AVR$SVR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING: KURNOOL

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

IV B.TECH. (SCHEME 2009)
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
TITLE: Test Procedure to determine
Various forms of Acidity in a Water Sample
1.AIM :
To determine the various forms of acidity in the given water sample(s).
2.APPARATUS :
Burette (50ml) with burette stand, Pipette(20ml), Conical flasks(250ml)
and Beaker(100ml).
3.REAGENTS :
Standard Sodium hydroxide(NaOH) , Phenolphthalein indicator and Methyl
orange indicator .
4.PRINCIPLE :
The mineral acids present and contributing mineral acidity can be
calculated by titrating or neutralizing sample with strong base to pH 4.3
in the presence of methyl orange indicator. The carbon dioxide and
bicarbonates (carbonic acid) present and contributing Co 2 acidity can be
calculated by neutralizing the sample to pH 8.2 by continuing the titration
in the presence of phenolphthalein indicator.
5.PROCEDURE:
1.Clean all the apparatus with distilled water and rinse with respective
solutions.
2.Pipette out 100 ml water sample in to a 250 ml clean conical flask.
3.Add one or two drops of methyl orange indicator. If it gives an
orangish red colour, it means mineral acidity is present.
4.Titrate the sample with sodium hydroxide solution until yellow
Colour is observed.
5.Note down the volume of sodium hydroxide solution used.
6.Add one or two drops of phenolphthalein indicator. If it does not give
any colour ,continue the titration until permanent pink colour is
observed.
7.Note down the volume of sodium hydroxide solution used.
8.Repeat the same procedure for concurrent values of burette
readings.
9.Repeat the above procedure for the given any number of samples.
6.OBSERVA TIONS:
S.NO.

Description
of sample

Vol. of
Sample
Taken
(ml)

7.CALCULATIONS:
Normality of NaOH (N)

Methyl orange Indicator

Phenolphthalein Indicator

Burette readings

Burette
readings
Initial
Final

Initial

Final

Vol. of
NaOH
used
( M ml )

Vol. Of
NaOH
used
( P ml)

Total
Vol. Of
NaOH
used
( T ml)
T=M+ P

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AVR$SVR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING: KURNOOL

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
IV B.TECH. (SCHEME 2009)
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
TITLE: Test Procedure to determine
Various forms of Acidity in a Water Sample

Volume of NaOH required to neutralize

mineral acidity /Methyl orange acidity (M)

Volume of NaOH required to neutralize

carbon dioxide Acidity / Phenolphthalein acidity (P)

Volume of NaOH required to neutralize total acidity (T) =

Mineral acidity in terms of CaCo3
Carbon dioxide acidity in terms of CaCo 3
mg/l

N x M x 50x 1000 mg/l

Volume of sample
=

N x P x 50 x 1000
Volume of sample

Total acidity in terms of CaCo3

mg/l

N x T x 50 x 1000

Volume of sample
8.RESULT:
Mineral acidity present in water sample in mg/l as CaCo3

Carbon dioxide present acidity in water sample in mg/l as CaCo 3

Total acidity present in water sample in mg/l as CaCo3

9.INFERENCE:
The given water sample may/may not be used for domestic purpose.
The given water sample may/may not be used for construction purpose.
10.PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNLFICANCE:
Since most of the natural waters and sewages are buffered by carbon
dioxide - bicarbonate system, the acidity present due to free carbon
dioxide has no significance from public health viewpoint. But waters
containing mineral acidity give unpleasant taste and these are
unacceptable. Further, acid waters pose problem of corrosion and
interfere in water softening.

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