THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

TO: DR. JESSE NDALA

FROM: ENOCK BANDA

REG.NO: BED/CHE/40/21

LAB. DEMOSTRATOR: MISS CHARITY MAGOMBO

COURSE TITLE : ACIDS, BASES , AND SPECTROSCOPY

COURSE CODE: CHE313

LAB. NO: 3

DUE DATE: 31 th OCTOBER 2024

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

INTRODUCTION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4

METHODOLOGY------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS----------------------------------------------------------------6

CONCLUSION---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

REFERENCE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

APPENDIX-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9

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ABSTRACT

Water hardness is caused by the presence of dissolved metal ions primarily calcium (Ca 2+ ) and
magnesium (Mg2+) .Hard water can interfere with soap's ability to lather and lead to scaling in
pipes and appliances. The concentration of Ca2+and Mg2+.ions is commonly measured in parts
per million (ppm) or mg/L as CaCO3 .In this experiment EDTA(ethylenediaminetetraacericacid) a
cherating agent is used to tiltrate metal ions in the sample .EDTA forms stable complexes with
divalent metal ions in1:1 molar ratio which allows accurate quantification in a sample. The
end point is determined using Eriochrome black T (EBT) indicator which changes from wine red
to blue when all metal ions are complexed with EDTA

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INTRODUCTION

Many metal cautions form complex in solution with substance containing a pair of unshared
electrons .A ligand is a molecule or ion which possesses at least one position and which can
attach itself to a metal ion..When the number of attachments points increases the complex
agent is called a chelating agent and the ethylendiaminetetraaceticacid(EDTA) is a very widely
used complexing reagent for this type of titration reaction.For solubility reasons the disodium
salt will be used in this experiment. EDTA complexes the ions contributing to water hardness in
a one to one stoichiometry.Even though ligands may attach itself to the metal ion many
different places within complexes does not affect the overall stoichiometry which is what we
really need to know through calculations

TITRATION REACTION:HY-3.(aq) +Ca2+(aq)------> CaY 2-(aq)+ H

ENDPOINT: HY -3(aq) + Mgin-(aq) ----------> MgY-(aq)+. in2-(aq)

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METHODOLOGY

A 0.013M standardized solution of sodium EDTA titrant was provided. We then obtained a
water sample from the instructor using a pipette or volumetric flask.An exactly 100ml of sample
water was then transferred into a 250ml Erlenmeyer flask.To 0.5 ml EDTA solution we added
5drops of EBT(Eriochrome black T) indicating solution. Note:Do not use too mulch indicator so
as not to make the endpoint detection more difficult.

The buffer solution was added. before the indicator so that any small amount of iron ions
should not react with the indicator. The flask containing sample was then placed on the sheet
of white paper .The sample was titrated using the standardized Sodium EDTA (Na 2EDTA)
solution. And the end point color changed from red to blue

Note: in case the titrate overshoot repeated the titration analysis. We then run the titration
analysis for 3 trials in order to find the average and the volumes of EDTA used were recorded in
the table of results

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table below show the volumes of EDTA used

Trial number Volume of EDTA used(ml)

1 3.33

2 3.3

3 3.2

Average volume of EDTA= (3.33+3.3+3.2)/3

= 3.276ml

DISCUSSION

Complexometric titration using EDTA is a practical and precise method for assessing water
hardness beneficial from the environmental monitoring and water treatment applications.
Factors such as Buffer PH and careful titration were critical in achieving accurate results as the
stability of EDTA metal ion complex is PH dependent. Experiments could explore the individual
concentration of calcium and magnesium ions to better characterise the sample's mineral
composition

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CONCLUSION

The water sample exhibited a hardness of 42.6306mg/L as CaCO 3 indicating a moderate hard
water. This hardness level may lead to scaling in pipes and reduced efficiency in household
appliances. Complexometric titration with EDTA is reliable method for determining water
hardness providing a crear endpoint and accurate measurement of Calcium (Ca 2+) and
magnesium ( Mg 2+) ions in solution.

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REFERENCES

CHE 313 & 323 Lab manuals (2015/2016) .Analytical and inorganic chemistry laboratory
manual. Chancellor college, Zomba

Harris,D.C (2003) Quantitative chemical analysis 6th edition

Pennak, R.W(1989).fresh water invertebrates of united states(3rd edition) .John Willey and
sons,Newyork.

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APPENDIX

Molarity of EDTA (C EDTA)=0.013M

Volume of EDTA used ( V EDTA )=3.276 ml or 3.276×10-0V L

Moles of EDTA used=C EDTA. × V EDTA

=0.013M×0.003276 L

=0.000042588moles or 4.2588×10-05moles

Concentration of Ca2+and Mg2+ ions as CaCO3 = moles of EDTA used

Hardness (mg/L or Cagmol- ) = moles of EDTA × RFM of CaCO3/(volume of water in litree)

= 0.000042588× 100.1gmol -1/0.1 L.

=42.6305mg/L as CaCO3