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SCC 101 Experiment 3

The document outlines Experiment 3 of SCC101, which involves measuring the pH, calcium ion concentration, and chloride ion concentration of a water sample through various titration methods. Students will use pH paper and perform titrations with EDTA and silver nitrate solutions, recording their findings in a data sheet. The experiment emphasizes the importance of understanding the composition of drinking water and ensuring it meets safety standards.

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yascaribayemily13
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12 views4 pages

SCC 101 Experiment 3

The document outlines Experiment 3 of SCC101, which involves measuring the pH, calcium ion concentration, and chloride ion concentration of a water sample through various titration methods. Students will use pH paper and perform titrations with EDTA and silver nitrate solutions, recording their findings in a data sheet. The experiment emphasizes the importance of understanding the composition of drinking water and ensuring it meets safety standards.

Uploaded by

yascaribayemily13
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCC101 Experiment 3: What Is In My Water?

SCC101 Experiment 3

What Is In My Water?

Experiment Overview

1. Measure the pH value of the water sample using pH paper.


2. Measure the calcium ion concentration by titration.
3. Measure the chloride ion concentration by titration.
4. Clean up and put away all equipment.

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 5 of the course textbook discusses the water that we drink and what is in it. In this Lab,
you will conduct experiments on a water sample to determine the concentration of dissolved
substances that are present. You will use pH paper to measure the pH value of the water sample
and then perform titrations with coloured indicators to measure the concentration of the
substances dissolved in the water.
The water that we drink is very rarely, if ever, completely pure water. It usually comes from
wells or springs and often has a high mineral content. Specifically, drinking water is likely to
contain calcium and magnesium ions, which are the main sources of water hardness. If the
calcium and magnesium ion concentrations are high, then there will probably be a high
concentration of bicarbonate ion, HCO3-, which determines the alkalinity of the water. The pH
of water needs to be close to 7 (neutral) so that it is safe for human consumption. However, if the
bicarbonate concentration is high, the water may be slightly alkaline (pH a little above 7). Also,
there will be varying amounts of other soluble ions, such as the chloride ion. In this experiment,
you will measure the pH of the water sample and the concentration of dissolved calcium and
chloride ions.

Question: Do you drink water straight from the tap? Write down two potential
contaminants of tap water.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Students should work in pairs and do all Parts.


Part A. pH Measurement
Test the pH using pH paper. Put a few drops of the water sample onto the pH paper and match
the colour to those shown on the paper container to estimate the pH. Record the pH in the Data
Sheet in the space provided.
Part B. Concentration of Calcium Ions
This is done by performing a titration. The water sample is titrated with an EDTA solution. An
indicator (calmagite) is also added to the solution. The indicator will change colour when enough
EDTA has been added to react with all of the calcium ions present.

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SCC101 Experiment 3: What Is In My Water?

Titration procedure: Put 3 clean test tubes in a test tube rack. Carefully place 20 drops of the
water sample into one of the test tubes. Be careful when dispensing drops. Hold the dropper
vertically, gently squeeze the bulb and make sure only 1 drop falls into the bottom of the tube.
Add 2 drops of pH 10 buffer followed by 1 drop of calmagite indicator in that order. The
solution will turn a red/purple colour. Then add EDTA one drop at a time, shaking the tube after
each drop. Keep track of the number of drops added, and continue very slowly until one drop
turns the solution blue. Record the number of drops used in the data table. Repeat this titration 2
more times (perform 3 runs in total).
The EDTA concentration is 0.005M. Look on the bottle to confirm this. The calcium ion (Ca2+)
molarity for each run is given by:

molarity of Ca2+ = molarity of EDTA x drops of EDTA (1)


drops of water (20)
Record the Ca2+ molarity in the data table for each run.
Then, work out the average Ca2+ molarity of your three runs and record this in the Data Sheet.
Next, multiply the average Ca2+ molarity by 40,000 mg/mol to get the ppm or mg/L of Ca2+.
Part C. Concentration of Chloride Ions
The next titration will be performed to determine the concentration of chloride ions in the water
sample. In this experiment, the water is titrated with a silver nitrate solution of known
concentration. A potassium chromate indicator is also added to the solution. Again, the indicator
will cause the solution to change colour when enough silver nitrate has been added to react with
all of the chloride ions present.
Titration procedure: Put 3 clean test tubes in a test tube rack. Carefully place 20 drops of the
water sample into one of the test tubes. Add 1 drop of potassium chromate indicator. The
solution will turn a yellow colour. Then add silver nitrate solution one drop at a time, shaking the
tube after each drop. You should see a cloudy appearance in the tube as each drop is added. Keep
track of the number of drops added, and continue very slowly until one drop produces a
permanent red-orange colour. Before this happens, you may see local colour changes which
disappear on shaking the tube. Record the number of drops used in the data table. Repeat this
titration 2 more times (perform 3 runs in total).
The silver nitrate (AgNO3) concentration is 0.025M. Look on the bottle to confirm this. To
determine the chloride ion (Cl-) molarity for each run, use:

molarity of Cl- = molarity of AgNO3 x drops of AgNO3 (2)


drops of water (20)
Record the Cl- molarity in the data table for each run.
Then, work out the average Cl- molarity of your three runs and record this in the Data Sheet.
Finally, multiply the average Cl- molarity by 35,500 mg/mol to get the ppm or mg/L of Cl-.
Part D: Clean-up
Pour the contents of all the test tubes into the waste container at the front of the lab. Do not put
any substances into the sink. Then thoroughly rinse the test tubes, pipets and any other
equipment you used with distilled water. Return all equipment to where you found it at the start
of the lab.

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SCC101 Experiment 3: What Is In My Water?

Name: Date:
Lab Partner:

The write up involves the completed Data Sheet + Post-Lab Questions

Data Sheet – Experiment 3: What Is In My Water?

Part A: The pH of your water sample is _________________

Part B: Calcium Ion Concentration

Run # 1 2 3

Drops of Water

Drops of EDTA
Molarity of Ca2+
(Use equation 1)

Average Molarity of Ca2+: _________________mol/L

Calculated ppm of Ca2+: _________________mg/L


(multiply the above average molarity by 40,000 mg/mol)

Part C: Chloride Ion Concentration

Run # 1 2 3

Drops of Water

Drops of silver nitrate (AgNO3)


Molarity of Cl-
(Use equation 2)

Average Molarity of Cl-: _________________mol/L

Calculated ppm of Cl-: _________________mg/L


(multiply the above average molarity by 35,500 mg/mol)

3
SCC101 Experiment 3: What Is In My Water?

Name: Date:
Lab Partner:

Post-Lab Questions

1. From your experimental results, what is the ratio of the chloride ion molarity to the calcium
ion molarity?

2. The formula for calcium chloride is CaCl2, hence, in principle, the chloride ion molarity
should be exactly twice that of the calcium ion molarity. How closely do your experimental
results agree with this prediction?

3. As discussed in the Introduction, the pH of water should be close to neutral (pH 7) for it to be
safe for human consumption. How closely does the pH measurement of your water sample
compare with this goal?

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