Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Academic Year 2020/2021

Faculty Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science
Department Department of Chemical Engineering
Unit Code and Name UEMK 2551 Process Engineering Laboratory 1
Class Type P4
Date of Experiment 4.11.2020
Practical Group No. Group 13
Experiment No. 1
Title of Experiment Determination of Chloride Ions with FAJAN Method
Name of Instructor Ms. Azlyana binti Ismail

No. Name of Student Student ID No. Year and Trimester

1 Allan Chong Han Lin 1801899 Y2T2
2 Ng Jian Min 1803240 Y2T2
3 Ng Zhen Xuan 1802660 Y2T2
4 Ong Sin Hui 1803926 Y2T2
5 Tham Ke Yuan 1801993 Y2T2
Title

Determination of chloride ions with FAJAN method.

Objectives

1. To determine the soluble chloride ions in a sample solution.

2. To understand the principle of precipitation titrations and how adsorption indicator
can be used in analytical chemistry.

Introduction

Silver chloride, AgCl appear as white crystalline solid which is well known for its low
solubility in water. AgCl occurs naturally as the mineral chlorargyrite. It can be prepared by
adding argentum nitrate, AgNO3 to solution containing chloride ions which forms the
precipitate of AgCl. The chemical reaction of AgNO 3 and Cl- ions is represented by the
chemical equation below:
−¿→ AgCl(s )¿

A g+¿+C l ¿

In this experiment, FAJAN method is used. Dichlorofluorescein is used as an

indicator where the greenish-yellow colour turns faint-pink at the end-point of titration. In
determining the number of mol and the weight percentage of Cl - ions, titration is done with
AgNO3 solution of known concentration as the titrant. The known AgNO3 solution is added
to the unknown chloride solution until exactly same number of moles of AgNO 3 is added to
the mixture as there are moles of chloride present. This is termed as the end-point of titration.
Calculation has been done to determine the weight percentage of Cl- ions in different
concentrations for different chloride solutions.
Equipment and Materials

Item Description *Item category Quantity

Volumetric flask W 1
Elenmeyer flask W 5
Potassium Chloride (KCl) CH 2g
Zinc Chloride (ZnCl2) CH 2g
Dichlorofluorescein CH 2 mL
Argentum nitrate CH 300 mL
Dextrin solution C 60 mL
Distilled water C 1 liter
Tissue (Kim wipe) C 1
Beaker (10mL) W 3
Pipet (20mL) W 1
Wash Bottle W 1
Analytical balance E 1
Burette W 1

*Item category
SP Sample or specimen
C Consumable
CH Chemical
W Labware, glassware, tool and components
E Equipment
S Software

Theory

FAJAN method is based on principle of adsorption indicator. The adsorption indicator,

fluorescein (dichlorofluorescein) is used in this process. Fluorescein is a weak acid, can be
used to show the equivalence point in titration of chloride ion with argentum ion. It partially
dissociates in water to form a fluoresceinate anion. In this method, the chloride ions are
determined by direct titration with silver ions (from silver nitrate) using fluorescein indicator.
The adsorption of the compounds is significantly influenced by the compound’s surface
charge produced in the solution. The adsorption of fluoresceinate ions on the colloids formed
with different charges gives the precipitate particles, silver chloride, a red colour with end
point markings.
 Figure 1 : Titration Setup (Khan Academy, n.d.).

Figure 1 above shows the titration setup. Titration is a method to get an unknown
solution’s concentration. In this experiment, the titrant (Argentum nitrate solution), which is a
known concentration solution, is usually applied to a known analyte volume, which is an
unknown concentration solution via a burette until the reaction is completed. By knowing the
titrant volume added will help ones to determine the unknown analyte’s concentration. In
order to signal the endpoint of titration which means the end of reaction, an indicator
(dichlorofluorescein) should be used (Khan Academy, n.d.).

