Name: Ami, S; Cortado, K; Malonosan, J Date Submitted: October 22, 2018

Experiment 3
Total Alkalinity of Pond Water

I. Results
Table 1: Result of one trial in standardization of Na2CO3 (weight, purity, volume reading and
concentration)
Standardization of Na2CO3 1 Trial
Weight Na2CO3 (g) 1.325
Purity of Na2CO3 99.8%
Corrected Weight Na2CO3 (g) 1.3251
Volume Na2CO3 (ml) 250
Concentration of Na2CO3 0.0500 M

Table 2: Results of each trial in standardization of H2SO4 (volume reading, concentration and
average concentration)
Standardization of H2SO4 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Volume Na2CO3 solution (ml) 50 50 50
Final volume of H2SO4 solution 35.5 34.7 37.5
(ml)
Initial volume of H2SO4 solution 0 0 0
(ml)
Net volume of H2SO4 solution 35.5 34.7 37.5
(ml)
Concentration of H2SO4 (M) 0.352 0.367 0.333
Average concentration of H2SO4 0.351
(M)

Table 3: Results of each trial in analyzing water sample (volume reading and determination of
end point)
Analysis of Water Sample Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Volume of water sample (ml) 100 100 100
Initial volume of H2SO4 (ml) 0 0 0
Volume of H2SO4 needed to reach 0 0 0
phenolphthalein endpoint (ml)
Volume of H2SO4 needed to reach 24.7 23.5 46.6
methyl endpoint (ml)
Table 4: Results of each trial in determining total alkalinity of the water sample (total
alkalinity and total alkalinity average)

Total alkalinity of the water Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

sample 1235 mg l-1 1175 mg l-1 2330 mg l-1
Total alkalinity average as
1580 mg l-1
CaCO3

II. Discussion

Alkalinity is a measure of an aggregate property of water and it is primarily a

function of carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide content. Water’s alkalinity
measures how much acid it can neutralize.

Total alkalinity is defined as the quantity of base present in water. Carbonates,

bicarbonates, hydroxides, phosphates and berates are the common bases found in
fish ponds. Alkalinity is measured by the amount of acid water can absorb buffer
before achieving a designated pH. Total alkalinity is expressed as milligrams per
liter or parts per million calcium carbonate (Wurts & Durborow, 1992)

Alkalinity of pond water was determined by titrating a sample of pond water

with sulfuric acid. Phenolphthalein was also used as an indicator to determine
alkalinity and methyl orange as the indicator of total alkalinity.

In the experiment, the phenolphthalein alkalinity of the pond water is 0 which

indicates that the volume of acid utilized until the completion of reaction is zero.
This is due to the absence or insufficiency of both OH - and HCO3 ions. This was
determined by using phenolphthalein indicator and the water sample did not
produce any color. Total alkalinity of pond water was determined by the methyl
orange, the water turned yellow instead of orange which means that the total
alkalinity is not 0. The sample was titrated with standard acid until first
perceptible color changed towards orange. The average total alkalinity as CaCO 3
is relatively high (1580 mg l-1) which denotes that there is a high concentration of
CaCO3.
 III. Conclusion
Pond water alkalinity can be determined by titrating with standardized
acid and the help of indicators. The addition of phenolphthalein produced a
colorless solution indicating that the sample is below pH 8. Phenolphthalein is
an indicator which is pink in color (in base) and colorless in (acids) therefore
zero phenolphthalein alkalinity means there are insufficient or no hydroxides
and bicarbonates present in the alkali mixture. Methyl Orange then used
instead, provided a yellow solution which signifies it is above pH 6.2. By
using the methyl orange, it determined the alkalinity of the pond water after
titrating the standardized H2SO4 solution. Indicators such as phenolphthalein
and methyl orange are used to determine the acidity and alkalinity of a
solution by the perceptible changes in color that indicate the change in pH
value. The water sample has 0 phenolphthalein alkalinity and an average of
1580 mg l-1 of total alkalinity.

IV. References
Wurts, W., Durborow, R. 1992. Interactions of ph, carbon dioxide, alkalinity
and hardness in fish pond. Retrieved fromhttps://appliedecology.cals.ncsu.edu/wp-
content/uploads/SRAC-0464.pdf.
V. Appendices

The results on determining the total alkalinity in pond water

Fig. 1.
Three trials obtained in determining total alkalinity in pond water via titration

Calculations
Concentration of Na2CO
C Na2CO3 = 1.3251gNa2CO3 X 1 mol Na2CO3
105.9903 g Na2CO3
= 0.250 L 0.0500 M Na2CO3
Concentration of H2SO4
Trial 1
C H2SO4 = 250 ml (0.0500 M Na2CO3) x 1 mmol H2SO4

35.5 ml
1 mmol Na2CO3
= 0.352 M
Trial 2
C H2SO4 = 250 ml (0.0500 M Na2CO3) x 1 mmol H2SO4

34.7 ml
= 0.367 1 mmol Na2CO3 M

Trial 3
C H2SO4 = 250 ml (0.0500 M Na2CO3) x 1 mmol H2SO4
1 mmol Na2CO3
37.5 ml
= 0.333 M
Average concentration of H2SO4

= 0.352 + 0.367 + 0.333

3
= 0.351

Total Alkalinity as CaCO3

Trial 1

100,000 x 24.7 x 0.05

T =
100
 = 1,235 mg l-1

Trial 2

100,000 x 24.7 x 0.05

T =
100

= 1,175 mg l-1

Trial 3

100,000 x 24.7 x 0.05

T =
100

= 2,330 mg l-1

Average Total Alkalinity as CaCO3

1,235 + 1,175 + 2,330

=
3

= 1,580 mg l-1