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2 Complexometric
2 Complexometric
A. Purpose
B. Theoretical Background
Metal ions such as Zn2+ may form many complexes in solution, such as
Zn(NH3)42+, for example. Such complexation reactions can serve as a means of
determining ion concentration; however, as several complexing molecules must
be added, one at a time, the equivalence point in such a titration would not in
general be sharp enough to be readily determined. An ingenious way around this
problem is the incorporation of several complexing entities (called “ligands”) into
one molecule. This would ensure that the reaction take place in one step. Ethylene
diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is such a molecule. In buffered solution at pH =
10, it is fully ionized and has the formula (OOCCH2)2NCH2CH2N(CH2COO)2.
Both N atoms and four of the O atoms can act as ligands (EDTA is thus a
hexadentate complexing agent: hexa = 6, dentate = “toothed”- reference to the
fact that it surrounds the metal ion like a mouthful of teeth surrounding a pistachio
nut) and EDTA can therefore form an immensely stable 1:1 complex with Zn2+:
The criteria needed to allow a reaction to be used for titrimetric analysis are: 1.
goes to completion, 2. is stoichiometric, 3. proceeds rapidly, and 4. allows for
easy end-point detection. EDTA satisfies the first three of these very well, but an
indicator must also be sought. Another complexing agent, Eriochrome T (or Erio
T), forms metal complexes and changes color when it does so. The form of the
indicator and its color changes are pH dependent, since Erio T is in fact a triprotic
organic acid. At pH = 10, the red complex ZnE exists at Zn++ concentrations
greater than 108 M, whereas at lower concentrations, the blue uncomplexed acid
anions HE2 is the stable from. Thus, as the Zn 2+ is titrated by EDTA at pH = 10,
in the presence of Erio T, the free Zn 2+ concentration steadily decreases, and at the
equivalence point, the solution color changed from red to blue.
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C. Chemicals and Setup
D. Procedure
6. Obtain a sample of unknown Zn solution from the stock room. Pipet 10.00
mL of this unknown solution, into a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask, then add 15
mL of water and 25 mL buffer, and one drop of Erio T indicator. Titrate with
EDTA to the clear blue end-point. Do three such titrations.
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E. CHEM. 203 Lab Report
Partner : ________________________
m Zn
M 0Zn
M Zn Vsoln
1 2 3
Upper reading (mL)
Lower reading (mL)
Volume (mL)
M 0Zn v Zn
M 0EDTA
v EXTA
1 2 3
Upper reading (mL)
Lower reading (mL)
Volume (mL)
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Average volume, v EDTA
M 0EDTA v EDTA
M 0unk
v unk
Questions
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