Experiment no.

5
To determine the Alkalinity of a sample

Applicable ASTM Standard:

ASTM D1067 – 02

Objective:
“The purpose of this test is determination of alkalinity of water sample.

Definition and Theory:

“Alkalinity of water is a measure of its capacity to neutralize acids i.e. to absorb hydrogen ions
without significant pH change”.
It is caused by the presence of hydroxides (OH-), carbonates (CO--) and bicarbonates (HCO3-).
Alkalinity measurements are used to assist in establishing levels of chemical treatment to control
scale, corrosion, and other adverse chemical equilibrium.
Alkalinity is critical in establishing Solubility of some metals, toxicity of some metals, and the
buffering capacity of some waters.Large amount of alkalinity imparts bitter taste in water.

Apparatuses:
Conical Flask, funnel, burette with stand, beaker, measuring cylinder.

Chemicals:
Methyl orange indicator, penolphthalein indicator, sulphuric acid soln. of Normality 0.02.

Procedure:
 Take 50 ml of water sample in the measuring cylinder and put it in the conical flask.
 Add 2-3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator in the sample which turns the color of sample
into pink.
 Fill the burette with sulphuric acid solution, note the initial reading.
 Start titration.
 When the color of sample disappears, stop titration and note the final reading.
 Calculate the phenolphthalein alkalinity by:
 P-Alkalinity (mg/l) = (F.R – I.R) x 1000
Vol. of sample
 Then add 2-3 drops of methyl orange to the sample, it will change the color of the sample to
faint yellow.
 Note the initial reading of the burette and start titration.
 Titrate until the color of the solution changes from faint yellow to light red, note the final
reading.
 Calculate the methyl orange alkalinity by:
M-Alkalinity (mg/l) = (F.R – I.R) x 1000
Vol. of sample
Expected Results:
WHO suggested a guide line value for the alkalinity (mg/l as CaCO3)
i. Low Alkalinity <50
ii. Medium Alkalinity: 50 -250
iii. High Alkalinity >250

Precautions:
 During performance of experiment always use clean and dry apparatus during the procedure.
 Titration should be done carefully; eyes must be kept at burette readings for taking accurate
readings and should be done drop by drop putting of titrant to the solution.
 Bubbles from the burette should be removed by tapping the side of the burette or dropping
some titrant before taking Initial reading.

Observations and Calculations:

a) Using phenolphthalein:
S. No Vol. of sample Burette readings Vol. of sulphuric
(ml) (ml) acid Soln.
Initial readings Final readings (ml)
1
2
3

b) Using methyl orange:

S. No Vol. of sample Burette readings Vol. of sulphuric
(ml) (ml) acid Soln.
Initial readings Final readings (ml)
1
2
3

Result:
The alkalinity of the sample is _____________mg/l.