CONDUCTIMETRY

D2

GROUP MEMBERS
Amponsah Kodua Angela
Essilfie Samuel
Onyekaba Adaobi Blessing
Agyei Gyimah Dominic

Introduction

Instrumentation
Principle of Operation
Conductimetric Titrations
Modern Advancements
Applications in Pharmacy

INTRODUCTION
What

is CONDUCTIMETRY?

It is the measurement of the

conductance of a solution OR
The study of how ions move in solution
based on its electrical properties

INTRODUCTION
The

conductance of an electrolytic solution

depends on
i. Concentration of ions
ii. Degree of Solvation
iii. Temperature
iv. Potential difference of the solution
v. Viscosity of the medium

Units

of conductivity are Siemens/cm or

mhos/cm

INTRODUCTION
Ohms

law can be written symbolically as

V=IR where V=Potential difference in Volts.
I=Current in Amperes.
R=Resistance of the conductor in Ohms.
The reciprocal of the resistance (R)is known
as the conductance (G) of the solution
Conductance (G)=1/R

INTRODUCTION

conductance
Reciprocal of resistance R and is measured in
siemens or mho (ohm-1)

Specific

conductance
Reciprocal of the specific resistance and is
measured in (ohm-1cm-1 or siemenscm-1)
Depends on the number of ions

INTRODUCTION
Equivalent

conductance is the conductance of a solution

containing 1g equivalent of the electrolyte, where it
dissolved in a volume, Vml, of solution, and measured in
a cell with electrodes 1cm apart and of sufficient crosssectional area to contain all the electrolyte
=1000Kc
C

Equivalent conductance is used to determine the

conductivity of two
solutions of the same
electrolyte at different concentration

INTRODUCTION

The molar conductivity m is the product of the

conductivity k and the volume in m3 (litres)
containing 1 molecular weight of the solute.
m=kv= k

Cell

constant

Given

by the ratio l/a which can be calculated

from dimensions of electrodes or measurement
of the conductance of a known concentration of
KCl solution of known resistivity

INTRODUCTION
The

conduction of ions in electrolyte

solutions obey Ohms law.
Ohms law states that the current passing
through a conductor is directly proportional
to the potential difference applied and
inversely proportional to the resistance of
the conductor, provided temperature and
other factors remain constant.

INSTRUMENTATION
The

conductivity
apparatus/conductimeter is the
instrument employed in conductimetry.
This is used to measure the
conductance of an electrolyte solution.
There are different types of
conductimeters but our emphasis for
this presentation will be on the Mullard
Conductimeter

INSTRUMENTATION
An

ac source
Probe
Platinum Electrodes
Display screen

INSTRUMENTATION
An

oscillator this is made to measure

the frequency of the ac.
The Wheatstone bridge- the operation
of the conductimeter depends on it.
The amplifier this increases the signals
coming from the Wheatstone bridge

INSTRUMENTATION
The

electrodes are always kept in

conductivity water.
Ordinary water or distilled laboratory
water is not used because it may
contain dissolved salts, gases such as
ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Conductivity water has a conductivity
of less than 0.110-6mho.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF
THE MULLARD
CONDUCTIMETER
The

principle of operation is based on

the mechanism of the wheatstone
bridge.
The wheatstone bridge mainly deals
with resistances of two legs of a bridge
circuit

THE WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

THE WHEATSTONE BRIDGE OPERATION

The

two resistances R1 and R3 are of fixed

resistances while R2 and Rx are variable.
Rx represents the substance whose resistance is to
be measured.
R2 is a variable resistor (rheostat)
When the ratio of the resistances at the left leg
(R1/R2) equals the ratio of the resistances at the
right leg (R3/Rx), there will be no voltage, no
current will be generated hence the galvanometer
shows no deflection.

OPERATION
Mullard

Conductimeter converts restance

values to conductance by C= 1/R
The set-up measures electroconductivity
by measuring the ionic conductances of
the individual components and summing
to give the conductance of the whole
solution.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The

meter is equipped with a probe, usually handheld, for

field or on-site measurements. After the probe is placed in
the liquid to be measured, the meter applies voltage
between two electrodes inside the probe. Electrical
resistance from the solution causes a drop in voltage,
which is read by the meter. The meter converts this
reading to milli- or micromhos or milli- or microSiemens
per centimeter. This value indicates the total dissolved
solids.

CONDUCTIMETRIC TITRATION
CURVES
The

basic principle underlying these

titrations is the substitutions of ions of
one conductivity by ions of another
conductivity.
The addition of an electrolyte to a
solution of another electrolyte under
conditions producing no appreciable
change in volume will affect the

CONDUCTIMETRIC TITRATION CURVES

conductance

of the solution according

to whether or not ionic reactions occur.
A graph of Conductance of the solution
is plotted against the Volume of
solution and the equivalence end point
is determined.

