EXPERIMENT NO.

2 :ACIDITY
Structure
2.1 Introduction
Objective
2.2 Reagents
2.3 Interfering Agents
2.4 Procedure
2.4. I Methyl Orange Acidity
2.4.2 Phenolphthalein Acidity

2.5 Calculations

2.1 INTRODUCTION
Acidity of a water is its quantitative capacity to react with a strong base to a designated
pH. The measured value may vary significantly with the end-point pH used in the
determination. Acidity is a measure of aggregate property of water and can be interpreted
in terms of specific substances only when the chemical composition of the sample is
known. Strong minerals acids, weak acids such as carbonic and acetic, and hydrolyzing
salts such as iron or aluminium sulfate may contribute to the measured acidity according
to the method of determination.
Acids contribute to corrosiveness and influence chemical reaction rates, and biological
processes. The measurement also reflects a change in the quality of the source of water.
As far as water analysis is concerned acidity test does not bear significant importance
because methyl orange acidity invariably remains absent in the raw-water and even
phenolpthatein acidity (that too principally due to the excessive prevalence of dissolved
carbon dioxide and carbonic acids) normally does not exist to a significant extent in the
raw water.

Objective
To determine acidity of the given water sample by Titration Method.

2.2 REAGENTS -

(a) Sodium Hydroxide (0.02N, NaOH) Titrant

For preparing 0.02N, NaOH solution, dissolve 800 mg of NaOH in the distilled water
and dilute it to 1000 ml. This 0.02N, NaOH solution requires standardization against
standard 0.02N, potassium biphthalate (KHC8H404)solution (which is prepared by
dissoling 4.084 grams of KHC8H404in the distilled water and diluting the solution to
1 litre).
However when the 0.02N, NaOH solution to be employed in the acidity test is not a
standardized one, in that case the exact normality of NaOH solution can be determined
by titrating it with standard 0.02N, KHC8H404solution using phenolphthalein
indicator in the following manner :
At the end-point (at pH 8.3) of titration :
N x Vol. of NaOH (in ml) = 0.02 x Vol. of KHC8H404(in ml)
0.02 x Vol. of KHC8H404 (in ml)
Normality 'N' of NaOH sol. =
Vol. of NaOH (in ml)
(b) Phenolphthalein Indicator
Phenolphthalein indicator solution is prepared by mixing and dissolving 5 gm of
phenolphthalein in 500 ml of 95% ethyl-alcohol and then distilled water is added to
make 1.0 litre of solution. To this solution add 0.02N, NaOH solution drop-by-drop till
the solution develops a faint pink colour. This indicator solution is used for
determining the phenolphthalein acidity and 2-3 drops are required to be added to
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Laboratory I1 water sample before the test.
(c) Methyl Orange Indicator
Methyl orange indicator solution is prepared by mixing and dissolving 0.5 gm of
methyl red in distilled water (carbon dioxide free) and diluting it to 1000 ml. This
indicator solution is used for determining the mineral acidity (or methyl orange
acidity) and 2-3 drops of this indicator are required to be added to water sample before
the titration.

2.3 INTERFERING AGENTS

This method is not suited when the interfering agents such as dissolved gases, turbid
constituents, residual chlorine, colouring matter and metals like iron, manganese,
aluminium, remain excessively prevalent in the water and under such condition,
potentiometric titration should be done. However in treated water, residual chlorine can 1
be removed by adding one drop of 0.1N Sodium Thiosulphate (Na2S203. 5H20).

2.4 PROCEDURE
2.4.1 Methyl Orange Acidity
Take 50 or 100 ml sample in a conical flask and add 2-3 drops of methyl orange indicator
solution. Fill the burette with 0.02 N NaOH solution and titrate the sample till the colour
of solution just changes to faint orange colour, indicating the end point and record the
volume of titrant consumed as V1 (in ml).

2.4.2 Phenolphthalein Acidity

Phenolphthalein acidity test is conducted in continuation to the methyl orange acidity
test. So when mineral acidity test is over, add 2-3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator
solution to water sample and continue the titration till faint pink colour develops in the
solution, showing the end point of titration. Record the volume of titrant c6nsumed
during the titration as V2. (in ml).

2.5 CALCULATIONS
Methyl Orange Acidity' :
Calculate the methyl orange acidity in the following manner.
.vl x 1000
Mineral Acidity =
Vol. of sample (in ml)

= in mg / L (as CaC03)

When the 0.02N NaOH solution used in titration is not standardized, in that case
following expression can be used
V1 x N x 50 x 1000
Mineral Acidity =
Vol. of sample (in ml)

= in mg / L (as CaC03)

where, N is normality of NaOH solution.

Phenolphthalein Acidity :
V2 x N x 50 x 1000
PhenolphthaleinAcidity =
Vol. of sample (in ml)