TITLE

Free Chlorine

OBJECTIVE
To determine the total amount of free chlorine in water resource.

APPARATUS
Spectrophotometer
Sample cells, 10mL
Cell riser
Beakers
Glass sample bottles

REAGENTS / CHEMICAL
DPD Chemical reagent powder pillow (Hach Company), 10mL
Deionised water
Chlorine Demand-Free Water

SAMPLE
Temperature
30.66 C

METHODS

US/cm
165

TDS
0.097

Sal
0.07

DO (mg/L)
6.53

pH
8.04

ORP
-10.5

1. 10mL cell riser was inserted into the sample compartment

2. A sample cell with 10 mL of sample (blank) was placed into the cell holder. The light shield
was closed
3. ZERO was pressed. Display: 0.00 mg/l Cl2
4. DPD Free Chlorine was added into the sample cell. The sample cell was swirled for 20
seconds to mix. Pink color will develop if free chlorine is present
5. The stopper of the sample cell was removed and placed into the cell holder

RESULTS
Blank
(mg/l Cl2)
0.00

Sample + reagent
(mg/l Cl2)
0.04

Sample + reagent
(mg/l Cl2) (2)
0.06
Average : 0.053

Sample + reagent
(mg/l Cl2) (3)
0.06

Tap water
0.06

DISCUSSION
In this experiment, the students had learnt how to determine the total amount of free
chlorine in water resource. We were using the DPD colorimetric method where the DPD is
oxidized by chlorine (or iodine in the case of chloramines) to the magenta-color species. The
red or pink color then is titrated with a ferrous reducing agent to the colorless end point.
In took 3 minutes to read the total free chlorine of 10 mL sample cell in HACH program.
The average amount of total free chorine obtained in this experiment is 0.053 mg/l Cl 2.
The amount is considered as very low if compared to the amount total chlorine that is allowed in
water, which is 5 mg/l Cl2.
This is because the source of water is from the lake. Since it is a natural resource of
water and did not undergo the chlorination or any disinfection, the availability of chlorine may
not available or would be very low. However the presence of little amount might due to the
activity surrounding the lake. The concentration of chlorine-containing and secondary oxidants
produced by chlorination are dependent on the characteristics of the water being chlorinated,
such as salinity, organic load, water temperature and incident sunlight (Danial L. Harp, 2003).

The tap water from the lab also was determined of its total free chlorine. However, the
amount is 0.06 which is relatively low.

CONCLUSION
In a conclusion, the amount of total free in chlorine in water is 0.053 mg/l Cl2. It is considered as
low in the total amount of free chlorine that is allowed in water. This is may due where the water
resource does not undergo chlorination or any disinfection.

REFERENCES
DWI, Drinking Water Inspectorat : Guardians of Water Quality, 2010.
CDC, Chlorine Residual Testing Fact Sheet, CDC SWS Project,2005
Danial L. Harp, Current Technology of Chlorine Analysis for Water and Wastewater, 2003
Hach Company;Water Analysis Handbook; 2nd ed.; 1992; Section I.