Besides, at the end of the experiment, the silver chloride precipitate will be formed.
The precipitate appears to adsorb ‘their own’ ions to the surface to form what is referred to as
the primary layer of adsorption. For example, in this experiment, the precipitate particles,
silver chloride preferentially adsorbs argentum ion or chloride ion, whatever happens to be in
excess. There is a very wide surface area of a colloidal precipitate and, thus, an abundance of
space for adsorption. The chloride ion is in abundance and forms the primary adsorption layer
on the surface of silver chloride precipitate prior to the reaching of equivalence point of
titration of chloride ion with argentum ion.
 The particles have a negative charge on surface and repel each other. This will
stabilize the colloid. The indicator ion, fluorescein ion is also repelled and remains well
removed from surface. Since the particles are negatively charged, cations are attracted, and
anions dominate. Hence, the secondary adsorption layer composed of cation that forms silver
chloride is weakly bound. Argentum ion is in excess and surface of precipitate is positively
charged, with the argentum ion being the primary layer when beyond the equivalence point of
titration. The fluoresceinate anion will now be attracted by these positively charged colloidal
particles and adsorbed into secondary adsorption layers. The fluorescein indicator will form a
coloured complex with argentum ion, by giving a red colour to the precipitate. The
concentration of argentum ion is high enough to surpass the solubility product of complex
only on the surface. This does not happen anywhere else in the solution, and the colour is
hence limited to surface of precipitate.
−¿→ AgC l (s )¿

For the chemical equation of titration, A g+¿+C l ¿

. When the equivalence point is
reached, the nitrate ions from silver nitrate (reactant) are only weakly adsorbed to the
precipitate and are quickly replaced by indicator ions. The end point of titration will be
indicated by the presence of pink dye of silver dichlorofluoresceinate ([Link], n.d.).
Procedures
1. 20mL of 2g/L zinc chloride solution is prepared and poured into a volumetric flask.
2. 10mL of 1% Dextrin solution is prepared and poured into the volumetric flask sample.
3. 20mL of distilled water is prepared and poured into the volumetric flask sample.
4. Few drops of dichlorofluorescein indicator is added into the volumetric flask sample
and greenish-yellow colour solution is obtained.
5. 17g/L of argentum nitrate solution is prepared as the titrant.
6. The titrant solution is filled in the burette.
7. The initial reading of titrant volume is recorded.
8. The titrant is added drop by drop into volumetric flask sample and the volumetric
flask is swirled gently throughout the titration.
9. The final reading of titrant volume is recorded when a faint-pink colour solution is
obtained.
10. Steps 1 to 9 are repeated to get the average titrant volume.
11. The experiment is repeated by replacing 2g/L zinc chloride solution with 4g/L zinc
chloride solution, 2g/L potassium chloride solution and 4g/L potassium chloride
solution.
 Part I Calculation :
Burette Reading 1 Burette Reading 2 Average
Sample Concentration Mass Burette
Chemicals Initial Final Initial Final
no. (g/L) (g) Reading
(ml) (ml) (ml) (ml)
(ml)
1 ZnCl2 2 0.206 0.0 5.4 6.3 12.1 5.6
2 ZnCl2 4 0.399 4.2 13.9 10.6 21.5 10.3
3 KCl 2 0.209 11.0 16.8 18.0 24.0 5.9
4 KCl 4 0.405 0.0 10.7 12.0 22.9 10.8

Sample 1
ZnCl2 +2 AgNO3 → Zn ( NO3 )2 +2 AgCl … … … (1 )
−¿+ 2AgCl… …… (1 ) ¿
2+¿ +2NO ¿
3
−¿ → Zn ¿
+¿ +2NO ¿
−¿+ 2 Ag 3
¿
2+¿+2 Cl ¿
Zn
Concentration of AgNO3 = 17 g/L Concentration of ZnCl2 = 2 g/L

