Test Total Water Hardness 14

Test

14

Total Water Hardness INTRODUCTION

When water passes through or over deposits such as limestone, the levels of Ca2+, Mg2+ , and HCO3Ð ions present in the water can greatly increase and Hard-Water Cations cause the water to be classified as hard water. This term results from the fact that calcium and magnesium ions in • Calcium, Ca2+ water combine with soap molecules, making it ÒhardÓ to • Magnesium, Mg2+ get suds. In Test 13, Calcium and Water Hardness, an Ion-Selective Electrode was used to determine calcium • Others: Fe3+, Sr 2+, Zn2+, Mn2+ hardness, in mg/L as CaCO3. In this test, total hardness will be determined. Total hardness is defined as the sum of calcium and magnesium hardness1, in mg/L as CaCO3. In addition to total hardness, the test described here will allow you to determine the concentration of Mg2+ , in mg/L. Total Hardness (mg/L as CaCO 3) • Soft:

0-30

• Moderately soft:

30-60

• Moderately hard:

60-120

• Hard:

120-180

• Very hard:

> 180

High levels of hard-water ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ can cause scaly deposits in plumbing, appliances, and boilers. These two ions also combine chemically with soap molecules, resulting in decreased cleansing action. The American Water Works Association indicates that ideal quality water should not contain more than 80 mg/L of total hardness as CaCO3. High levels of total hardness are not considered a health concern. On the contrary, calcium is an important component of cell walls of aquatic plants, and of the bones or shells of aquatic organisms. Magnesium is an essential nutrient for plants, and is a component of chlorophyll.

Expected Levels Total hardness in freshwater is usually in the range of 15 to 375 mg/L as CaCO3. Calcium hardness in freshwater is in the range of 10 to 250 mg/L, often double that of magnesium hardness (5 to 125 mg/L). Typical seawater has calcium hardness of 1000 mg/L, magnesium hardness of 5630 mg/L, and total hardness of 6630 mg/L as CaCO3.

Total water hardness, in mg/L as CaCO3 1

Even though Fe2+, Fe3+ , Sr2+ , Zn2+ , and Mn2+ may contribute to water hardness, their levels are typically much less than Ca2+ and Mg2+. Their levels are not usually included in total hardness measurements.

Water Quality with Computers

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Test 14

Table 1: Ca Hardness, Mg Hardness, and Total Hardness in Selected Sites Site (fall season) Merrimack River, Lowell, NH

Ca hardness Mg hardness Total hardness (mg/L as CaCO3) (mg/L as CaCO3) (mg/L as CaCO3) 15.8

5.0

20.8

Mississippi River, Memphis, TN

120.0

58.3

178.3

Rio Grande River, El Paso, TX

210.0

87.5

297.5

Ohio River, Grand Chain, OH

60.0

26.3

86.3

Willamette River, Portland, OR

16.0

9.2

25.2

132.5

83.3

215.8

Sacramento River, Keswick, CA

27.5

18.8

46.3

Hudson River, Poughkeepsie, NY

65.0

19.6

84.6

Platte River, Louisville, NE

180.0

70.8

250.8

Colorado River, Andrade, CA

190.0

104.2

294.2

Missouri River, Garrison Dam, ND

Summary of Method The sample is first adjusted to a pH of 10 using a buffer solution. The sample is titrated to its equivalence point using a standard EDTA solution.2 EDTA draws the calcium and magnesium ions into a complex, so neither one has free ions in solution. The Calmagite indicator initially turns red in the presence of magnesium, then turns blue when enough EDTA solution has been added to combine with all calcium and magnesium ions The total hardness of the sample is calculated using the precise volume of EDTA solution added when the indicator changes color, as well as the EDTA concentration, in mol/L. If calcium concentration was determined in Test 13, magnesium concentration can also be calculated (in mg/L Mg2+) Here is a summary of the measurements and calculations in Test 14. Sample values are included. a. Total hardness as CaCO3, obtained using the EDTA titration = 120 mg/L (sample value) b. Mg hardness as CaCO3 = total hardness Ð calcium hardness (Test 13) = 120 Ð 70 = 50 mg/L c. Mg2+ = (50 mg/L as CaCO3) 5 (24 g Mg2+ / 100 g CaCO3) = 12 mg/L as Mg2+

2

EDTA is an abbreviation for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

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Total Water Hardness

TOTAL WATER HARDNESS Materials Checklist ___ sampling bottles ___ 100-mL graduated cylinder ___ 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask ___ 25- or 50-mL buret

___ Hardness 1 Buffer Solution ___ two Calmagite3 indicator powder pillows ___ 0.01 M EDTA4 titrant (TitraVer Standard Solution) ___ water bottle with distilled water

Collection and Storage of Samples 1. This test must be conducted in the lab. Collect at least 300 mL of sample water. 2. It is important to obtain the water sample from below the surface of the water and as far away from the shore as is safe. If suitable areas of the stream appear to be unreachable, samplers consisting of a rod and container can be constructed for collection. Refer to page Intro-4 of the Introduction for more details.

