SKU 3033 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

EXPERIMENT 2 : DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM CARBONATE IN SOIL

SEMESTER 1 2020/2021

Name No Matric
NURUL AISAH BINTI ABDUL RASHID D20201095408

LECTURER : DR NURULSAIDAH BINTI ABDUL RAHIM

TITLE DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM CARBONATE IN SOIL
OBJECTIVES Determination of calcium carbonate in soil samples
APPARATUS AND Soil sample, pestle and mortar, 500 mL beaker, sieve, 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask,
CHEMICALS 2.0 M HCl , 0.1 M NaOH , lid, 10 mL pipette, hotplate, distilled water, filter
paper, filter funnel, 50 mL measuring cylinder, burette, dropper and
phenolphthalein indicator
RESULTS Sample A
Mass = 10.0080 g
Colour of soil = Brown

Trial 1 2 3
Initial (mL) 0.8 4.2 7.5
Final (mL) 4.2 7.5 10.8
Volume (mL) 3.4 3.3 3.3
Average 3.4+3.3+3.3
=3.3
Volume (mL) 3
Observation- The solution in the flask change into
Colour permanent pink colour.

Sample B
Mass = 10.0066 g
Colour of soil = Dark brown

Trial 1 2 3
Initial (mL) 10.8 16.7 22.9
Final (mL) 16.7 22.9 28.9
Volume (mL) 5.9 6.2 6.0
Average 5.9+ 6.2+6.0
=6.0
Volume (mL) 3
Observation- The solution in the flask change into
Colour permanent pink colour.
CALCULATION 1. Mass of the soil taken =
Sample A : 10.0080 g
Sample B : 10.0066 g

2. Number of moles of 20 mL 2.0 M HCl =

mol
M=
V
mol = MV
20
= 2.0( )
1000
= 0.04 mol

3. The number of moles of NaOH used

0.1 mol 3.3
Sample A : n = x( ¿ L = 3.3x10−4 mol of NaOH
L 1000

0.1 mol 6.0

Sample B : n = x( ¿ L = 6.0x10−4 mol of NaOH
L 1000
 4. Equation 2 : HCl+ NaOH → NaCl+ H 2 O
1 moles of HCl=1 moles of NaOH
Sample A : n=3.3 x 10−4 mol of NaOH
Sample B : n=6.0 x 10−4 mol of HC l

5. This 10 mL is drawn from 100 mL of solution, so the number of moles in

100 mL of solution:
C mol HCl x dilution factor=D mol HClleft over from the reaction with
the carbonates in the soil
V2
N mol of HCl x (DF =( ))= D mol HCl
V1

100
Sample A : 3.3 x 10−4 mol of NaOH x ( ) = 3.3 x 10−3 mol HCl ( left
10
over)

100
Sample B : 6.0x10−4 mol of HCl x ( ¿= 6.0 x 10−3 mol HCl (left
10
over)

6. The number of moles of HCl that reacted with the carbonate is:
B mol – D mol = E mol HCl

Sample A : 0.04 moles of HCl - 3.3 x 10−3 mol HCl = 0.0367

moles of HCl
Sample B : 0.04 moles of HCl – 6.0 x 10−3 moles of HCl = 0.0340
moles of HCl

7. Based on the equation 1, one moles of CaCO3 react with 2 moles of

HCl .
CaCO 3 +2 HCl→ CaCl 2+ H 2 O+C O 2

Therefore, the mass ofCaC O 3 that reacted is:

E mol HCl x (molar mass CaC O 3 / 2 moles HCl ) = F g of CaC O 3
Sample A : 0.0367moles of HCl x (100.09 g/mol ÷ 2 moles HCl ) = 1.84
g of CaC O 3
Sample B : 0.034 moles of HCl x (100.09 g/mol ÷ 2 moles HCl ) = 1.70
g of CaC O 3

8. Percentage CaCO 3 in soil is:

(F g of CaCO3 / A g soil sample) x 100 % = % CaC O 3
Sample A : (1.84 g of CaC O 3 ÷ 10.0080 g) x 100 % = 18.4 % CaC O 3
Sample B :(1.70 g of CaCO 3 ÷ 10.0066 g) x 100 % = 17.0 % CaC O 3
DISCUSSION In this experiment, we run to determine of calcium carbonate in soil samples.
There are two different soil sample provided which are sample A and sample B.
Calcium carbonate in soil is determined by dissolution of carbonate using HCl ,
followed by back titration of the remaining acid using NaOH solution. Back
titration is a titration done in reverse, instead of titrating the original sample, a
 known excess of standard reagent ( HCl) is added to the solution, and the
excess is titrated. A back titration is useful if the endpoint of the reverse
titration is easier to identify than the endpoint of the normal titration, as with
preparation reactions. Back titrations are also useful if the reaction between
the analyte and the titrant is very slow, or when the analyte is in a non-
soluble solid. The percentage of CaCO 3 in soil is obtained from sample A is
18.4 % while sample B is 17 %. The result shows that the amount of CaCO 3 in
sample A is higher than sample B. Calcium carbonate occur naturally in some
soils and beneficially to grow our crop.
Precautions should be taken in this experiment because hydrochloric acid is
corrosive that can cause severe skin burns and serious eye damage. Besides,
pipetting has to be accurate in order to avoid excess addition of the titrating
agent. Usually an air bubble is present in the nozzle of the burette, so it must be
removed before taking the initial reading to get accurate result. Next, shaking
of the titration flask should be continuous during adding the solution from the
burette to avoid concentrated spot of titrant being added.
CONCLUSION The percentage of CaCO 3 in soil is obtained from sample A is 18.4 % while
sample B is 17 %. The difference of the percentage obtained in the samples
because of HCl used may has been reacted with other metals or materials in
soil.
QUESTION The function of calcium carbonate in soil is a widely used amendment to
neutralize soil acidity and to supply calcium (Ca) for plant nutrition.