SHREE MALLIKARJUN COLLEGE CLASS: SYBSC

Aim: Estimation of Calcium and Magnesium ions as calcium carbonate by complexometric

titration.

Chemicals: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ammonium hydroxide, ammonium

chloride, Eriochrom Black T (EBT), zinc sulphate.

Apparatus: Standard volumetric flask, pipette, burette, conical flask, beakers, funnel and glass
rod.

Theory: In complexometric titrations initially the indicator forms the complex with metal ions
which is less stable compared to metal-EDTA complex. Hexadentate ligand like EDTA acts as
chelating agent. When all the metal ions form a complex with chelating agent, the original colour
of the indicator in buffer is observed which reflects the end point of the titration.

Mg2+ + C10 H16 N2 O8  MgC10 H14 N2 O 8 + 2H+ [molecular formula of EDTA is C10 H16 N2 O8 ]

Procedure:
i) Standardization of EDTA (~0.01M)
Rinse and fill the burette with EDTA solution. Pipette out 10 mL of 0.01M of ZnSO 4 solution
and add 10 mL of buffer of pH 10. Add 2-3 drops of EBT indicator solution to the flask. Titrate
the solution from the flask against EDTA solution until red colour of the solution changes to
blue. Repeat the titration to get constant readings.

ii) Estimation of Mg2+ or Ca2+ ions.

Rinse and fill the burette with EDTA solution. Pipette out 10 mL of Mg2+ or Ca2+ ion solution in
a conical flask and add 10 mL of buffer of pH 10. Add 2-3 drops of EBT indicator solution to the
flask. Titrate the solution from the flask against EDTA solution until red colour of the solution
changes to blue. Repeat the titration to get constant readings.

Results: i) Strength of EDTA solution is =____N

ii) Amount of CaCO 3 in given water sample = ____g/L.

Further reading (available in library)

1) Experiments in Applied Chemistry, S. Rattan, S. K Kataria and Sons.
2) Vogel’s textbook of quantitative chemical analysis, J. Mendham, R. C. Denney, J. D. Barns,
M. Thomas, B. Sivasankar, Pearson India Education, 6 th Edition.

Questions: 1) What is the theoretical end point of a complexometric titration?

2) How complexation stabilize the metal ions?
3) What is the importance of pH in complexometric titration?
4) List any two applications of EDTA titration.

SAFETY: Refer to M SDS of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ammonium hydroxide, ammonium chloride,
Eriochrom Black T (EBT), zinc sulphate
-Dr. Mithil S. Fal Desai