DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM IN A WATER SAMPLE BY VOLUMETRY OF

COMPLEX FORMATION
CURRICULAR PROJECT DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY
FACULTY OF SCIENCES AND EDUCATION FRANCISCO JOSÉ DE CALDAS
DISTRICT UNIVERSITY
Santiago Sánchez Alzate-20182150096, Laura Lizeth Saavedra Cortes -20182150091

ABSTRACT
For the development of this practice, EDTA is used from the formation of complexes that will allow us to
determine the amount of calcium present in a sample of hard water from the water titration using EDTA as the
titrant agent and indicator the bioceomo black indicator which makes our solution change from an initial purple
color to blue, thus allowing us to know that all the calcium present in the hard water sample has already been
valued.

KEY WORLDS : EDTA, dichromium black indicator, hard water, calcium +2.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

EDTA is an effective chelating agent in the treatment of wastewater or industrial water, it can even be
made drinkable by using a filtering system with activated carbon, by changing the pH, through
ozonation methods, among others.

Calcium can be determined directly, using EDTA, when the pH is high enough for magnesium to
precipitate as hydroxide, and an indicator that reacts only with calcium is used. Various indicators
change color when all the calcium has been complexed in the EDTA at a pH of 12 to 13. Calcium salts
contribute to the overall hardness of the water. Chemical water softening or ion exchange treatments
reduce calcium concentration and hardness. Calcium content in drinking water can range from zero to
several hundred milligrams per liter depending on the source and treatment.
The equivalence point in a complexometric titration can be determinedby adding an indicator to the
sample complexes more weakly than EDTA
with the cations that are to be evaluated and that present a color change when breaking said complex
in the presence of EDTA. At the moment practice we will use as a black indicator of eriochrome T, a
weak acid whose color depends of the pH of the solution. Your behavior as a weak acid can be
described from
The equations:
H2In− + H2O ↔ HIn2− + H3O+ K2 = 5.0 10−7
HIn2− + H2O ↔ In3− + H3O+ K1 = 2.5 10−12
H2In− is red (pH < 6), HIn2− is blue (pH 6 to 12) and In3− is yellow-orange (pH>12).
When a small amount of Eriochrome Black Indicator T is added to the
solution of the sample, it reacts with both cations giving products of which the
The most stable is the one that originates the Mg2+ that gives a wine red color:
Mg2+ + HIn2− ↔ MgIn− + H+ KpH10 = 1.0 107
Ca2+ + HIn2− ↔ CaIn− + H+ KpH10 = 2.5 105

EDTA STRUCTURE
Molecular formula : C₁₀H₁₈N₂O₈
EDTA is used in the treatment of metals, as an eluting agent in ion exchangers and as a calcium
sequestrant. It is a reagent that sequesters the alteration products of bronze and iron by combining it
with them, especially with ferric ions. It is used in medicine to prevent blood clots and to remove
calcium and lead from the body. It is also used to prevent bacteria from forming biofilms (thin film
that adheres to the surface). It is a type of chelator. Also called edetic acid and
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

OTHER USES OF EDTA

PAPER INDUSTRY: EDTA is often used to bleach paper without the use of chlorine, because it
inhibits the ability of metal ions to catalyze the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide. It is also an
important raw material in paper making.

TEXTILE INDUSTRY: EDTA is often used in dyed products to prevent metal ions from altering
colors. In addition, it is an important raw material in the manufacture of textiles.

TEXTILE INDUSTRY: EDTA is often used in dyed products to prevent metal ions from altering
colors. In addition, it is an important raw material in the manufacture of textiles.

AGRO-INDUSTRY: EDTA is used to balance the pH, improve the solubility of iron and salts in soils,
so that there are more fertile lands and healthy crops.

COMPONENTS OF THE PRACTICE

When ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or its salts (EDTA) is added to water containing calcium and
magnesium, it first combines with the calcium.
Calcium can be determined directly, using EDTA, when the pH is high enough for magnesium to
precipitate as hydroxide, and an indicator that reacts only with calcium is used. Various indicators
change color when all the calcium has been complexed in the EDTA at pH 12-13.

Having hard water affects above all the performance and maintenance of cleaning appliances, as well
as the taste of the water. Softened water, on the other hand, reduces the amount of detergent needed,
both in domestic and industrial washing machines, since if the hardness is excessive, insoluble salts
are generated that produce foam, requiring more amount of cleaning product.

INSTRUMENTS
Burette.
Beakers or Erlenmeyers.
Agitator
Volumetric pipette
reagents
Sodium hydroxide, NaOH
Indicators
There are many indicators available for calcium titration with EDTA. The
murexide was the first indicator available.
Murexide
Common salt of purpuric acid, ; this indicator changes color from pink to purple, at the turn point
Eriochrome Blue Black R. Sodium 1-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylazo)-2-naphthol 4-sulfonate.
During the course of the titration the color changes from red, through bluish purple, to a blue color
without any reddish or purple tinge.

REACTIONS

DATA TABLE

DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM IN A SAMPLE OF HARD WATER USING

VOLUMETRY OF COMPLEXES

ml of EDTA used

Sample volume problem

Indicator used

EDTA concentration

Amount of calcium present in the

sample