DETERMINATION OF ASCORBIC ACID -

IODIMETRIC TITRATION
PRINCIPLE:

Ascorbic acid (C6H8O6) reacts with iodine to produce iodide (I-). The ascorbic acid is
oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid, while the iodine is reduced to iodide ions.

REAGENTS:
1. Ascorbic acid standard solution
2. Iodine solution (KI+KIO3)
3. Starch solution (Indicator)

PREPARING SOLUTIONS:
Vitamin C Standard Solution (0.1%)
• Dissolve 0.250 g vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in 100 ml distilled water.
• Dilute to 250 ml with distilled water in a volumetric flask. Label the flask as
vitamin C standard solution.

Iodine Solution
• Dissolve 5.00 g potassium iodide (KI) and 0.268 g potassium iodate (KIO 3) in 200
ml of distilled water.
• Add 30 ml of 3 M sulfuric acid.
• Pour this solution into a 500 ml GRADUATED CYLINDER and dilute it to a final
volume of 500 ml with distilled water.
• Mix the solution.
• Transfer the solution to a 600 ml beaker. Label the beaker as your iodine
solution.
Iodate reacts with iodide in acid medium to produce stable iodine (I2) solution

ASCORBIC ACID DETERMIANTION | Clariant, Airoli, Mumbai, India 6th May 2022
 DETERMINATION OF ASCORBIC ACID -
IODIMETRIC TITRATION

1% Starch Indicator Solution

• Make a paste of 0.50 g soluble starch in little water and then add to 50ml near-
boiling distilled water, while stirring. Stir for 1-5 minutes for getting a
homogeneous solution.
• Allow to cool add 0.1-0.5gm of potassium iodide (doesn't have to be 1%; 0.5% is
also fine).

Determination of ascorbic acid in sample

• Take 10ml of standard ascorbic acid solution in a conical flask
• Add 2-3 drops of starch indicator solution
• Titrate the solution with iodine solution and note down the volume (V1)

• Now take 10ml solution of unknown solution of ascorbic acid (ascorbic acid in
your system prepared by dispersing in water having ~ 0.05% ascorbic acid)
• Add 2-3 drops of starch indicator solution
• Titrate the solution with iodine solution and note down the volume (V2)

Calculation of ascorbic acid concentration

Concentration of ascorbic acid sample (S2)

𝑉1 × 𝑆1
𝑆2 =
𝑉2
Where S1 is the concentration of standard ascorbic acid solution (which is 0.1% in this
case)

ASCORBIC ACID DETERMIANTION | Clariant, Airoli, Mumbai, India 6th May 2022