Analysis of

Florida Water
By: Ciara, Roddric, Anna, and Emma

Introduction
Analytical chemistry is the study of the
separation, identification, and quantification
of the chemical components of natural and
artificial materials.
This type of chemistry is present in many of
our daily lives, in things such as getting
blood work done, hearing a smoke detector
go off, or testing the water in a swimming
pool.

In this we were
asked to test some
samples provided,
along with our own
samples of water.
More specifically we
were asked to
determine water
hardness within the
water tested.

Testing water
hardness is
important because a
high mineral content
can cause large
levels of buildup in
water pipes and
pumps, and lack of
certain minerals can
sometimes corrosion
of pipes.
The primary causes
of water hardness
are calcium and
magnesium ions.

Here we will describe a titration

process that can be used in most
labs to determine water hardness.

A buffer is then added to change

the water to an appropriate pH,
then EDTA is slowly added to the
sample. EDTA will react with
calcium and magnesium in the
water, thus removing them from
solution. Then when all of the
calcium and magnesium have been
used up, the indicator changes
color and you can calculate the
amount of hardness that was
present in the sample water.

http://www.youtu
be.com/
watch?v
=2Fr0V9SZ6R8

Methods
Week 1
First for each sample 10 mL was
measured out 3 times and the pH was
raised to 10 with the Ammonium buffer
Second for each sample a titration of
EDTA into each sample 3 times was
done.

Calcium 1 Titration
Start

Stop

Trial 1

0 mL

18.1 mL

Trail 2

18.1 mL

33.7 mL

Trail 3

33.7 mL

50.0 mL

For this trial 5 mL of each of the 3 samples was measured

out and 10 drops of indicator black was added.

Calcium 2 Titration
Start

Stop

Trail 1

1.7 mL

14.0 mL

Trail 2

14.0 mL

28.6 mL

Trail 3

28.6 mL

37.8 mL

For this trial 13 drops of indicator

black was placed into each 10 mL
sample and then 2 mL of each was
measured out for the titration

Calcium 3 Titration

Start

Stop

Trial 1

32.0 mL

42.3 mL

Trial 2

42.3 mL

52.0 mL

Trial 3

0 mL

15.8 mL

For this trial 5 mL of each of the 3 samples was

measured out and 10 drops of indicator black was
added for the titration.

Week 2
Like week 1, 10 mL of each sample was
measured out 3 times and 3 drops of
ammonium buffer was added to raise
the pH to a basic 10

After the pH for each sample is raised

to 10 the samples were then titrated to
find out the molarity of Calcium

Start

End

Sample 1 EDTA Titration (10 mL)

EDTA
m1=0.01

Start

End

pH

m2

0.0mL

3.2mL

3.2

10.50

0.0032M

3.2mL

5.6mL

2.4

10.54

0.0024M

5.6mL

8.4mL

2.8

10.59

0.0028M

3 drops of buffer, 10 drops of EDTA

m1v1=m2v2 => m2= m1v1/v2 , v1= V
A: m2= (0.01)(3.2)/(10) = 0.0032M
B: m2= (0.01)(2.4)/(10) = 0.0024M
C: m2= (0.01)(2.8)/(10) = 0.0028M
Average = 0.0032 + 0.0024 + 0.0028=> 0.0084 /3 =>
0.0028mol/L

Sample 2 at 10mL each before Titration +

10 drops of indicator

Sample 2 after titration

Sample 2 EDTA Titration (10 mL)

EDTA
m1=0.01

Start

End

pH

m2

0.0mL

9.3mL

9.3

10.55

0.0055M

9.3mL

16.9mL

7.6

10.58

0.0076M

16.9mL

22.4mL

5.5

10.66

0.0093M

3 drops of buffer, 10 drops of EDTA

m1v1=m2v2 => m2= m1v1/v2 , v1= V
A: m2= (0.01)(9.3)/(10) = 0.0093M
B: m2= (0.01)(7.6)/(10) = 0.0076M
C: m2= (0.01)(5.5)/(10) = 0.0055M
Average = 0.0093 + 0.0076 + 0.0055=> 0.0224 /3 =>
0.0075mol/L

Sample 3 EDTA Titration (10 mL)

EDTA
m1=0.01

Start

End

pH

m2

22.4mL

29.4mL

7.0

10.59

0.007M

29.4mL

38.2mL

8.8

10.56

0.0088M

38.2mL

40.5mL

8.3

10.64

0.0083M

3 drops of buffer, 10 drops of EDTA

m1v1=m2v2 => m2= m1v1/v2 , v1= V
A: m2= (0.01)(7.0)/(10) = 0.007M
B: m2= (0.01)(8.8)/(10) = 0.0088M
C: m2= (0.01)(8.3)/(10) = 0.0083M
Average = 0.007 + 0.0088 + 0.0083=> 0.0242 /3 =>
0.0081mol/L

Class Data
Sample 1

Sample 2

Sample 3

T1

0.0346M

0.0463M

0.032M

T2

0.033M

0.0602M

0.0239M

T3

0.0384M

0.0294M

0.0184M

T4

0.027M

0.045M

0.027M

T5

0.0334M

0.046M

0.0368M

T6

0.028M

0.044M

0.042M

Discussion
Determining the water quality of these various samples
was done by titration. The purpose of titration was to
determine the concentration of the calcium ions present in
the water samples, by just using the molar solutions of
EDTA and the water samples.
After the EDTA was standardized, the 3 water samples
(USF Water, tap water from Roddric, and bottled Dasani
water) were ready to be tested. A standard amount of
water was measured out from each sample and then mixed
with a basic buffer solution which would bring the pH
samples to 10. When each solution was titrated, the color
of the sample would turn from a pink to a blue color. We
did three trials of each solution for a total of nine trials.

Next an amount of the deionized water

was placed into beakers in which
Conductometer probes were stuck into
each solution. The recorded resistance
was the highest possible recordable
value, which was accurate. Each sample
had a lower resistance than the samples
of eater which made it easier for
testing.

Possible errors could have occurred

from inaccurate measurements in all
stages of the test. Over titration of the
water was also another possible source
in this tests. Other errors could have
occurred as a result of transferring the
probe itself. From loose wire
connections to poor construction of the
meter itself, it could have led to
incorrect values. To measure the
resistance.