QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF TOTAL

HARDNESS
IN
DRINKING
WATER
BY
COMPLEXOMETRIC TITRATION
L. WOODS

INSTITUTE OF GROUNDER STUDIES, COLLEGE OF POLARIS

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY 1101, PHILIPPINES
DATE SUBMITTED: 29 MARCH 2016
DATE PERFORMED: 17 MARCH 2016

1. What is water hardness and why is it expressed as ppm CaCO 3?

The molecular weight of calcium carbonate is 100. It makes everything relatively easier to
calculate. Its also one of the main reasons why water hardness is also expressed in ppm
CaCO3. Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water making it easy to calculate its amount in
water.[2]
2. How does complexometric titration work?
Complexometric titration involves titrating metal ions (Calcium in this experiment) with a
chelating agent (such as EDTA). A simple ion (like Ca2+) is turned into a complex ion and is
detected with metal indicators (Mg2+ in this reaction) or electrochemically.
Complexometric titration doesnt work well with monodentate ligands. [3]
3. Why was EDTA used as complexing agent/-titrant?
EDTA can form complexes with Calcium and Magnesium. It is also capable of forming
complexes with other metals but it cant form chelates with alkali metals. Calcium and
magnesium are both group II metals making complexation in titration process would be
stable. Other complexing agents are rarely used because a sharp endpoint corresponding
to a stoichiometric complex is difficult to achieve in general. EDTA is a ligand that has two
or more complexing groups on the molecule which forms well-defined complexes. [3]
4. Why were MgCl26H2O crystals and NaOH pellets added in the preparation of EDTA solution?
MgCl2 6H2O were added to the titrant to produce Mg 2+ ions which will account for the
ions of Ca2+ which did not quickly react with EDTA. More reactants will push the reaction
forward and the calcium ions will form complexes with EDTA.[3]
5. Why was HCl added in the preparation of CaCO3 solution?
Hydrochloric acid was added to dissolve the calcium carbonate since it is not soluble in
water.[1]
6. What are the pertinent chemical equations involved during titration? Explain how the color of the
solution turns to clear blue using the stability of complexes involved in the titration.
M2+ + HIn2- + H2O

MIn- + H O+
3

2H2Y2 + Ca2+ +Mg2+ CaY2 + MgY2 + 4H+

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The indicator takes on a wine red color in the presence of metal ions. When EDTA is
added, the metal ions form EDTA complexes because they have higher formation
constants then EBT complexes. The endpoint is reached when there are no more Mg 2+ ions.
The endpoint is indicated by the solution turning blue. When that happens, titration must
be stopped.[3]

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7. What is the importance of maintaining the pH at 10 and choosing NH3-NH4Cl as the buffer?
The sharpness of the titration curve is directly proportional to the increase in pH.
Furthermore, the reaction of EDTA with metal ions goes only until pH = 10. Another
reason would be the indicator used (EBT or Eriochrome Black T). Its color only changes in
the pH range of 8 to 10.[2]
8. What are the possible sources of errors and their effect on the calculated parameters? Rationalize.
One of the primary sources of errors would be the titration errors. It was very likely that
the solution was to be overtitrated. This wouldve made the mineral concentration higher
than it actually is. Parallax errors could occur, the effects of which are indeterminate
because it depends on your angle.

References
[1] Brown, e. a. (2015). Chemistry: The Central Science (Thirteenth ed.). London: Pearson
Education Limited.
[2] Odian, G., & Blei, I. (1994). Schaum's Outlines: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry.
New Jersey: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
[3] Silberberg, M. (2013). Principles of General Chemistry (Third ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

APPENDIX A SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

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