Molar mass of AgNO3 = 169.87 g/mol Molar mass of ZnCl2 = 136.29 g/mol

Volume of AgNO3 used = 5.6 ml Mass of ZnCl2 = 0.206 g

17 g 1 mol
Molarity of AgNO3 = × =0.100 M
1 L 169.87 g
5.6 ml
Mole of Ag+ = 0.1 M × ×1 L=5.6 ×10−4 mol Ag+ ¿¿
1000 ml

From Equation (1) :

2 moles of AgNO3 : 1 mole of ZnCl2
Thus, the number of moles of ZnCl2 = 2.8 ×10−4 mol
−4 35.453 g
Mass of 2 Cl- ions =2(2.8 ×10 mol × )=0.02 g
1 mol
0.02 g
Weight Percentage of Cl- = ×100 %=9.7 %
0.206 g

Theoretical mass of chloride ions, mT

m T =Molarity of Chloride solutions ×Volume of solution prepared × No. of chloride ions produced × Molecula

2 g ZnCl 2 1 mol Zn Cl2 20 ml

¿ ( ×
1 L solution 136.29 g ZnCl 2
×
1000 ml
× 1 L solution × ¿ )( )
¿ 0.021 g Cl−¿ ¿
Sample 2
ZnCl2 +2 AgNO3 → Zn ( NO3 )2 +2 AgCl … … … (1 )
−¿+ 2AgCl… …… (1 ) ¿
2+¿ +2NO ¿
3
−¿ → Zn ¿
+¿ +2NO ¿
−¿+ 2 Ag 3
¿
2+¿+2 Cl ¿
Zn

Concentration of AgNO3 = 17 g/L Concentration of ZnCl2 = 4 g/L

Molar mass of AgNO3 = 169.87 g/mol Molar mass of ZnCl2 = 136.29 g/mol

Volume of AgNO3 used = 10.3 ml Mass of ZnCl2 = 0.399 g

17 g 1 mol
Molarity of AgNO3 = × =0.100 M
1 L 169.87 g
10.3 ml
Mole of Ag+ = 0.1 M × ×1 L=1.03 ×10−3 mol Ag+¿¿
1000 ml

From Equation (1) :

2 moles of AgNO3 : 1 mole of ZnCl2
Thus, the number of moles of ZnCl2 = 5.15 ×10−4 mol
−4 35.453 g
Mass of 2 Cl- ions =2(5.15 ×10 mol × )=0.037 g
1 mol

0.037 g
Weight Percentage of Cl- = ×100 %=9.27 %
0.399 g

Theoretical mass of chloride ions, mT

m T =Molarity of Chloride solutions ×Volume of solution prepared × No. of chloride ions produced × Molecula

4 g Zn Cl 2 1 mol Zn Cl2 20 ml
¿ ( ×
1 L solution 136.29 g ZnCl 2
×
1000 ml
× 1 L solution × ¿ )( )
¿ 0.042 g Cl−¿ ¿
Sample 3
KCl+ AgNO3 → K NO3 + AgCl … … …(2)
−¿+ AgCl… …… (2 ) ¿
+¿ +NO ¿
3
−¿ → K ¿
+¿ +NO ¿
−¿+ Ag 3
¿
+¿+Cl ¿
K

Concentration of AgNO3 = 17 g/L Concentration of KCl = 2 g/L

Molar mass of AgNO3 = 169.87 g/mol Molar mass of KCl = 74.55 g/mol

Volume of AgNO3 used = 5.9 ml Mass of KCl = 0.209 g

17 g 1 mol
Molarity of AgNO3 = × =0.100 M
1 L 169.87 g
5.9 ml
Mole of Ag+ = 0.1 M × ×1 L=5.9 ×10−4 mol Ag+¿ ¿
1000 ml

From Equation (2) :

1 mole of AgNO3 : 1 mole of KCl
Thus, the number of moles of KCl =5.9 ×10−4 mol
−4 35.453 g
Mass of a Cl- ion =5.9 ×10 mol × =0.021 g
1 mol

