GARGI MEMORIAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ENVIRONMENT ENGG. LABORATORY

NAME= YEAR = ROLL NO= EXPERIMENT N0=

DETERMINATION OF CHLORIDE (Cl-)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentration of chloride present in a given sample of water.

INTRODUCTION:

Chloride, in the form of chloride ion, is one of the major inorganic anions in water and wastewater. In
potable water, the salty taste produced by chloride concentration is variable and dependent on the
chemical composition of water. Chlorides occur in all natural water in widely varying concentration. The
chloride content normally increases as the mineral content increases. Upland and mountain supplies
usually are quit low in chlorides, whereas river and ground waters usually have a considerable amount.
Human excreta, particularly the urine, contain chloride in an amount about equal to the chlorides
consumed with food and water. Many industrial wastes contain appreciable amount of chlorides. High
chloride content may harm metallic pipes and structures, as well as growing plants.

SELECTION OF THE METHOD:

The selection of a particular method is mostly a matter of preference. Argentometric Method or Silver
Nitrate Method is convenient where sulfide, thiosulfate and sulfite ions are not present to interfere, the
phosphate if present should not be greater than 25 ml/l and iron should be within 10 mg/l.

Mercuric Nitrate Method is much less subject to interference. If colour offers a problem in the water
sample, the determination can be performed Potentiometrically as described in the standard method.
The Argentometric Method is followed and discussed here.

PRINCIPLE:

In a neutral or slightly alkaline solution, potassium chromate can indicate the end point of the silver
nitrate titration of chloride. Silver chloride is precipitated quantitatively before red silver chromate is
formed.

(1) Ag+ + Cl- ® AgCl [white precipitate] (2) 2 Ag+ + CrO4 = ® Ag2CrO4 [red precipitate]

REAGENTS:
 1. Potassium chromate indicator solution: Dissolve 50 g K2CrO4 in a little distilled water. Add silver
nitrate solution until a definite red precipitate is formed. Allow to stand 12 hr, filter and dilute
the filtrate to 1 liter with distilled water.
2. Standard silver nitrate titrant, 0.014N: Dissolve 2.395g AgNO3 and dilute to 1 liter. Standardize
against 0.0141N NaCl. 1 ml 0.0141N AgNO3 =500 μ/g Cl.
3. Standard sodium chloride, 0.0141N: Dissolve 824.1 mg NaCl (dried at 140°C) in chloride free
water and dilute to 1000 ml.

PROCEDURE:

1. Take 100 ml or a suitable portion diluted to 100 ml in an Erlenmeyer flask adjusted to pH 7.0-8.0
and add 1 ml K2CrO4.
2. Titrate with standard AgNO3 solution till Ag2CrO4 starts precipitating as pale red precipitate.
3. Standardize AgNO3 against standard NaCl.
4. Titrate distilled water in the same way to find out the blank value.

RESULT:

SAMPLE NO. BURETTE READING ML OF TITRANT USED

INITIAL FINAL

DISCUSSION: