Chemical Engineering Department M S University, Baroda

ALKALINITY OF WATER
Safety, health and Environment

Aim: - To determine alkalinity of water sample.

Apparatus: - Burette with stand, Conical flask, Pipette, Beaker, Measuring flask,
Funnel, pH strips, Dropper.
Chemicals: - Standard Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) solution (N/50), Methyl orange
indicator, Phenolphthalein indicator, Sample water.
Significance: -
The alkalinity of water is a measure of its capacity to neutralize acids.
Alkalinity is measure of the ability of water to absorb H + without significance pH
change. The major portion of alkalinity in natural water is caused hydroxide,
carbonate and bicarbonate. The water with less than 100 mg/l are desirable for
domestic use. In large quantities it gives bitter taste of water.
Theory: -
The alkalinity of water sample may be determined volumetrically by titrating
with a standard acid to an arbitrary pH using an indicator. When the pH of the sample
is above 8.3, titration is first carried out using Phenolphthalein indicator. At the end
point, when the indicator changes from pink to colourless, the pH is lowered to about
8.3. The volume of the acid (A ml) used up to this point corresponds to the complete
neutralization of hydroxide and conversion of the carbonate in to bicarbonate:
𝑂𝐻− + 𝐻 + → 𝐻2 𝑂
𝐶𝑂3−2 + 𝐻 + → 𝐻𝐶𝑂3− (𝐴 𝑚𝑙)
The alkalinity measured up to this point is called Phenolphthalein Alkalinity.
Beyond the Phenolphthalein end-point, titration is continued using methyl orange
indicator. The colour change from yellow to red occurs at a Ph of about 4.5 and the
additional volume of acid (B ml) used corresponds to the complete neutralization of
all the bicarbonate whether present originally or obtained from CO3-2.
𝐻𝐶𝑂3− + 𝐻 + → 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2 (𝐵 𝑚𝑙)

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Chemical Engineering Department M S University, Baroda

The total volume of acid [(A + B) ml] used in the two titrations, therefore
corresponds to the neutralization of hydroxide, carbonates and bicarbonates and is
thus, a measure of total alkalinity, also called Methyl orange Alkalinity. Alkalinity
is expressed as parts of equivalent CaCO3 per million parts of water.
Procedure: -
With a pipette, transfer 100 ml of the water sample in to a titration flask. Add 2 drops
of Phenolphthalein indicator and titrate against N/50 H2SO4 until the pink colour just
disappears. Record the volume of acid consumed as A ml. To this add 2-3 drops of
methyl orange indicator and titrate further until the colour changes from yellow to
red. Record the additional volume of acid consumed as B ml. Repeat the whole
process a number of times to get concordant readings.
Observations: -
1) Volume of water sample taken for titration = 100 ml
2) Volume of N/50 H2SO4 used in presence of Phenolphthalein indicator (A):
______ml
3) Volume of N/50 H2SO4 used in presence of Methyl orange indicator (B):
______ml
Calculations: -
1) Phenolphthalein Alkalinity
N1V1 (Sample) = N2V2 (N/50 H2SO4)
N1*100 = (1/50) *A
N1 = A / (50 *100)

Phenolphthalein Alkalinity (as CaCO3) = A * 50 / 50 *100 (gm/lit)

= A * 50 * 1000 / 50 * 100 (ppm)
= A * 10 ppm
2) Methyl orange Alkalinity
N1V1 (Sample) = N2V2 (N/50 H2SO4)
N1*100 = (1/50) (A+B)
N1 = (A+B) / (50 *100)

Methyl orange Alkalinity (as CaCO3) = (A+B) * 50 / 50 *100 (gm/lit)

= (A+B) * 50 * 1000 / 50 * 100 (ppm)
= (A+B) * 10 ppm

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Chemical Engineering Department M S University, Baroda

Result: -
1) Phenolphthalein Alkalinity (ppm): - ___________
2) Methyl orange Alkalinity (ppm): - ___________
Conclusion: -

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