Estimation of total hardness of water (EDTA method)
Aim: To estimate the amount of total hardness of given sample of water by complexometric
titrations.
REAGENTS: Water, EDTA, Eriochrome Black T
Principle:
Hardness in water is due to the presence of dissolved salts of calcium and magnesium. It is unfit
for drinking, bathing, washing and it also forms scales in boilers. Hence it is necessary to
estimate the amount of hardness producing substances present in the water sample. Once it is
estimated, the amount of chemicals required for the treatment of water can be calculated. The
estimation of hardness is based on complexometric titration. Hardness of water is determined by
titrating with a standard solution of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) which is a
complexing agent. Since EDTA is insoluble in water, the disodium salt of EDTA is taken for this
experiment. EDTA can form four or six coordination bonds with a metal ion.
Total hardness
Total hardness is due to the presence of bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates of calcium and
magnesium ions. The total hardness of water is estimated by titrating the water sample against
EDTA using Eriochrome Black-T (EBT) indicator. Initially EBT forms a weak EBT- Ca2+/Mg2+
wine red coloured complex with Ca2+/Mg2+ ions present in the hard water. On addition of EDTA
solution, Ca2+/Mg2+ ions preferably forms a stable EDTA- Ca2+/Mg2+ complex with EDTA
leaving the free EBT indicator in solution which is steel blue in colour in the presence of
ammonia buffer (mixture of ammonium chloride and ammonium hydroxide, pH 10).
Eriochrome Black-T + Ca2+/Mg2+ Eriochrome Black-T-Ca2+/Mg2+
(Wine red)
Eriochrome Black-T-Ca2+/Mg2+ + EDTA EDTA-Ca2+/Mg2+ + Eriochrome
Black-T
(Wine red) (Steel blue)
PROCEDURE
Mineral Water used as Standard Water Sample
Preparation of standard 0.01 M EDTA Solution
Weigh about 3.8 g of the disodium EDTA salt (Na2H2Y 2H2O) into a 1 liter volumetric flask,
dissolve and dilute to the mark with deionized water and mix well.
Standardization of the EDTA Solutions
Pipet exactly 20 mL of standard Water Sample into each of three Erlenmeyer flasks. 5 ammonia
buffer (in the hood) and add a few crystals of the Eriochrome Black T (EBT) indicator. Titrate
with your EDTA solution until the color changes from wine red to steel blue. Use these results to
determine the molar concentration of the EDTA solution for use in the titration of your unknown
Water Sample.
Estimation of Total Hardness
The burette is filled with standard EDTA solution to the zero level, following usual precautions.
20 ml of the given water sample is pipetted out into a clean conical flask. 5 ml ammonia buffer
and 2 drops of EBT indicator are added and titrated against EDTA from the burette. The end
point is the change of colour from wine red to steel blue. The titration is repeated to get
concordant titre value.
Titration-1 Estimation of Total Hardness Standard EDTA vs Water sample
Volume of hard water Burette Reading Volume of EDTA Indicator
sample (ml) Initial Final solution
(ml)
Calculation
1 ml of 0.01 M EDTA 1 mg of CaCO3
V1 ml of EDTA V1 mg of CaCO3
Calculation of total hardness
Volume of EDTA solution consumed = ................. ml
Volume of hard water taken = .................. ml
Volume of EDTA solution consumed X1000
Total hardness = ppm
Volume of the hard water taken
= ................................................................... ppm
Result:
The collected water sample contains
Total hardness = ppm
