Experiment Number…7 Date…………………

Objective: Determination of Chloride Ion in a Given Water Sample by

Argentometric Method

Theory

Chlorides are present in water usually as NaCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2. Although chlorides are not harmful as such,
their concentrations over 250 ppm impart a peculiar taste to the water thus rendering the water unacceptable
for drinking purposes. Further, existence of unusually high concentrations of chloride in a water sample
indicates pollution from domestic sewage or from industrial waste waters. The HCl acid generated from the
hydrolysis of salts like MgCl2 in the boiler at high temperature and pressure causes corrosion in boiler parts.
Moreover, chlorides in the form of MgCl2 and CaCl2 cause permanent hardness.

By argentometric method chloride ions in water sample, which is neutral or slightly alkaline, can be
determined by titrating it against standard AgNO 3 solution using potassium chromate as an indicator. The pH
should be in between 7-8. As at higher pH AgNO 3 get precipitated as AgOH and at lower pH K 2CrO4 indicator
is converted to K2Cr2O7 asfollows.

Ag+ + OH- ↔ AgOH

2K2CrO4 + 2HCl ↔ 2HCrO4 + K2Cr2O7 + H2O+2KCl

Ag+ reacts with Cl- and CrO 2- when AgNO solution is released from the burette to the sample solution which
4
has Cl-.

Ag+ + Cl- ↔ AgCl↓ (White ppt)

2Ag+ + CrO42- ↔ Ag2CrO4↓ (Red ppt)

Red colour formed because of formation of Ag2CrO4. This colour may disappear if the solution contains high
concentration of Cl- ion.

Ag2CrO4 + 2Cl- ↔ 2AgCl↓ + CrO 2-

4

When the concentration of Cl ions has decreased, the red colour starts disappearing slowly and slowly on
-

shaking and a stage is reached when all the Cl - ions have formed AgCl. One extra drop of AgNO 3 at this
point reacts with K2CrO4 and reddish coloured Ag2CrO4 is formedagain.

Procedure

(i) Standardization of AgNO3solution:

At first AgNO3 is taken in a burette. Now 25 ml of standard NaCl solution is taken out by pipette in a
conical flask. To this 5 ml of K2CrO4 is added as an indicator. The solution turned to yellow. It is then titrated
against AgNO3 till the colour changes from yellow to permanent reddish brown, followed by the coagulation
of red precipitate. The titration is repeated to get the concordantvalue.
(ii)Determination of chloride ion in test watersample:

25 ml of supplied test water sample is taken out by pipette in a conical flask. To this 5 ml of K 2CrO4 is
added as an indicator. The solution turned to yellow. It is then titrated against AgNO 3 taken in the burette till
the colour changes from yellow to permanent reddish brown, followed by the coagulation of red precipitate.
The titration is repeated to get the concordant value.

Observation

Table 1: Standardization of AgNO3 solution

Burette
N Volume of Mean Volume
Reading Volume of AgNO3
o NaCl of AgNO3
(ml) Solution (ml)
. solution Solution (mL)
Initial Final
o (ml)
f
Titrati
on

Vl

Table 2: Determination of chloride ion in test water sample

N Volume Burette Mean Volume

Reading Volume of AgNO3
o of Test of AgNO3
(ml) Solution (ml)
. Water Solution (mL)
Initial Final
o Sample
f (ml)
Titrati
on

V2
Calculation

(i) Standardization of AgNO3solution:

(ii) Determination of chloride ion in test watersample:

Conclusion

The amount of chloride ion present in the supplied test water sample =