KUMASI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
TITLE;DETERMINATION OF WATER HARDNESS BY COMPLEXOMETRIC TITRATION
NAME;SABINA ANEESIWA NEIZER
LECTURER;REV.JOHANNES AMI
DATE;18TH MARCH,2019
INTRODUCTION;
Water hardness is a measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium salt dissolved in water.
Complexometric titration is one of the best ways of measuring total water hardness. It is used to
determine the amount of metal cations with anion or neutral molecules.also companies use this titration
to see how readily corrosion and build up will occur in machinery and equipment that operate using
water. The metal ion in the complex is called the central atoms,and the group attached to the central
atom is called the ligand. Ligand is a substance that binds with metal ions to form a complex ion.
The water ‘hardness’ is determined by an EDTA titration after the solution is buffered to pH
10.Magnesium forms the least stable EDTA complex is not titrated until an adequate amount of reagent
is added to the complex . The indicator used is called Erichrome Black T. this indicator can detect
magnesium ions in a solution.EDTA forms complexes with metal ions in basic solutions. In acid-base
titrations the end points is detected by a pH sensitive indicator.
Hard water should not be used for washing (it reduces the effectiveness of the detergents)nor in water
heaters and kitchen appliances like coffee maker(that can be destroyed by scale ). it is also not good for
fish tanks.
Reaction that takes place diring the titration;
Ca2++EDTA4-→CaEDTA2-
Mg2++EDTA4-→MgEDTA2-
At pH of 10,EDTAeasily reacts with both calcium and magnesium in the same molar ratio(1:1).
End point detection;
Calcium is complexed firs,so to detect end point we can use indicator used for detection of end piont of
magnesium which is Eriochrome Black T.
CaCO3+EDTA4-→CaEDTA2-+CO32-
EDTA(Ethylene di ammine tetra acetic acid)
Molecular mass of EDTA 372.24gmol-1
Formular for EDTA C10H15N2O8
Density 860kgmol-1
Water may be softened to romove hardness.Salt is mixed with water. The Na ion from the salt replaces
the Ca ion but the water becomes very salty and so cant be drunk for that matter it us used only for
laundry and bathing.
TYPES OF HARDNESS;
• Temporary Hardness
• Permanent Hardness
TEMPORARY HARDNESSS ;
Water that contains bicarbonate of calcium and magnesium or of both is called temporary hard water.
These bicarbonate are soluble in water and produce corresponding ions.this type can be removed by
boiling the water to expel the CO2.

PERMANENT HARDNESS;
Water that contains chlorides or sulphates of calcium or magnesium or both is called permanent
water.These componds are soluble in water and produce corresonding ions.

APPARATUS/REAGENT;
• 50ml pipette
• 250 Erlenmeyer flask
• Burette
• NH3-NH4Cl buffer
• Eriochrome Black T indicator
• 0.001M EDTA solution
• water samples(Mobile water,Ice drops,Voltic)
PROCEDURE;
• 0.001 EDTAsolution was prepared.
• 50ml portion of the water samples which was to be analysed was pipetted into a 250ml
Erlenmeyer flask.
• 1.0ml NH3-NH4Cl buffer solution was added with five drops of Eriochrome Black T to each
water sample.
• Standard EDTA solution was titrated to a colour change of purple to blue.

DATA AND CALCULATIONS;

Preparation of 0.001 EDTA solution;
Molar mass =372.24g/mol
concentration=0.001M
Volume=250ml=0.25
m
C=
MmV
m=C×Mm×V
m=0.001×372.24×0.25
m=0.09306g
m=0.1gEDTA
FOR VOLTIC;
Mass of water=50ml
Colour change=purple to blue
Indicator =5 drops of Eriochrome
Trial 1 Trial 2 Tiral 3
3.90 3.90 3.50

Volume of NH3NH4Cl;1.0ml
volume of EDTA used;

FOR ICE DROP;

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
11.10 11.00 11.00

Average =11.10+11.00+11.00/3
=11.03ml

FOR MOBILE WATER;

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
2.70 2.70 2.60

Average =2.70+2.70+2.60/3
=2.67
DISCUSSION;
The result from thie experiment were very reasonable.we were supposed to make a solution with a
molarity of 0.001M so the EDTA had an accurate molarity.we found the the hardness of a water
sample. This was done through finding the calcium content in the water. The average. The hardness of
the water is structured by a numerical range. Soft water has a ppm between 0 and 75. moderately hard
water is between 150 and 300. Anything over 300 ppm is considered very hard. From the data the voltic
and mobile water is considered as soft water ,but the ice drop is considered as hard water as compared
to the rest of the water samples. If I were to do this experiment again ,it would be helpful to put in more
indicator at the beginning. It was difficult in this lab to tell exactly when the endpoint occurred because
the colour changed to violet before blue. It was hard to distinguish between these colours sometimes. A
more abrupt colour change would have been better in order to ensure more accurate results.
POST LAB QUESTION;
Calculate the total hardness of water (in ppm) in each of the water samples.

Solution;
FOR VOLTIC;
Volume of EDTA=3.76ml
Mass of water =50ml
EDTA4-+Ca2+→CaEDTA2+
=3.76×0.001molEDTA/ml×1mmolCa2+/molEDTA
=3.76×10-3Ca2+
=[3.76×10-3/50ml]×[1000ml/L]×[1mmolCaCO3/1molCa2+ ]×[100mgCaCO3/1mmolCaCO3]
=7.52mg/LCaCO3
=7.52ppm

FOR ICE DROP;

Volume of EDTA=11.03
Mass of water =50ml
EDTA-4+Ca2+→CaEDTA2+
=11.03×[0.001molEDTA/ml]×[1mmolCa2+/1molEDTA]
=0.01103molCa2+
=[0.01103/50ml]×[1000ml/L]×[1mmolCaCO3/1molCa2+]×[100mgCaCO3/1mmolCaCO3]
=22.06ppm

FOR MOBILE WATER;

Volume of EDTA=2.67
Mass of water =50ml
EDTA4-+Ca2+→CaEDTA2+
=2.67×[0.001molEDTA/ml]×[1mmolCa2+/1molEDTA]
=2.67×10-3Ca2+
=[2.67×10-3/50ml]×[1000ml/L]×[1mmolCaCO3/1mmolCa2+]×[100mgCaCO3/1mmolCaCO3]
=5.34ppm
CONCLUTION;
The hypothesis for this experiment was to determine if complexometric titration technique can identify
the total hardness of water through mathematical means. The outcome of this hypothesis is confirmed
by the data in the calculations. This lab experiment demontrated the sucessful implementation of
complexometric titration to test the hardness.
REFERENCE;
• Complxometric titrations,CHP.N.P,2000.Web.15 0ct.2013
• https://www.lenntech.com
• https://www.ausetute.com.au
• Experimental chemistry ,sixth edition-Michel J.sienco,RobertA.Plane,StanleyT.Marcus ISB;07-
Y66566-4