Expt No.

: __________ Date : _____________

2. ALKALINITY

AIM:

To determine the alkalinity of the given sample of water.

INTRODUCTION:

Alkalinity of water is its quantitative capacity to neutralize strong acids to designated pH. Its
determination is important in treatment of natural water and waste water. The alkalinity of
natural water is due to presence of salts of weak acids like carbonates, bicarbonates and
hydroxides. Bicarbonates represent the major form of alkalinity in natural water. It also
contains appreciable amount of CO3 and OH alkalinity, particularly surface water blooming
with algae. The carbonates alkalinity may be present with either hydroxide or bicarbonate
alkalinity. But hydroxide and bicarbonate alkalinity cannot be present together in the same
sample.

PRINCIPLE:

The measured value of alkalinity may vary with the end point pH used in its determination.
For samples whose initial pH is above 8.3, the titration is conducted until phenolphthalein
indicator turns pink to colourless. The second step of titration is conducted with the aid of
methyl orange to a pH of 4.5. When the pH is less than 8.3 all the OH alkalinity will be
neutralised and all carbonates converted to bicarbonates. The alkalinity is shown as
phenolphthalein alkalinity. If the titration of the sample that originally contained both
carbonate and hydroxide alkalinity is continued beyond the end point, the bicarbonates react
with the acid are converted to carbonic acid. The reaction is complete when pH is lowered to
about 4.5.

APPARATUS:
1. Burette
2. Pipette
3. Erlenmeyer flasks
REAGENTS:
1. Standard sulphuric acid 0.02 N
2. Phenolphthalein indicator
3. Methyl orange indicator
 OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

Sl. No Phenolphthalein indicator Methyl orange indicator Remarks

Initial Final V1 mL Final V2 mL Sample

burette burette = Vp - Vi burette = V m - Vi details
reading Vi reading Vp reading Vm

1 Virtual lab

2 Virtual lab

V = mL of total volume of sample used , N = normality of sulphuric acid used

V1 = mL of standard acid used for phenolphthalene end point

V2 = mL of standard acid used for methyl orange end point.

Phenolphthalein alkalinity, P as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3 =

Total alkalinity, T as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3 =

Alkalinity Calculation Table

Result of titration Hydroxide alkalinity Carbonate alkalinity Bicarbonate alkalinity

P=0 0 0 T

P<0.5T 0 2P T-2P

P=0.5T 0 2P 0

P>0.5P 2P-T 2(T-P) 0

P=T T 0 0
PROCEDURE:

1) Pipette 100 mL of sample into a clean Erlenmeyer flask (V)

2) Two drops of phenolphthalein indicator is added. If the pH is above 8.3 the colour is pink.
3) The sample is titrated against standard acid, 0.02 N H2SO4 in the burette till the colour just
disappears. The volume of titrant used is noted (V1)
4) Then two drops of methyl orange indicator is added. The colour turns yellow.
5) This is again titrated against the acid in the burette, till the yellow colour just turns orange
yellow. The volume of titrant used is noted (V2).
Alkalinity of two samples were determined using Virtual Lab.
RESULT:

Particulars Sample 1 Sample 2

Phenolphthalein alkalinity as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3

Total alkalinity as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3

Hydroxide alkalinity as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3

Carbonate alkalinity as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3

Bicarbonate alkalinity as mg/L equivalent of CaCO3

DISCUSSION:

Highly alkaline water is usually unpolluted and impart bitter taste to water. As per IS 10500-
2012 acceptable limit of total alkalinity as CaCO3 equivalent is 200 mg/L and permissible
limit in absence of alternative source is 800 mg/L. Excess alkalinity in water reduces crop
yield and reduce quality of soil.

INFERENCE: