Chemistry for Environmental Engineering and Science, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 18 - PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

18-1 Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of water to neutralize acids. Alkalinity is due
primarily to the salts of weak acids, although weak or strong bases may also contribute.

18-2 Alkalinity is of primary benefit as a natural buffer in water to maintain pH near

neutrality as necessary in chemical coagulation, water softening, corrosion control, and
the presence of acidic industrial wastewaters. Chemical requirements for chemical
coagulation and water softening are greatly affected by the alkalinity of a water.

18-3 pH endpoints in alkalinity determination are 8.3 for phenolphthalein alkalinity and
between 4 and 5 to total alkalinity, depending upon water alkalinity itself.

18-4 The pH meter is the end-point indicator most commonly used. Color indicators that are
often used are either phenolphthalein or metacresol purple for phenolphthalein alkalinity
and bromcresol green or mixed bromcresol green-methyl red for total alkalinity.

18-5 Bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide alkalinity.

18-6 The formula weight of CaCO3 is 40 + 12 + 3(16) or 100 g. With a formula weight of
100 CaCO3 is a convenient reference material because of the convenient round number
represented.

100 100 100

18-7 Alkalinity = 85 61 + 120 30 + 2 17 = 551 mg/L as CaCO3

18-8 Carbon dioxide is an acid gas, its removal from water results in an increase in pH. As a
consequence, the alkalinity forms change. Bicarbonate alkalinity decreases, and
carbonate and hydroxide alkalinities increase.

18-9 Addition of carbon dioxide does not change the total alkalinity. However, through
lowering of pH, the forms of alkalinity change, hydroxide decreases and bicarbonate
increases.

18-1
18-10 Possible Presence of Alkalinity
– 2-
pH
____ HCO3
_______ CO3
______ OH–
_____
5.5 Yes No No
3.0 No No No
11.2 Perhaps Yes Yes
8.5 Yes No No
7.4 Yes No No
9.0 Yes Yes No

1000
18-11 (a) Phen. alk. = 5.3 x 50 = 106 mg/L
1000
Total alk. = 15.2 x 50 = 304 mg/L

1000
(b) Phen. alk. = 20.2 x 100 = 202 mg/L

1000
Total alk. = 25.6 x 100 = 256 mg/L

1000 mL
18-12 Alkalinity = 100 mL x mL titrant (mg/L as CaCO3)

Alkalinity Procedure (1) Procedure (2)

Phen. Total HCO3- CO32- OH- HCO3- CO32- OH-
Sample Alk Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk.

A 100 155 0 110 45 5 100 50

B 144 386 98 288 0 103 278 5

C 82 84 0 4 80 0 4 80

D 0 127 127 0 0 127 0 0

1000 mL
18-13 Alkalinity = 50 mL x mL titrant (mg/L as CaCO3)

18-2
 Alkalinity Procedure (1) Procedure (2)
Phen. Total HCO3- CO32- OH- HCO3- CO32- OH-
Sample Alk Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk. Alk.

A 0 600 600 0 0 600 0 0

B 148 288 0 280 8 2 276 10

C 160 270 0 220 50 0 220 50

D 0 562 562 0 0 562 0 0

2- 120
18-14 (a) [CO3 ] = 60000 = 2 x 10-3
2-
– [H+][CO3 ] 5.0 x 10-11
[HCO3 ] = = [2 x 10-3] = 2.1 x 10-3
4.7 x 10-11 4.7 x 10-11
–
HCO3 = 2.1 x 10-3 (61,000) = 128 mg/L as HCO3-

(b) OH– alk. = 50,000 x 10(10.3–14.0) = 10 mg/L as CaCO3

2- 120
CO3 alk. = 0.6 = 200 mg/L as CaCO3
– 128
HCO3 alk. = 1.22 = 105 mg/L as CaCO3
_________
Total alk. = 315 mg/L as CaCO3

18-3