Introduction:

Alkalinity is defined as a measure of the buffering capacity of

water to neutralize strong acid. This capacity is attributed to
bases that are present in natural waters including OH-, HCO3-,
and CO32-. More alkalinity in your water sample means more
buffering capacity of your water sample.
Principal :
The alkalinity can be determinate by titrating water sample
with Sulphuric acid of known of value PH, Volume and
concentration. Based on stoichiometry of the reaction and
number of moles of Sulphuric acid need to reach the end
point .
Apparatus requirement:
1- burette
2- pipettes
3-conical flask
4-measuring cylinder
5-standard
6-wash bottle
7-beakers
Chemical requirement:
1- standard sulphuricacid

2- phenolphthalein

7-distilled water
Procedure:
1- rinse the burette with 0.02 N of sulphuric acid.
2- fill the burette with 0.02 N of sulphuric acid.
3- take 100ml of water sample to conical flask
4- add few drops of phenolphthalein indicator to change color
to pink
5- titrate it against 0.02N sulphuric acid till the pink color
disappears write note (V1).
6- add few drops of mixed indicator to color of solution change
to blue .
7- titrate it against 0.02N sulphuric acid till the color change to
red its (V2).
Calculate :

S. No. Volume of Burette reading Volume of

sample initial final sulphuric acid

(volume of H2SO4)* 0.02N * 50 * 1000

Total alkalinity(mg\l) = -----------------------------------------------------------
volume of sample