STRONG ACID STRONG BASE

TITRATION
CONDUCTANCE

Endpoint
VOLUME

STRONG ACID STRONG BASE

TITRATION
Acid

dissociates completely to release

more hydrogen ions in solution.
Hydrogen ions are strong electrolytes
and so have high conductance.
Addition of strong base which has OH
ions (also a strong electrolyte) causes
the conductance to drop sharply.

STRONG ACID STRONG BASE

TITRATION
The

conductance starts to rise sharply

again after the end point is passed
since the base is in excess.
Endpoint is reached when the two
plots of conductance intersect.

WEAK ACID STRONG BASE

TITRATION
CONDUCTANCE

Endpoint
VOLUME

WEAK ACID STRONG BASE

Weak

acid dissociates partially to

release less hydrogen ions in solution
and so have less ability to conduct.
Addition of strong base which is a
strong electrolyte exerts its
conducting action in the solution and
causes the conductance to rise
gradually.

WEAK ACID STRONG BASE

There

is a sharp rise in the

conductance after the end point since
all the weak base is neutralized and
the strong base is in excess.
The endpoint is found at the point
where both phases meet.

STROND ACID WEAK BASE

TITRATION
CONDUCTANCE

Endpoint
VOLUME

STRONG ACID WEAK BASE

Acid

dissociates completely releasing

more and powerful H+ ions in solution.
Addition of the base causes the
conductance to reduce until all the
acid is neutralized.
After the endpoint is reached, the ions
of the weak base cannot strongly
ionize and so there is no change in the
levels of conductance.

WEAK ACID WEAK BASE

TITRATION
CONDUCTANCE

Endpoint
VOLUME

WEAK ACID WEAK BASE

The

H+ ions from the weak acid are

few and are a result of partial
hydrolysis but the ions from the base
which is causing the neutralization is
also from a weak base.
This causes the conductance to rise
considerably until the endpoint is
reached where all the acid has been

MIXTURE OF STRONG AND

WEAK ACIDS AGAINST STRONG
BASE
CONDUCTANCE

a = 1 st endpoint
b = 2nd endpoint

b
VOLUME

MIXTURE OF STRONG AND

WEAK ACIDS AGAINST STRONG
BASE
Strong

acid is dissociated completely

to release more hydrogen ions. This
causes the strong acid to react fast
and exert its conductance in the
solution.
A first endpoint is produced when all
the acid is neutralized.

MIXTURE OF STRONG AND WEAK

ACIDS AGAINST STRONG BASE
The

ions of the weak acid then undergo partial

dissociation to release less hydrogen ions in the
solution. The ions from the strong base neutralize the
weak acid and cause the conductance to rise since they
hydrogen ions here are few and partially dissociated.
After this, another endpoint is arrived at where all the
weak acid has been neutralized.
The conductance then begins to rise again when the
base is in excess.

MODERN ADVANCEMENTS

MODEL SC72
Features
Waterproof (IP67), sealed case and connector
cover to keep
out moisture
Autoranging allows 0 to 2000 mS/cm
capability
Large, easy-to-read display
Automatic Temperature Compensation
Self-Diagnostics warn of fault conditions
Auto power off extends battery life
300 Points of Data Memory

MODEL ES-51
Automatic

data-logging function.

Self

diagnostic function assures reliable

measurement.

User-friendly

features and portable LCD

with large display.

Quick

connection to PC allows easy and fast

data evaluation.

MODEL B-173
A pocket size conductimeter.
Can accurately measure minute samples in its unique
built-in sampling chamber.
Auto ranging and a measurement range from 1 S/cm to
19.9mS/cm.
Auto-calibration and automatic temperature conversion.
Can be operated manually too.
Salinity conversion function (from 0 to 1.1%).

A modern conductivity
meter with cell and
standard KCl solution for
determination of cell
constant

DRY CELL BATTERY

OPERATED METER
Long data logging system
Measurement at depths as
low as 60 meters.
pH & conductance

MODEL CAU-04

APPLICATIONS IN PHARMACY
Solubility

of sparingly soluble salts

Ionic product of water
Basicity of organic acids
Purity of water and solutions needed
for pharmaceutical products

APPLICATIONS IN PHARMACY
To check

drug delivery where charged

molecules are transported into and
through the skin by application of a
weak direct electrical current
Determination of end point in
volumetric analysis

REFERENCES

Olaniyi A. A. and Ogungbamila F. O (1991)

Experimental Pharmacy Chemistry (1st Edition)
Shaneson C. I. Limited
Ibadan
Pages 162 166