Chapter V

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Water hardness is defined as a measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium salts

dissolved in water. Hard water is water that contains large amounts of dissolved calcium and

magnesium cations, and soft water is water that little or none of the cations. In the

experiment, temporary hardness and permanent hardness were determined.

Water samples with a moderately high hardness rating leaves behind a white ring when the

water is evaporated because the solids are left behind.

EDTA is a useful way in order to measure water hardness, but is not that perfect or

accurate. By titrating EDTA into a flask containing the water sample and an EBT indicator,

the metal ions in the water sample bond to the EDTA, and the metal ions attached to the EBT

indicator are stripped off and also attach to the EDTA. This is because complexes formed

between EDTA and the metal ions are stronger than the complexes formed between the EBT

indicator and the metal ion. When all the metal ions are stripped off of the EBT indicator, a

color change from pink to light blue occurs. This signals the end of titration, and that an

equivalence point between the metal ions and the EDTA has been reached. By finding the

volume of EDTA solution titrated and knowing the molarity of the solution, the moles of

EDTA could be found. This is equal to the moles of Calcium. Knowing this can then allow

the hardness of water to be found, which were in the range 50 mg/L to 150 mg/L of CaCO3,

respectively. This means that the water samples are moderately hard. The fact that the water

sample shows what it should be. Well, some did not fall under the range. This error can be

attributed to the possibility of under-titration. The EBT indicator could have appeared blue,

even though there still might be some metal ions that have not attached to the EDTA. If not
enough EDTA was titrated, then the moles of Ca will appear lower than the actual value,

which would lead to a low value for ppm Ca. Another possibility for low results may be the

fact that calcium ions were accounted for in this experiment but not magnesium ions. Not

accounting for magnesium ions would lead to a low value for ppm Ca.

The results that were expected to be found, water sample to be moderately hard and the

hypothesis was proven correct.

The Analysis of Hard Water reached and fulfilled all of the purposes. The experiment used

the process of titration and basic algebra to calculate the hardness of water. A color change

took place after titration was completed starting with red before titration and blue after. The

changes come because of the EDTA that is in the burette being titrated into the flask. After

completing the lab a better understanding of soap scum and hardness that water sometime

encounters is better understood.

The Hardness Analysis was very successful. It was able to be carried out thoroughly and

with no major problems or hindrances in the process. The major objective of the experiment,

which included being able to determine the hardness of water by titration with standard

EDTA and learn about the causes of hardness of water, was able to be accomplished with no

major problems or hindrances in the process. Overall, the experiment went well. Students

were able to achieve blue color in all three trials. This lab allowed further knowledge to be

obtained, that will allow it to be applied throughout future application in chemistry.