Testing Procedure 1. Obtain a clean buret and rinse it with a few mL of the 0.0100 M EDTA titrant (TitraVer Standard Solution). Fill the buret a little above the 0-mL level with the EDTA solution. Drain a small amount of the solution so it fills the buret tip and leaves the EDTA solution at the 0mL mark (or just below it). Record the buret level on the Data & Calculations sheet, to the nearest 0.01 mL. 2. Prepare the water sample for titration. a. Use a graduated cylinder to measure 50 mL of your water sample into a 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask. b. Add 1 mL of Hardness 1 Buffer Solution to the Erlenmeyer flask using the 1-mL calibrated dropper. Gently swirl the contents of the flask to mix. c. Add the contents of one Calmagite3 powder pillow to the Erlenmeyer flask. Gently swirl the contents of the flask to mix. The solution should now be red in color. 3. Titrate the sample you prepared in Step 2. a. Slowly add 0.01 M EDTA titrant to the sample in the Erlenmeyer flaskÑstart with 1-mL additions. Swirl the sample after each addition of titrant. b. Near the equivalence point, the red color will start to fade, and become more violet (mixture of red and blue). You should reduce the addition volume to 1 drop at a time. Note: The reaction at the equivalence point is very slow (~1Êsecond), so take your time. c. When the last tinge of red starts to disappear and turn to a pure blue color, you have reached the equivalence point. Record the final buret volume (to the nearest 0.01 mL) on your Data & Calculations sheet. d. If you are unsure whether you have reached the equivalence point, simply record the buret volume, then add another drop of EDTA titrant. If the color becomes a truer blue color, use the new buret reading; if not, use the previous buret reading. 3 Calmagite 4

is contained in ManVer 2 Hardness Indicator Powder Pillows. Hach TitraVer Hardness Titrant is labeled as 0.01 M EDTA, and also as an equivalent concentration of 0.02 N.


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4. Perform a second titration trial. To do this, discard the first titration mixture, as directed by your instructor. If you have enough titrant left for a second titration, simply record the current buret level; if not, refill the buret and record the buret level. Rinse the 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask twice with distilled water, then repeat Steps 2 Ð 3.

Calculations 1. To determine the titrant volumes used, subtract the initial volume from the final volume for each trial. Record the titrant volumes for the two trials on the Data & Calculations sheet. Important: If the titrant volumes for the two trials are not in close agreement, you should repeat StepsÊ1 Ð 3 of the Testing Procedure until you have two trials that are close. 2. Calculate the value for total water hardness. a. For each trial, determine total water hardness using the equation total water hardness as CaCO3 (mg/L) = (titrant volume) 5 20.0 b. Record the total water hardness value on the Data & Calculations sheet.

Optional Calculations 3. Calculate magnesium hardness (mg/L as CaCO3) and magnesium concentration (mg/L Mg 2+ ). a. On the second table of the Data & Calculations sheet, record the calcium hardness value you obtained in Test 13, and the total water hardness value from the first part of this test. b. Calculate magnesium hardness (mg/L as CaCO3). Use the equation magnesium hardness = total hardness Ð calcium hardness c. Calculate Mg2+ concentration, using the formula Mg2+ = (magnesium hardness as CaCO3) 5 (24 g Mg2+ / 100 g CaCO3). d. Record the values for magnesium hardness and Mg2+ concentration on the Data & Calculations sheet.

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DATA & CALCULATIONS Total Water Hardness Stream or lake: ___________________________

Time of day: __________________________

Site name: ______________________________

Student name: ________________________

Site number: ____________________________

Student name: ________________________

Date: __________________________________

Student name: ________________________

Column

A

B

C

D

Total water hardness

Initial buret reading (mL)

Final buret reading (mL)

Titrant volume (mL)

Total water hardness (mg/L as CaCO3)

Example

0.10 mL

9.22 mL

9.12 mL

182 mg/L

1 2 Column Procedure, total water hardness:

Average total water hardness (mg/L as CaCO3)

A. Initial buret reading (mL) B. Final buret reading (mL) C. Titrant volume (mL) = B – A D. Total water hardness (mg) = C 5 20.0 Column Magnesium calculations (optional) Example

A

B

C

Calcium hardness Total hardness Magnesium (from Test 13) (from 14) hardness (mg/L as CaCO3) (mg/L as CaCO3) (mg/L as CaCO3) 132 mg/L

