3-104
3500-Ti TITANIUM
Titanium (Ti) is the first element in Group IVB in the periodic
table; it has an atomic number of 22, an atomic weight of 47.88, and
valences of 2, 3, and 4. The average abundance of Ti in the earth’s
crust is 0.6%; in soils it is 1700 to 6600 ppm; in streams it is 3 ␮g/L,
and in groundwaters it is ⬍0.1 mg/L. The element is commonly
associated with iron minerals. Titanium is used in alloys for aircraft,
marine, and food-handling equipment. Compounds of the metal are
used in pigments and as a reducing agent.
Joint Task Group: 20th Edition—See 3500-Al.
METALS (3000)
Titanium species are usually insoluble in natural waters, with the
Ti4⫹ species being the most common ion when found. Some com-
pounds are toxic by ingestion and the pure metal is flammable.
Either of the flame atomic absorption spectrometric methods
(3111D or E) may be used. The inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometric method (3125) also may be applied successfully in
most cases (with lower detection limits), even though titanium is
not specifically listed as an analyte in the method.