0.021 g
Weight Percentage of Cl- = ×100 %=10.0 %
0.209 g

Theoretical mass of chloride ions, mT

m T =Molarity of Chloride solutions ×Volume of solution prepared × No. of chloride ions produced × Molecula

¿ ( 1 L2solution
g KCl
×
1 mol KCl 20 ml
74.55 g KCl ) ( 1000 ml
× ×1 L solution ) ׿

¿ 0.019 g Cl−¿ ¿
Sample 4
KCl+ AgNO3 → K NO3 + AgCl … … …(2)
−¿+ AgCl… …… (2 ) ¿
+¿ +NO ¿
3
−¿ → K ¿
+¿ +NO ¿
−¿+ Ag 3
¿
+¿+Cl ¿
K

Concentration of AgNO3 = 17 g/L Concentration of KCl = 4 g/L

Molar mass of AgNO3 = 169.87 g/mol Molar mass of KCl = 74.55 g/mol

Volume of AgNO3 used = 10.8 ml Mass of KCl = 0.405 g

17 g 1 mol
Molarity of AgNO3 = × =0.100 M
1 L 169.87 g
10.8 ml
Mole of Ag+ = 0.1 M × ×1 L=1.08 ×10−3 mol Ag+¿¿
1000 ml

From Equation (2) :

1 mole of AgNO3 : 1 mole of KCl
Thus, the number of moles of KCl =1.08 ×10−3 mol
−3 35.453 g
Mass of a Cl- ion =1.08 ×10 mol × =0.038 g
1mol

0.038 g
Weight Percentage of Cl- = ×100 %=9.40 %
0.405 g

Theoretical mass of chloride ions, mT

m T =Molarity of Chloride solutions ×Volume of solution prepared × No. of chloride ions produced × Molecula

¿ ( 1 L4solution
g KCl
×
1 mol KCl
74.55 g KCl ) ×(
20 ml
1000 ml
×1 L solution ) ׿

¿ 0.0380 g Cl−¿ ¿
Calculation of mean, standard deviation, standard deviation of mean, standard error and
confidence interval
Weight percentage of Mass of chloride ions, m (g)
Sample Standard Error, se (g)
Cl- ion in chloride
No. Experimental Theoretical ¿ Experimental−theoretical∨¿
solution(%)
1 9.70 0.020 0.021 0.001
2 9.27 0.037 0.042 0.005
3 10.00 0.021 0.019 0.002
4 9.40 0.038 0.038 0.000
∑ m=¿ 0.116

All calculations are in mass of chloride ion basis

sample mean , X́=

∑ m = 0.116 =0.029 g
N 4
sample standard deviation ,

∑ ( mi− X́ )2 = 2 2 2 2
s=
√ N −1 √ ( 0.02−0.029 ) + ( 0.037−0.029 ) + ( 0.021−0.029 ) + ( 0.038−0.029 )
3
=0.009

standard error , s e =¿ Experimental mass−Theoretical mass∨¿

standard deviation of mean,

s 0.0098 g
sm = = =0.0049 g
√n √4

With confidence level at 95% and degree of freedom of 3 (n-1)

Using t−distribution approach ,t=3.182
Confidence Interval , I =0.029 ± ( 3.182× 0.0049 )=[0.0134 g , 0.0446 g]
Result
Weight Standard
Standard Confidence
percentage of Mass of Standard deviation
Sample deviation, interval , I
Cl- ion in chloride Error, se of mean,
No. s
chloride ions, m (g) (g) sm /
(g) (g)
solution(%) (g)
1 9.70 0.020 0.001
0.0134 g
2 9.27 0.037 0.005
0.0098 0.0049 –
3 10.00 0.021 0.002
0.0446 g
4 9.40 0.038 0.000

Table 1: Weight Percentage of Cl- Ion and Statistical Parameter of Mass of Chloride Ions

Part II Calculation :
Consider the pure NaCl used for the first case :
Concentration of AgNO3 , M 1 Mass of NaCl required , m 1=0.1550 g
Volume of AgNO3,V 1=0.0312 L Molecular mass of NaCl = 58.44 g/mol

