DETERMINATION OF SAPONIFICATION VALUE

OBJECTIVE
To find the saponification value of given sample of oil.
APPARATUS
1. Conical flask - 1No.
2. Pipette - 1No.
3. Burette - 1No.
4. Balance and Weight box - 1No.
5. Weighing Bottle - 1No.
6. Standard flask -1No.
7. Wash bottle – 1 No.
8. Funnel - 1No
9. Glass rod -1 No.
10. Measuring jar - 1No.
11. Condenser - 1No
REAGENTS
Alcoholic potash solution, Hydrochloric acid, Sodium Carbonate, Phenolphthalein and methyl
orange indicator.
THEORY
The process of formation of soap is called saponification. Saponification value is defines as the
mgs of KOH required to saponify 1gm of fat oil.
56.1×( B−S) × N
SAPONIFICATION VALUE =
W
B – Titrate value of blank, ml
S – Titrate value of sample
N – Normality of HCL
(B-S) = Volume of HCL corresponding to KOH reacted
W= Weight of sample of oil in grams
 The molecular weight of oil can be determined from the saponification value .Since one
mole of oil requires 3 moles of caustic alkali for saponification. The following equation
can be used and derived and average molecular weight in terms of saponification valur
 3× 56.1× 1000 L
Avg. Molecular weight = {S.V – Saponification value}
S.V
Larger the saponification value, the smaller is the average molecular weight
PROCEDURE
SAPONIFICATION VALUE EXPERIMENT
Weigh the sample of oil, such a way that there will be an excess of reagent of about 50%
When 25ml of reagent is used and this will usually require 2-2.5g of sample. The accurately
weighed oil is transferred into an alkali resistant flask of 250ml capacity. Add 2.5ml of alcoholic
KOH into the flask and to another similar empty flask which serves as blank. Condensers are
attached and the flasks are heated in a water bath gently but steadily for about an hour. Make
sure that the vapor ring in the condenser does not escape saponification. It requires about an
hour.
There is no way to determine when saponification is complete except to run a series of
experiments at increasing saponification intervals , continuing what the sample titre values
become constant. After one hour of heating the solutions are allowed to cool once the inside of
the condensers are washed down by minimum amount of distilled water. Add about 1ml of
phenolphthalein and titrate both sample and blank approximately 0.5N HCl
STANDARDIZATION OF HCl
Na2CO3 can be used to standardize HCl. Prepare an approximately equal normal solution of
Na2CO3 and titrate against HCl using methyl orange indicator.
RESULT
Saponification value of given sample of oil.
Average molecular weight of sample of oil.
INFERENCE
Different types of oils and their saponification value.
1. Coconut oil > 250
2. Castor oil 177 -185
3. Palm oil 190 -209
OBSERVATIONS
STANDARDISATION OF HCl
STANDARDISATION OF Na2CO3 X HCl INDICATOR: Methyl Orange
Sl VOLUME OF BURETTE BURETTE VOLUME OF
No. Na2C03(ml) READING(INITIAL) READING(FINAL) HCl (ml)
1.
2.

SAMPLE AND BLANK TITRATION

TITRATION AGAINST HCl
INDICATOR: Phenolphthalein
ITEM BURETTE BURETTE VOLUME OF HCl
READING(INITIAL) READING(FINAL) (ml)
S
B

CALCULATIONS:

Weight of oil taken, W =

Weight of Na2CO3 taken =
weight per litre
Normality of Na2CO3, N1 = = 0.5N
equivalent weight
Volume of Na2CO3, V1 =
Volume of HCl V2 =
N 1 ×20
Normality of HCl, N2 =
V1
56.1×(B−S)× N
Saponification value =
W
3× 56.1× 1000 L
Average molecular weight =
S.V