Theory:

Determination of the amount of SO42- in a solution is usually done by complexometric titration.

Titration accomplished with the aid of complex ions formation is the complexometric titration.
For various reasons, such as precipitation, formation of inert complexes, unavailability of
suitable metal indicator, and so on, an anion cannot be titrated directly. Hence the method of
back titration as for our present purpose is followed.

SO42- solution reacts with BaCl2 and precipitate BaSO4. Then if we add excess EDTA , some
reacts with BaSO4 and some remains unreacted. Then the unreactedEDTA can be measured by
titrating with MgSO4 using EBT indicator.

Chemistry involved:

1. Required reagents:
a. Sulfate solution
b. Distilled water
c. Barium chloride(0.05M)
d. EDTA
e. NH4OH(conc)
f. EBT indicator
g. Magnesium sulfate
2. Chemical reactions:
SO42-+BaCl2=BaSO4+2Cl-
BaSO4EDTA=Ba-EDTA+H++SO42-
MgSO4+EDTA(excess)=Mg-EDTA+ H++SO42-

Procedure:

BaCl2 solution is added to the sulfate solution to have the precipitate of BaCl 2 from acid solution,
the precipitate is filtered off and dissolved in a measure excess of standard EDTA solution in
presence of aqueous NH3. The excess EDTA is then titrated with MgSO 4 solution using EBT
indicator which changes its colour from blue to light pink. Afterwards calculating the excess
EDTA used for Ba-EDTA complex formation. Hence we calculate the amount of SO 42- present in
the given solution.

Data table:

Table-1: Standardization of EDTA with standard MgSO4 solution:

No. of Volume of Burette reading(ml) Volume of Average Volume of

Obs. EDTA Initial Final MgSO4 ml MgSO4 ml
Solution
 ml
1 0.0 10.2 10.2
2 10 10.4 20.6 10.2 10.17
3 20.6 30.7 10.1

Table-2: Standardization of rest EDTA with standardized MgSO4 solution:

Volume of SO42- Burette reading(ml) Volume of

No. of Obs.
Solution ml Initial Final MgSO4 ml
1 10 2.1 22.5 20.4

Calculation:

V 1×N 1
Normality of EDTA, N2=
V2

10.17× 0.01
=
10

=0.01M

Again,

V 1×N 1
Volume of EDTA, V2=
N2

20.4 ×0.01
=
0.01

=20.4ml

∴ EDTA reacts with SO42-=(35-20.4)ml

=14.6ml

1ml 1M EDTA≡0.096g SO42-

∴14.6ml 0.01M EDTA ≡0.096×14.6×0.01

≡0.014016g SO42-

10ml SO42- solution contains 0.014016g SO42-

0.014016 ×1000
∴1000ml SO42- solution contains=
10
 =1.402g SO42-

Error Analysis:

1.92−1.402
Error=
1.92

=26.98%

Discussion:

The most important thing we need to pay attention―

1. After adding EDTA mixture in the solution to dissolve the SO42- and heating a perfectly
clear solution is observed but after a while if some tiny dust like particle in the conical
flask is observed; the result will be erroneous.
2. During the titration the colour change should be observed carefully, because a sharp
change in colour takes place. But if the colour change is not observed carefully, some one
or two drops of access solution may be added which may cause error.
3. During titration with MgSO4 we should have maintained more vigorious shaking because
reddish colour changes to bluish one within a very short time; moreover contact of
MgSO4 with EDTA at the bottom part of the beaker is necessary to avoid colour illusion.