NaCl+ AgNO3 → Na NO 3 + AgCl (s )… … … (3)

−¿ +AgCl( s) ……… ( 3 )¿
+¿ +NO ¿
3
−¿ → Na ¿
+¿ +NO ¿
−¿+ Ag 3
¿
+¿+Cl ¿
Na

From chemical and ionic equations (3), it is found that the amount of silver ion in silver
nitrate has some stoichiometric coefficient with chloride ion, hence, by equalling number of
moles of silver and chloride ions, the concentration, M1 can be determined :

−¿ produced by NaCl ¿

No .of moles of Ag+¿ produced by Ag NO = No. of molesof Cl

3 ¿

0.1550 g
M 1 × 0.0312 L=
58.44 g /mol
0.1550 g
∴ M1 = =0.0850 M
g
(58.44 ) ×0.0312 L
mol
Consider the mixture of NaCl and KCl is used :
Concentration of AgNO3 , 0.0850 M Mass of mixture required , m=0.1400 g
Volume of AgNO3,V 2=0.0247 L Molecular mass of NaCl = 58.44 g/mol
Molecular mass of KCl = 74.55 g/mol
Mass of NaCl, m1
Mass of KCl, m2

−¿(aq) →AgCl (s )… …… ( 4) ¿

Ag+¿(aq)+Cl ¿

Determine chloride ions produced :

−¿ produced by mixture ¿

No .of moles of Ag+¿ produced by Ag NO = No. of molesof Cl

3 ¿

No .of moles of Cl −¿ produced by mixture=0.0850 M ×0.0247 L=0.0021mol ¿

From ionic equation (4), it is found that the number of moles of silver ions is equivalent to
the chloride ions required. However, due to the solution is mixture of NaCl and KCl, mass
balances within the KCl, NaCl mixture and mole balance between chloride ions are
performed :

Mass balance of mixtures :0.14 g=m 1+ m2 … … … … …(1)

m1 m2
Mole balance of chloride ions :0.0021 mol= + … … … … … … … … ..(2)
58.44 74.55

Solving simultaneously,
Mass of NaCl, m1 = 0.06 g
Mass of KCl, m2 = 0.08 g

Therefore,
0.06 g
Weight percentage of NaCl in mixture = × 100 %=42.9 %
0.14 g
Discussion

The main objective of this experiment is to determine the soluble chloride ions in sample
solution which is Potassium Chloride, KCl and Zinc Chloride, ZnCl 2. As shown in Result
part, the weight percentage of chloride ion, Cl- in chloride solution were being summarized in
Table 1. It was obvious that weight percentage of Cl- in KCl is higher than in ZnCl2. Besides,
sample solution with lower concentration has a higher weight percentage of Cl -. Standard
error of mean of the mass of chloride ions in 4 samples are not exceeding 0.0049 g. The
higher the value standard error shows that the experimental value of the weight of Cl - ion in
sample solution deviates largely from theoretical value. Sample number 2 have the higher
standard error among the 4 sample and this means that there might be some error occurs
when handling sample 2 such as parallax error. Confidence interval of the mass of Cl - ion in
sample solution is [0.0134 g, 0.0446 g]. All mass of the 4 samples were lies in this
confidence interval.

Indicator dichlorofluorescein used in this experiment is an adsorption indicator.

Adsorption indicator was used widely in analytical chemistry to determine the quantitative
and qualitative data of certain species. Other than dichlorofluorescein, adsorption indicator
such as eosin, alizarin red also being used to detect the endpoint of precipitation titration
(More, 2020). Adsorption indicator was normally being used to indicate the concentration of
halide ion in certain sample. Colour of the precipitate in the titration will change when there
is no halide ion present in the sample solution. When all halide ions (X) are consumed, an
excess drop of AgNO3 will caused Ag+ formed first and (AgX)Ag+ will then formed.
(AgX)Ag+ will immediately absorb the coloured ions of indicator and causing the precipitate
turn into another colour which indicated the endpoint. Thus, adsorption indicator can be used
to determine qualitative and quantitative data of halide ion.

