ABSTRACT

The lab is to determine pH, acidity and alkalinity of the samples given. pH represents the
concentration of free hydrogen ion, H+. It must be controlled for coagulation, disinfection and
water softening in water treatment. It is measured by using the pH meter. Acidity is a measure of
specific acid substance in solution while in practical, acidity is a solution’s capacity to react with
a strong base until pH 8.3. Acidity is also known as a proton donor and has high amount H +. In
practical, alkalinity is a solution’s capacity to react with a strong acid until pH 4.6. Alkalinity
also known as proton acceptor and has high amount of OH-. Besides, alkalinity provides natural
buffering capacity against addition of acid.

Technique used in this lab is titration where a solution of a known concentration is used
to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. Two samples which are tab water,
sample A and lake water, sample B is used. By using pH meter, pH and temperature of both
samples are determined and then titrated using 0.02N Sodium hydroxide for acidity of the
samples while 0.02N Sulfuric acid is used for alkalinity of the samples. Based on the result
obtained, in the sample A, volume of alkalinity is higher than acidity which is 38 mg/L CaCO3.
In sample B, lake water also has higher volume of alkalinity compared to acidity which is 43
mg/L CaCO3.
RESULT

Table 1.2: Result for Acidity of samples

Sample Titration Reading, 𝑚𝑙 pH Temperature, ℃

Initial Final Volume of Initial Final Initial Final
Titrated, 𝑚𝑙
A 20.0 20.1 0.1 8.99 9.18 27.8 27.2
B 19.8 20.2 0.4 7.81 8.46 27.4 27.5

Table 1.3: Result for Alkalinity of samples

Sample Titration Reading, 𝑚𝑙 pH Temperature, ℃

Initial Final Volume of Initial Final Initial Final
Titrated, 𝑚𝑙
A 4.1 5.0 7.9 3.8 8.87 8.40 4.60 27.1 27.0 27.0
B 0 - 4.3 4.3 7.43 - 4.62 28.2 - 28.0

CALCULATION

Given:

Volume of sample A (Tab water) = 100 𝑚𝑙

Volume of sample B (Lake water) = 100 𝑚𝑙

𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑉 ×1000 𝐿 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
Total acidity/ alkalinity =
𝑉𝑠
Sample Acidity Alkalinity

A 0.1 × 1000 𝑚𝑔 3.8 × 1000 𝑚𝑔

=1 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 38 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
100 𝐿 100 𝐿

B 0.4 × 1000 𝑚𝑔 4.3 × 1000 𝑚𝑔

=4 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 43 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
100 𝐿 100 𝐿
APPENDIX
REFERENCES

1. http://www.lagoonsonline.com/laboratory-articles/acid.htm
2. ASTM International (2006), Standard Test Methods for Acidity or Alkalinity of Water
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM D 1067-06, American Society for Testing and
Materials, Philadelphia, PA.
3. Sawyer, C.N., McCarty, P.L., and Parkin, G.F. 2000. Chemistry for Environmental
Engineering 4th Edition. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.
DISCUSSION

The initial value of tap water ( sample A ) is 8.99, this indicates that the concentration of
OH- ion is higher than the concentration of H+ ion. As we all know that pH value bigger than 7
shows that the solution is alkaline and there is no way that we could test its acidity by titration
because sodium hydroxide will only increase the pH value of the sample. The reason tap water is
kept slightly alkaline is because acidic water will leach chemicals from pipes which it passes
through and generate toxic substance which might be harmful to human body. Tap water is likely
‘hard’, it contains dissolved mineral salts, most likely calcium , magnesium carbonates and
bicarbonates , the anions of these substance will consume H+ ions and thereby raising the pH.
Therefore, water treatment plants typically buffer the pH of water supply with a pH OD 6.5-9.5,
so tap water has a low acidity of 1 mg/L and a high alkalinity of 38mg/L.

For lake water ( sample B ), we can see from the initial measurement of pH that, the lake
water is alkaline with a pH value bigger than 7. After titration, we can determine the
concentration H+ ions is 4mg/L, therefore we can say that the lake water is alkaline and low in
acidity. In the alkalinity test of lake water, we obtain a high concentration of alkaline substance
in lake water which is 43mg/L.

By comparing the physical characteristics of two samples, the tap water is clearer and
cleaner, whereas the lake water has some black particles floating inside and the color is more
likely a brown color which probably caused by microorganism in lake water. Throughout the
results, we can observed that the acidity of lake (pond) water is slightly higher than tap water,
one reason is because that tap water have been made to be alkaline purposely by treatment plant
to ensure safety uses, another reason is that carbon dioxide gets into ponds or lakes easily from
the air an it forms carbon acid when it reads with water, furthermore, fish or any life form
breaths out carbon dioxide which will also create an environment with higher acidity.

Errors may occurs during the experiment, and that might affect our testing results:

• Not loosening or removing the fill hole cap will cause the pH value remain at a certain value.
This happens during the testing of sample A.
• Inadequate probe submersion can also cause the errors in pH value determination.

• Not shaking the beaker and mix the solution very well.

CONCLUSION

In a conclusion, we can conclude from what we are discuss for this experiment of pH,
Acidity and Alkalinity is succeed and the objective are achieve. From pH, Acidity and
Alkalinity, we can understand that the higher the pH increases the concentration and also
increases the Hydrogen in the sample. As we can be seen on the result, the tap water (sample A)
has a low acidity of 1 mg/L and a high alkalinity of 38mg/L while lake water is alkaline 43mg/L and low
in acidity of 4mg/L . As overall of the result shows that the tap water is clearer and cleaner and acidity
of lake (pond) water is slightly higher than tap water. Finally, the experiment is successful through
giving knowledge to students about determination of pH, Acidity and Alkalinity in water sample.

RECOMMENDATION

There are a few recommendations that can be considered for Ph, Acidity and Alkalinity
experiments. Firstly, the students need to be give more focus when take the data from the burette.
This is because when more focus and accuracy were given there will be no misreading in data
taking to avoid any error in result. The eye level must be parallel to the line of the solutions.
Furthermore, observer need to alert when perform the dilution of the solution, this is because the
pH can be varied from the given reaching Ph. Make sure to stir the beaker in proper way to
ensure the correct data taken. Then, increase the type of sample also can give more data and
increases the understanding the theory of this experiment and also increase the performance
while doing the experiment. Finally, proper management of the task given in the group helps in
efficiency of perform the experiment and also can avoid any mistake while doing the experiment.