Test No 2 : Acidity

Aim: To determine the acidity in a sample of water

Introduction:
Acidity is the measure of the water capacity to neutralize bases )hydroxide ions) to a
designated pH.
Acidity is the sum of all titrable acid present in the water sample. Strong mineral acids, weak
acids such as carbonic acid, acetic acid present in the water sample contributes to acidity of
the water. Usually dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) is the major acidic component present in the
unpolluted surface waters.
Sources:

1. Natural water, contains CO2 resulting carbonic acidity

2. From biological oxidation of organic matter
3. From percolation of water through soils carbonate
4. Mineral acidity is present in many industrial water
5. From drains
Significant of Acidity

1- Unpotable
2- corrosion of pipes and storage tanks
3- Treating of raw water needs more precautions and increases the costs.
4- Wastewater treatment needs more coagulant material for balancing
 Acidity

Total Acidity Mineral Acidity

OR OR
Phenolphthalein Acidity Methyl Orange Acidity
Total Acidity (Phenolphthalein Acidity):

• The volume of standard alkali required to titrate a specific volume of the sample to pH 8.3 is
called phenolphthalein acidity (Total Acidity).

• Phenolphthalein is an acid-base indicator which changes from colorless to a pink

Mineral Acidity (Methyl Orange)

• sample (wastewater and highly polluted water) to pH 3.7 is called methyl orange acidity
(Mineral Acidity).

• Methyl orange is an acid-base indicator which changes from orange reddish to a light yellow
Titration (Volumetric Analysis)
Titration (volumetric analysis) is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis to
determine the concentration of an identified substance to be analyzed, it is interfering the chemical
reactions.

A reagent, termed the titrant or titrator, is prepared as a standard solution of known concentration and
volume. The titrant reacts with a solution of analyte (which may also be termed the titrand) to
determine the analyte's concentration. The volume of titrant that reacted with the analyte is termed
the titration volume. In 1828, the French chemist Gay-Lussac first used titre meaning "to determine the
concentration of a substance in a given sample

Indicator

are substances whose solutions change color due to changes in pH. These are called acid-base indicators.
They are usually weak acids or bases, It gives you the start and end point of the applied action, indicator
not interfering the chemical reactions
Materials Required

1. Burette with Burette stand

2. porcelain tile
3. 500 mL conical flask
4. Pipette with elongated tips
5. Pipette bulb
6. Conical flask
7. Measuring cylinders
8. Wash Bottle and Beakers
 Procedure

• Methyl Orange Acidity (Mineral Acidity)

For removing
residual chlorine
or 50 ml

0.05𝑚𝑙 0.1𝑁 𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇.𝑆. 𝑁𝑎

{25ml of the sample +
1 drop
+
0.1 𝑚𝑙 of Methyl Orange indicator M.O 𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 0.02𝑁 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘 250𝑚𝑙 →
2−3 drops 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂3 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

Until the colour change to faint orange (pH ≤4.5)

 Procedure

• Phenolphthalein Acidity (Total Acidity)

For removing
residual chlorine
or 50 ml

0.05𝑚𝑙 0.1𝑁 𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇.𝑆. 𝑁𝑎

{25ml of the sample +
1 drop
+
0.1 𝑚𝑙 of Methyl Orange indicator M.O 𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 0.02𝑁 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘 250𝑚𝑙 →
2−3 drops 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂3 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

Until the colour change to faint Pink ≤ 8.3)

10
9
Phenolphthalein end point
8
7
Range of CO2 Acidity
6
5
4 Mythel orange end point
3
2 Practical range of mineral Acidity

1
PH

pH
Calculations

𝑚𝑔 A xN x 50 x1000
𝐀𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝑪𝒂𝑪𝑶𝟑 =
𝑙 𝑚𝑙 water sample

𝑚𝑙 of titrant x normality of NaOH x 50 x1000

=
𝑚𝑙 water sample