This experiment is done to determine the soluble chloride ions in a sample solution.
FAJAN method was used to determine the percentage by weight of chloride in the original
samples. FAJAN method is one of the Argentometric Titration. Argentometric Titration
consists of three titration method: Mohr Method, Volhard Method and FAJAN Method. It
was a most commonly used method to determine chloride ions in a sample and based on the
precipitation of silver compounds. The difference between the three Argentometric Titration
method is the indicator used in the titration of chloride ion. Table 2 summarized the indicator
used in each method and the observation on the solution during titration.
 Argentometri
Mohr Method Volhard Method FAJAN Method
c Titration
Ferric ammonium Adsorption indicator:
Indicator used Potassium chromate
sulfate solution dichlorofluorescein
Reddish-brown
Yellow-green colour
Observations precipitate is formed Solution will turn into
solution turn into pink
at end point from a yellow brick red colour
colour solution
solution

Table 2: Argentometric Titration, Indicator Used and Observations

Among three of Argentometric Titration Method, FAJAN Method is said to be the

best method to determine chloride ions as the observation to indicate the endpoint would be
the most obvious. Both Mohr Method and Volhard Method faced the difficulties on
determining the real endpoint of the titration as concentration of the indicator might affect the
appearance of the indicator causing the changing in colour of the solution is hard to observe.
It was true that colour changing from yellow green to pink is more obvious than Reddish-
brown to yellow (Mohr Method) (Gan, 2014).

One of the limitations of FAJAN Method is due to its indicator. Adsorption indicator
are substances that indicate an excess of a reactant in FAJAN titration method by letting the
precipitate to absorb itself (LOBA Chemie, n.d.). It only works well on a large precipitate
surface area. As when the surface area is larger, the adsorption indicator could be absorbed
more efficiently and resulted a more obvious colour changes. However, the presence of high
concentration of ions will cause AgCl particles to coagulate which reduced the surface area of
the precipitate. Therefore, dextrin solution (starch) was being added into the solution before
titration to ensure the AgCl particles do not coagulate.

Another limitation of FAJAN Method due to its indicator is that the indicator is a
weakly basic substance with a pH value above pH 5 (CAMEO, 2020). This will cause itself
reacts with H+ which present in the solution and causing the concentration of free
dichlorofluorescein anion to decrease. When the concentration of free dichlorofluorescein
anion is lower, the adsorption of indicator on AgCl precipitate will be lesser and resulted a
less obvious colour change. Therefore, the pH value should be maintained above pH 9 to
ensure a better performance of adsorption indicator.
 Argentometric Titration Method is not considered as a very accurate method to
determine the chloride ions in a sample solution. It was hard to judge the real endpoint by
observing the colour changes of the solution especially when the solution is not swirl well
during titration. There is another method called Potentiometric Titration Method that could be
used to determine chloride ion in sample solution. Potentiometric Titration Method used an
indicator electrode to determine the endpoint of the titration. It used some application such as
Microprocessor Controlled Titrators and the endpoint will be picked automatically using
algorithms (KODAK Motion Picture Film, n.d.). This way is more accurate than observe the
colour changing visually.

There are a few safety precautions that needed to be taken throughout the experiment.
Students should wear protective gloves, lab coat, covered shoes, face mask and safety
goggles when performing the experiment to prevent the chemical substance contact with skin
or eye directly. In case of contact with the chemical substances, the contacted part (skin or
eyes) should be flush immediately under running water for at least 20 minutes. This is to
ensure the chemical substance react with body part. Chemical substances such as AgNO 3,
ZnCl2, KCl and AgCl are very toxic and hazardous substances. Exposure of these substances
to atmosphere for too long might cause irritation of eyes, nose, and upper respiratory tract
and headache. Therefore, these substances are advice to kept in fume chamber and carry the
experiment in fume chamber. Besides, titration should be performed slowly and gently to
prevent over spill of chemical substances. All chloride solution should be kept under
desiccator and the experiment should be ran in fume chamber as chloride solutions are
hygroscopic and AgCl is photo sensitive. Lastly, all unused chemical substances and the
reacted silver waste shall be disposed probably into collecting tank and not dispose them into
sink as they are hazardous. Before dispose the chemical waste into the collecting tank, their
pH value should be adjusted to pH 8-10 using sodium carbonate.

