JMJ Marist Brothers

NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 13

Name: Jed A. Tomarong Date Performed: November 21, 2017

Course/Year: BSED-PhySci 3 Score:____________________

Experiment 3
Water Analysis – Alkalinity, Phenolphthalein (pH 8.3)

I. Introduction

Alkalinity is the capacity of the water to resist the changes in pH that would result for it
to be acidic. It is also known as the “buffering capacity” of water. For example, if you add
the same weak acid solution to two vials of water - both with a pH of 7, but one with no
buffering power (e.g. zero alkalinity) and the other with buffering power (e.g. an alkalinity of
50 mg/l), - the pH of the zero alkalinity water will immediately drop while the pH of the
buffered water will change very little or not at all. The pH of the buffered solution would
change when the buffering capacity of the solution is overloaded.

The type of soil and bedrock through which the water passes contribute to the alkalinity
of water. Usually rocks with carbonates, bicarbonate, and hydroxide compounds are main
sources of the alkalinity of water. Other compounds such as borates, silicates and phosphates
may also contribute to alkalinity. Waters that pass through areas which are rich in limestones,
which are abundant in carbonates, have high alkalinity while waters passing through granite
and sandstone rich areas have low alkalinity thus have poor buffering capacity.

Alkalinity is often related to hardness because the main source of alkalinity is usually
limestones, a carbonate rock, which is mostly CaCO3. If this is the cause of the alkalinity of
water, then the hardness in CaCO3 is the same for its alkalinity. Since hard water contains
metal carbonates (mostly CaCO3) it is high in alkalinity.

Alkalinity is important for fish and aquatic life because it prevents sudden or rapid pH
changes. Living organisms that dwell in the waters usually function best in pH range 6.0 to
9.0. Higher alkalinity levels in surface waters will buffer acid rain and other acid waste that
could harm the aquatic life. For the protection of aquatic life, the buffering capacity should
be at least 20 mg/L.

If increasing amounts of acids are added to a body of water, the water's buffering capacity
is consumed. If additional buffering material can be obtained from surrounding soils and
rocks, the alkalinity level may eventually be restored. However, a temporary loss of buffering
capacity can permit pH levels to drop to those harmful to life in the water.

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity
 JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 14

Many methods for alkalinity are based upon a titration. The basic method uses an acid to
bring the pH level down to an end-point, which can vary, based upon application. The
amount of acid used is indicative of the alkalinity level. Many colorimetric tests will use an
acid with a color indicator to perform a simple titration in the field. You can get more
accurate results using some more sophisticated equipment such as: burettes, pH meter,
magnetic stirrer and pipettes.

II. Objective

 To determine the alkalinity of Bulok Creek water

III. Materials

Pipet Iron stand

Pipettor Erlenmeyer flask

Graduated cylinder Stirring rod

Burette Wash bottle

Burette clamp Water container

IV. Procedure

Water Analysis – Alkalinity

Get sample from

the creek

Analysis

Prepare the Wash the Fill the Stir the sample. Titrate the sample.
preparation burette with burette Get 50 mL of Stop when then
setup. Wash distilled with 50 the sample to 3 solution turns
the flasks water and mL 0.2 separate flasks. colorless or white.
with distilled last wash H2SO4. Add the Record the amount of
water. ……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity titrant used. Compute
with the 0.2 indicator until it
N H2SO
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institution turns pink.
that cares for the environment and humanity for the alkalinity.
 JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 15

V. Results and Discussion

Trial Titrant used (mL) Alkalinity (ppm)

1 1 20

2 1.2 24

3 1.1 22

Amount of sample used = 50 mL

Calculations:

Alkalinity (mg CaCO3/L) = (mL of titrant used x N of titrant x 50000)/ mL sample

Alkalinity1 = (1 mL x 0.02 N x 50000)/ 50 mL sample = 20 ppm

Alkalinity2 = (1.2 mL x 0.02 N x 50000)/ 50 mL sample = 24 ppm

Alkalinity3 = (1.1 mL x 0.02 N x 50000)/ 50 mL sample = 22 ppm

The alkalinity values obtained from the experiment are 20 ppm, 24 ppm, 22 ppm. The
average alkalinity value from the three replicates is 22 ppm. The alkalinity obtained presents
the concentration of CaCO3 in ppm as the main factor in the alkalinity of the water.

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity
 JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 16

VI. Documentation

Collecting water sample from the Bulok Creek Samples before titration

VII. Conclusion

Based from the experimentation, the alkalinity of the water falls between 20-24 ppm. The
average alkalinity of the three replicates is 22 ppm. The alkalinity of the water sample meets
the standard in order to sustain aquatic life. The alkalinity obtained represents the
concentration of CaCO3 present in the water in ppm. It can be said that the water from the
Bulok Creek contains carbonates due to the limestone areas in the mountains which was
brought along with the waters thus contributed for its alkalinity. Although the water is really
not safe for drinking or for any other human activities, it still has a high alkalinity value.

References:

Oram, B. (2014). The role of alkalinity citizen monitoring. Retrieved November 30, 2017
from http://www.water-research.net/index.php/the-role-of-alkalinity-citizen-monitoring

Bowman, G. & Mealy. R. (2004). Importance of General Chemistry relationships in water

treatment. [PDF]. Retrieved November 30, 2017 from
http://dnr.wi.gov/regulations/labcert/documents/training/basics-genchem.pdf

WaterFillers.net. (2017). Alkalinity water treatment. Retrieved November 30, 2017 from
https://www.waterfilters.net/Alkalinity-Water-Treatment.html

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity
 JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 17

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity

……..an institution that cares for the environment and humanity