COMPLEXIOMETRIC TITRATIONS

 This is a form of volumetric analysis in which the formation of a colored complex is used to
indicate the endpoint of the titration.
 Complexiometric titrations are particularly useful for determining a mixture of different metal
ions in solution.

LIGANDS
 These are molecules or ions that are that are bounded to the central metal atom in a
coordination complex.
 Examples of ligands are; chlorine, cyanide, nitrate and also neutral molecules such as: water
and ammonia.
 Ligands such as chlorine or ammonia with one atom which bond to a metal are called
Monodentate (one toothed).
 Those with two molecules or ions such as ethylene diamine and oxalate ions which have two
atoms that may coordinate to a metal are called bidentate ligands.
 Ligands with more than ten atoms attached to the central metal atom are called polydentate.

EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid)

 This is a hexa dentate ligand meaning it has six potential sites for bonding with a metal ion. It
has four carboxyl groups and two amino groups.
 A pair of unshared electrons capable of complexing with a metal is contained on each of the two
nitrogens and each of the four carboxyl groups, therefore there six complexing groups.

EGTA (Ethylene gylco tetra acetic acid)

 This a chelating agent that is closely related to EDTA.
 Compared to EDTA, it does not work well in the presence of Magnesium ions, it works better
with calcium ions.
 The EGTA is more suitably used with a divalent calcium cation than magnesium ions and it
appears to be a white crystalline powder.

USES OF EGTA
 It used in the determination of calcium in blood.
  Also used in treatment of heavy metal poisoning, for example when a child ingests chipped paint
that contains lead.
 Used in the food industry as a preservative.
 A chelating agent is a substance whose molecule can form several bonds to a metal ion.

CDTA
 Eyclo hexylene diristrioe tetra acetic acid (CDTA) is also a chelating agent.
 It is a chelating agent that is sometimes used in the determination of fluoride uptake by the
enamel. This is under investigation of the therapeutic effect of oral products.

INDICATORS
 These are substances which show a colour change in a titration to indicate the end point of the
reaction.
 In general, indicators for EDTA titrations are organic dyes that form colored chelates with metal
ions. The complexes formed are often intensely colored and are discernible to the eye.
 A typical metal ion indicator used is Eriochrome Black T. It contains 3 ionisable protons, behaves
as an acid or base indicator and as a metal ion indicator.
 Metal complexes of Eriochrome Black T are generally red and until the equivalence point in a
titration, the indicator complexes the excess metal ion, hence the solution is red. But when the
EDTA becomes present in slight excess, the solution turns blue as the consequence of the
reaction.
 Calgamite is also an indicator used.

TITRATION METHODS BASED ON INDICATORS

1. DIRECT TITRATION:

With this one, the most applicable would be the determination o of calcium with Eriochrome Black T.
Since the indicators for calcium ions are generally unstable, a small amount of magnesium chloride is
added.

TITRATION- In the initial stage of the titration, magnesium ions are displaced from the EDTA complex by
calcium ions and are free to combine with Eriochrome Black T ,hence giving a red colour. After all the
calcium ions have been complexed, the magnesium ions again combine with the EDTA until an end point
is reached.

2. BACK TITRATION:
Back titrations are useful for the determination of cations that form stable EDTA complexes and for
which a satisfactory indicator is not available.

TITRATION- A measured excess of standard EDTA solution is added to the analyte solution. After the
reaction is seen to be complete, the excess EDTA is back titrated with a standard magnesium or zinc ion
solution in an Eriochrome Black T or calgamite end point.

3. DISPLACEMENT METHOD:

This method is useful where no satisfactory indicator is available for the metal ion being determined.

TITRATION- In a displacement titration, an unmeasured excess of a solution containing the magnesium

or zinc complex of EDTA is introduced into the analyte solution. If the analyte gives a more stable
comlpex than that of magnesium or zinc, the following displacement reaction takes place:

MgY2- + M2+ = MY2- + Mg2+

Wher M2+ represents the analyte cation. The liberated magnesium or zinc will then be titrated with a
standard EDTA solution.

TITRATION CURVES
 Titrations are recorded on graphs called titration curves, which generally contain independent
variables of volume and pH of the solution. Changes in the curve depend on the pH and the
volume.
 A titration is performed by adding the chelating agent to the sample.
 In the titration curve (the chart), Ca2+ titrated with EDTA at pH 12.
 In the beginning, the concentration of Ca2+ is nearly equal to the amount unreacted because
the dissociation of the chelates is analogous to the amount of precipitated ions.
 The equivalence point on the graph which is between PH 6 and PH 8 is where both solutions are
equal. At this stage the acid is nuetralised by the titrant which is a base.
 The effect of PH on the curve is apparent from PH6.
 The more stable the chelate, the further will the equilibrium reaction will be, and the larger the
end point (PH12).
 The less stable the chelate, the lower the PH rate at which the titration can be performed.
 EVELYN HONE COLLEGE
HEALTH SCIENCES DEPARTMENT
PHARMACY SECTION

CLASS : DF14 FULL TIME

LECTURER : MR. MVULA

TASK : PRESENTATION ON COMPLEXIOMETRIC

TITRATIONS

PARTICIPATING STUDENTS:

STUDENT NAME STUDENT NUMBER

CHAONGOPA MWANSA - 1462

WARREN - 1462

SIFUNISO MWANGALA - 1462

MUWONGO ELISE. M - 14620039

PHIRI TAMARA - 14620016