Some precaution steps shall also be taken in consideration throughout the experiment
to ensure a more accurate result. Firstly, parallax error should be avoided to ensure the
accuracy of reading results. Eyes should be placed perpendicular to the reading on the
measuring cylinder and burette. AgNO3 should be added drop by drop to the sample solution
to ensure the accuracy of the endpoint. Volumetric flask should be swirl continuously and
gently throughout the titration to ensure an even reaction in the sample solution. A white tile
could be placed under the volumetric flask during titration to observe the colour changes
more clearly.

There are 4 crucial assumptions made for stoichiometric calculations. Firstly, the law
of conservation of mass must be followed. Based on Dalton (1808) as cited by Biography
(2020), an atom cannot be produced or destroyed in a chemical reaction which means the
amount of atom of each element must be the same throughout the overall reaction. The total
mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of the products. Second, the reactants are fully
used and converted into the final products. In this case, the reactions are as shown below, and
no side reactions occurred.

KCl+ AgNO3 → K NO3 + AgCl

ZnCl2 +2 AgNO3 → Zn ( NO3 )2 +2 AgCl

There are 2 different mass concentration used which is 2g/L and 4g/L in each reactant
sample, zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and potassium chloride (KCl). However, the experimental
amount of Chloride ions is not affected as the calculation of chloride ions is analysed based
on the amount of AgNO3 used. When it comes to estimation of theoretical amount of chloride
ion, difference in mass concentration of reactant samples matters. For instance, when the
mass concentration of chloride ions solution doubled, the theoretical mass of chloride ions
exhibits the same effect. According to the result, the higher the volume of argentum nitrate
(AgNO3) used to perform titration, the higher the experimental mass of the reactant sample.
 Figure 2: Titration curve for the precipitation titration of Cl- ions with Ag+ ions.

(retrieved from Zamil, 2014)

Based on Figure 2, the pCl value is increased due to the addition of Ag+ ions into the
volumetric flask. The addition of silver ion causes the concentration of chloride ion
decreases. In terms of mathematical approach, the relationship between pCl and
concentration of Cl- is first established as pCl=−log ¿. As chloride ions react with the silver
ions, the concentration of chloride ion decreases and hence the pCl value increases
throughout the titration. With the titrant being titrated to the volumetric flask sample, the
clear yellow mixture sample turns cloudy due to the formation of colloidal AgCl. At the
equivalence point, it indicates that all the Cl - ions in the mixture are react completely with
Ag+ ions. The endpoint of the titration process can be determined after the equivalence point
(Wan Ismail, n.d.). To indicate it, observation of colour change of dichlorofluorescein
indicator is observed. If excess Ag+ ions added into volumetric flask is then react with Cl-
ions and the cloudy mixture is turn into faint pink precipitate. As all chloride ions are
completely reacted, the pCl values are increased and the mixture become more alkaline.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cl- ions can be detected using FAJAN method by titration. The larger the
volume of AgNO3 solution used to titrate, the more the Cl - ions present in the sample. The
weight percentage of Cl- ions in KCl is higher than ZnCl2. Chloride solutions sample with
lower concentration also consists of higher weight percentage of Cl- ions. Usage of
adsorption indicator only applies at reactions that involve precipitation. Precipitates formed
will absorb the colour ions of the indicator, causing the change in colour which indicates the
end-point. Adsorption indicator can be used in analytical chemistry in determining qualitative
and quantitative data.
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