This
method of titration involves the solution been titrated to its equivalence point where a change in
colour of the solution indicates this point. The most important reagent used is silver nitrate. Silver
nitrate is often used in septic tanks to kill bacteria growing in septic tanks and prevent the backing up
of septic tanks. Potassium chromate can serve as the end point by reacting with silver ions. Chromate
ions are used as an indicator in the titration of chloride ions with a silver nitrate standard solution.
The reactions involved are:

Ag+(aq) + Cl(aq)  AgCl (s)

2Ag+(aq) + CrO42-(aq) Ag2CrO4(s)

The precipitate Ag2cr04 is an orange or reddish colour. This precipitate will only occur when all of
the chlorine ions have been used to form silver chloride (AgCl). Silver chloride has many uses in the
medical field. The most common use of silver chloride in modern medicine is the application of silver
chloride on EKG machines. It covers the electrodes of the EKG machine. Silver chloride is also used
in the production of latex gloves and some clothing that is made for surgeons.
When carrying out the experiment latex clothing is important in order to prevent any corrosive
reagents against the skin. It is always advisable to read below the meniscus on the burette reading as it
would lead to wrong interpretation of results. The pH of the solutions should be between 6.5 and 10,
therefore small quantities of NaHCO3 were added until effervescence ceased to maintain pH. The
experiment was done at room temperature. This is due to the fact that the solubility of silver chromate
increases with increasing temperatures, hence the sensitivity of the method decreases
By knowing the stoichiometry and moles consumed at the end point, the amount of chloride in an
unknown sample can be determined. This report describes experiment taken to perform the titrations.
A list of the apparatus used is listed below:
-Burette and stand
-Transfer pipette 25 mL and pipette pump
-Wash bottle
-100ml volumetric flask
-250ml conical flask
-mass balance

Reagents used

Chemical name Chemical formula Manufacturer Mass/concentration

-Silver Nitrate solution AgNO3(aq) 0.1mol
-If possible dry solid AgNO3(s) 4.5g
Silver Nitration
-Potassium chromate K2CrO4(aq) 0.25mol
indicator dissolved in
20ml distilled water
-NaHCO3

Name of Model Manufacturer Use in the practical

instrument
-Volumetric Flask HV-0182 SR Lab instruments For accurate measurements of
distilled water
- Burette HV-0182 SR Lab instruments Hold the Silver Nitrate Solution used
for titrating
-Stand HV-0182 SR Lab instruments To hold the burette in place
-wash bottle HV-0182 SR Lab instruments For rinsing off apparatus
-pipette HV-0182 SR Lab instruments To drop drops of indicator

Procedure:
Standardisation of AgNO3 solution.
1. About 1.5g of reagent grade sodium chloride was weighed and dried at 1200C for 1-2 hours. The
results recorded in table 1.1.
2. The solution was dissolved in distilled water and diluted to the mark in a 250 ml volumetric flask.
3. 25ml portions of the solution. In order to adjust the pH of the solutions, small quantities of NaHCO
were added until effervescence ceased.
4. The burette was filled with 0.1 mol AgNO3 solution, held by a clamp on stand, and titrated with
solution in a conical flask.
5. The solution was titrated to the first permanent appearance of red Ag2Cr2O4 .

Determination of Chloride

6. 1.5-2.0 g of the unknown sample was weighed and dissolve in distilled water and diluted to 250ml
in a graduated flask. Small quantities of NaHCO3 were added until effervescence ceased
7. 1ml of indicator were added and titrated as above.

Data treatment/calculations:

NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq)  AgCl(aq) + NaNO3(aq)

Volume of AgNO3 used = 28.2 + 28.1 cm3 = 0.028.1 ± 0.1 dm3

2

Calculations for standardization AgNO3

Molar mass of NaCl = 58.44g/mole

Mass of Sodium Chloride = 1.5g

-Number of moles = 1.5g mass sodium chloride = 2.57 x 10-5 moles

58.44 g/mole

-Molarity of AgNO3 = 2.57 x 10-5 moles = 9.178 x 10-3 ± 0.001 mol/dm3

0.0028 dm3 volume of AgNO3