Document No. VIT/EEL/Hard/Rev 01 w.e.f.

(04/07/2014)

Exp. No.:4 Date:30/07/18

NAME-AYUSH BISEN
REG NO.-17BME0670

Determination of Total Hardness

1. Aim
To determine total hardness, permanent hardness and temporary hardness for given water
sample as per IS3025:21(1983: Reaffirmed 2002).

2. Basic Concept
Hardness in water causes scale formation in boilers. It is also objectionable from view
point of water use for laundry and domestic purposes, since it consumes a large quantity
of soap. Generally, salts of Ca and Mg contribute hardness to natural waters, though other
ions like strontium, ferrous and manganese also contribute hardness. Hardness may be
classified either as (1) carbonate and non-carbonate hardness or (2) calcium and
magnesium hardness or (3) temporary and permanent hardness. In alkaline condition
EDTA reacts with Ca and Mg to form a soluble chelated complex. Ca and Mg ions
develop wine red colour with eriochrome black ‘T’ under alkaline condition. When
EDTA is added as a titrant the Ca and Mg divalent ions get complexed resulting in sharp
change from wine red to blue which indicates end point of the titration. The pH for this
titration has to be maintained at 10.0 ± 0.1.

3. Interferences
a) Iron, manganese, copper, lead, cobalt, zinc and nickel can interfere by forming stable
complex with EDTA which can be eliminated by complexing the metals with cyanide.
+2
b) The higher oxidation states of manganese above Mn can interfere which may be
eliminated by hydroxylamine hydrochloride by reducing manganese to divalent state.
The divalent manganese interference can be removed by addition of one or two small
crystals of potassium ferrocyanide.
c) High aluminum concentrations interferes the end point.
d) Phosphate and carbonate ions may also interfere.

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 Document No. VIT/EEL/Hard/Rev 01 w.e.f. (04/07/2014)

7. Observation and Calculation

Table1: Volume of EDTA consumed

S.No Volume of Type of Burette Reading Volume of
Sample (mL) Hardness EDTA consumed
(mL)

Initial Final Difference

1 0 20.5 20.5 20.5 ml

Total
20.5 41 20.5 20.5ml
20 10 10 10ml
Permanent

20 10 10 10ml

Blank

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 Document No. VIT/EEL/Hard/Rev 01 w.e.f. (04/07/2014)

4. Apparatus
Burette, pipette, measuring cylinders, conical flasks.

5. Reagents
a) Ammonia Buffer solution
b) Erichrome black T Indicator.
c) Standard EDTA solution 0.01 M

6. Procedure
A. Total Hardness
a) Take 20 mL sample in to a conical flask.
b) Add 1-2 mL buffer solution.
c) Add 1 or 2 drops of Erichrome black T and titrate with standard EDTA (0.01 M) till
wine red colour changes to blue. Note down to vol. of EDTA required. (A)
d) Calculate Vol. of EDTA required by sample, C = (A).

B. Permanent Hardness
a) Boil the sample for 30 minutes. After boiling cool and filter the sample.
b) Repeat the procedure given for total hardness.

C. Temporary Hardness

Temporary Hardness as mg/L as CaCO3 = Total Hardness – Permanent Hardness

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 Document No. VIT/EEL/Hard/Rev 01 w.e.f. (04/07/2014)

8. Calculation

A. Total Hardness

Total hardness as mg/L as CaCO3 =(C x D x 1000)/ Volume of sample=1025

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 Document No. VIT/EEL/Hard/Rev 01 w.e.f. (04/07/2014)

Where, C - Vol. of EDTA required by sample.

D - 1 mL of EDTA = 1 mg of CaCO3

B. Permanent Hardness

Permanent hardness as mg/L as CaCO3 = (C x D x 1000)/ Volume of sample=500

Where, C - Vol. of EDTA required by sample.
D - 1 mL of EDTA = 1 mg of CaCO3

C. Temporary Hardness

Temporary Hardness as mg/L as CaCO3 = Total Hardness – Permanent Hardness

= 525
9. Results & Inference
The hardness details of given sample are
Parameters
Value (mg/L as CaCO3)
Total Hardness 1025

Permanent Hardness 500

Temporary Hardness 525

10. Questions
1. What is degree of hardness? How will you classify water in terms of degree of
hardness?
2. What is pseudo-hardness?
3. Explain the significance of determination of hardness of water in environmental
engineering.

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