Alkalinity:
The capacity of water for neutralizing an acid solution.
Alkalinity is
the
name
given
to
the
quantitative
capacity
of
an aqueous solution to neutralize an acid. It is reported in milli-equivalents
per liter.
The capacity of a water to accept protons, i.e., hydrogen ions. It is usually
expressed as milli-equivalents per liter.
Alkalinity consists of the sum of titratable carbonate and non-carbonate
chemical species in a filtered water sample."
Types of Alkalinity:
There are basically three types of Alkalinity;
1. Caustic Alkalinity:
It is defined as the amount of strong acid required to lower a pH of sample to
about 10.
It is mainly due to the presence of OH- group.
OH- + H2SO4
H2O + SO4-
2. Total Alkalinity:
It is defined as the alkalinity of sample which require the amount of strong
acid to lower its pH to about 4.3.
2HCO3- + H2SO4
2H2CO3- + SO4-
Carbonate Alkalinity:
It is defined as the alkalinity of sample which require the amount of strong
acid to lower its pH to about 8.3.
It is also known as phenolphthalein alkalinity. In this alkalinity CO 2 s absent.
In this titration the color of solution changes from pink to clear.
2CO3- + H2SO4
H2O + SO4-
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[ MEASURMENT OF ALKALINITY]
Causes of Alkalinity:
Alkalinity in a solution means the solution is capable of buffering acidic
solutions with higher concentrations of hydrogen ions. Alkalinity in water
comes from a high concentration of carbon-based mineral molecules
suspended in the solution. Water with high alkalinity is said to be "hard." The
most prevalent mineral compound causing alkalinity is calcium carbonate,
which can come from rocks such as limestone or can be leached from
dolomite and calcite in the soil. Water treatment plants can be treated to a
higher alkalinity.
Apparatus:
Titration Assembly
Reagents:
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[ MEASURMENT OF ALKALINITY]
Procedure:
For phenolphthalein alkalinity:
Results:
For Phenolphthalein alkalinity;
Volume of acid used = 0 ml
Phenolphthalein
alkalinity
vol . of acid used eq . weight of CaCO 3 Normality of acid used 1000
vol . of sample
=
20
20
= 0 mg/L as CaCO3
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[ MEASURMENT OF ALKALINITY]
For total alkalinity:
Sample no.
1.
2.
Initial
burette Final
burette Volume of acid
reading
reading
in (ml)
0
21.5
21.5
21.5
45.7
24.2
21.5+ 24.2
3
= 22.85 ml
Total
alkalinity
vol . of acid used eq . weight of CaCO 3 Normality of acid used 1000
vol . of sample
=
20
20
Precaution:
Comments:
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