TOTAL

HARDNESS
DETERMINATION
EXPERIMENT 4
 Soft water
INTRODUCTION (lather)

∙ Hardness is the property of water which

prevents the formation of lather or foam
and needs large quantities of soap'. It forms
scales in not water pipes, heaters, boilers
where the temperature of water is increased.

Hard water
(Scum)
Types of Hardness
Temporary hardness - caused by bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. also called
carbonate hardness.

Permanent hardness -  caused by chloride and sulfate.

Total hardness is a measurement of the mineral content in a water sample that is

irreversible by boiling. Measured using Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid
(EDTA).
Treating temporary
hardness by boiling

Treating permanent
hardness with washing
soda
OBJECTIVES

1. Determine hardness of water samples using calculation-based method.

2. Determine hardness of water samples using titration method using Ethylene
Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA).
3. To analyze data gathered on its implications on wastewater treatment.
MATERIALS
∙ Burette ∙ 95% Ethyl Alcohol
∙ Erlenmeyer Flask (250 mL) ∙ Ammonia Buffer
∙ Glass Funnel ∙ Deionized Water
∙ Graduated Cylinder (100 mL) ∙ Distilled Water

∙ Pasteur Pipette ∙ EDTA Disodium Salt

∙ Sample Hard Water ∙ Eriochrome Black T

∙ Hydroxyl Ammonium Chloride
∙ Magnesium Chloride
PROCEDURES
∙ Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) Standard Solution  

 Dissolving 4g of EDTA Disodium Salt and 0.4g of Magnesium Chloride in 800 mL

distilled water.

∙ Erichrome Black T Indicator

 Add 0.4 g of black T powder and 4.5 g of Hydroxyl Ammonium Chloride in 100 mL of 95
% ethyl alcohol
PROCEDURES
∙ Ammonium Buffer

Dissolve 16.9 g of Ammonium Chloride in 143 mL of concentrated Ammonium Hydroxide.

Then add 1.25 g of Magnesium Salt of EDTA. 
Dilute to 250 mL distilled water
Get 10 mL and dilute to 100 mL distilled water 
PROCEDURES
∙ Fill the burette with EDTA standard solution.
∙ Record as initial reading
∙ Pour and fill the flask with 100 mL of sample hard water.
∙ Add 1 mL of Ammonium Buffer and 5-6 drops of Erichrome Black T indicator.
∙ Start the titration process.
∙ Stop when the water reached its final reaction.
∙ Record as final reading
∙ Clean the materials with deionized water before repeating the process.
CALCULATION

Where:
A = EDTA titrant sample, mL
B = Equivalent 1.00 mL titrant,
C = Sample water, mL
SAFETY PRECAUTION
∙ Wear comfortable clothing and closed shoes.
∙ As in all laboratory activities, safety glasses and laboratory white coat
must be worn at all times. 
∙ Wear nitrile gloves as directed before handling a chemical bottle.
∙ When working in a laboratory, keep long hair confined so that it does
not catch fire or come into touch with chemicals.
∙ To avoid falling and breaking the glassware, keep the materials and
equipment in the center of the table. 
∙ To avoid contamination, do not place anything else in the workstation
except the necessary materials and equipment.
∙ Ammonium Buffer pH 10 should not come into touch with your skin
or eyes. In the case of skin contact, thoroughly rinse the affected area
for several minutes. If you come into touch with your eyes,
immediately rinse them with water and seek medical advice
WASTE DISPOSAL
∙ Avoid directly draining the chemicals after neutralization 
∙ Non-hazardous solutions can be flushed down to the drain with copious water,
whereas hazardous chemical solutions must be disposed of in their designated waste
container.
∙ To disposed of the analyzed solution, place it in the waste EDTA container.