182 mg/L

50 mg/L

D Magnesium concentration (mg/L as Mg 2+) 12 mg/L

Column Procedure, magnesium concentration: A. Record value from Test 13 B. Record value from Test 14 (above) C. Magnesium hardness (mg/L as CaCO3) = B – A D. Magnesium concentration (mg/L as Mg 2+) = C 5 0.24 Field Observations (e.g., weather, geography, vegetation along stream) _________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Test Completed: ________________ Date: ______


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Tips for Instructors 1. If students pass the equivalence point on the first trial, have them keep the resulting blue solution to use as a color comparison for the next titration. Having a solution with the actual blue color is very helpful in subsequent trials. 2. If you do not have a Vernier Calcium Ion-Selective Electrode, Test 14 can be done without having previously performed Test 13. 3. The following reagents can be ordered directly from Hach Company (5600 Lindbergh Drive, Loveland, CO, Tel: 800-227-4224, www.hach.com): • • •

Hardness 1 Buffer Solution (118 mL, 100 tests) ...........................................424-37 ManVer 2 Hardness Indicator Powder Pillows (100 tests)............................851-99 TitraVer Hardness Titrant (0.010 M EDTA, or 0.020 N EDTA, 946 mL)....205-16

A reagent kit can also be ordered from Hach Company that includes all three reagents: •

Hardness (Total) Reagent Sets (~100 tests)...............................................24476-00

4. EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or H4C10H12N2O8, is a weak acid that can lose four H+ ions on complete neutralization. In this section, we will represent EDTA in a simplified form, H4X, where X = C10H12N2O8. Hach Titraver Standard Solution contains the disodium salt of EDTA, Na2H2X, which dissociates according to the equation Na2H2X(aq)  → 2 Na+ (aq) + H2X2Ð(aq) The titration is carried out near a pH of 10 in an organic amine-amide buffer system Ð (Hardness 1 Buffer Solution). The buffer system keeps the EDTA mainly in the HY 3 form by the reaction Ð Ð → HX3Ð(aq) + H2O(l) H2X2 (aq) + OH (aq)  where it complexes with Group 2 ions very well, but does not tend to react as readily with other cations such as Fe3+ that might be present in the water sample. The chelating reactions between this form of EDTA and calcium or magnesium ions during the titration are Ca2+(aq) + HX3Ð(aq)  → CaX2Ð(aq) + H+ (aq) Ð → MgX2Ð(aq) + H+ (aq) Mg2+ (aq) + HX3 (aq)  The 1:1 mole ratio between either Mg2+ or Ca2+ and HX3Ð will be represented in calculations below using the following mole ratio

1 mol CaCO3 / 1 mol EDTA 5. In Step 3 in the Calculations section, students are instructed to calculate total water hardness of the sample by multiplying the EDTA titrant volume by a conversion factor of 20.0. This conversion factor is derived from the following equation Total Water Hardness =

Vol EDTA moles CaCO 3 1000 mg × × Molarity EDTA × molar mass CaCO 3 × VolCaCO moles EDTA 1g 3

Total Water Hardness =

Vol EDTA 1 mol CaCO3 0.0100 mol 100 g 1000 mg × × × × 50 mL 1 mol EDTA 1L 1 mol 1g

Total Water Hardness = Vol EDTA × 20.0 14 - 6



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6. The student procedure is used to determine total water hardness in the range of 0 to 500 mg/L as CaCO3. If values greater than 500 mg/L are encountered or anticipated, use one of these two options: •

If students are using a 25-mL buret, and still have a red color after delivering 25 mL of titrant, they can refill their buret and continue the titration. When they have reached the equivalence point, they can simply use the sum of the two titrant volumes used. • Another option for handling amounts in excess of 500 mg/L is to measure out a water sample of 25 mL in Step 1 of the procedure (instead of 50 mL), then use a conversion factor of 40 (instead of 20) in Step 2a of the calculations. Add 25 mL of distilled water to the sample to bring the total volume to 50 mL. With a 25-mL buret, this method extends the range to 1000 mg/L. 7. The Hach TitraVer EDTA Standard Solution has a concentration of 0.0100 M. Remind students that this allows them 3 significant figures in their calculationsÑanswers less than 100 mg/L can be expressed to the nearest 0.1 mg/L (e.g., 84.5 mg/L), and answers greater than 100 mg/L to the nearest 1 mg/L (e.g., 145 mg/L). If more accuracy is required, the TitraVer EDTA solution can be standardized using the same titration procedure, except using a 500.0 mg/L total CaCO3 standard solution in place of the water sample. This way, the concentration of the standard solution can be determined to 4Êsignificant figures, using the formula molarity, M, of EDTA = 0.2500 mol / volume EDTA 8. You can prepare 0.01 M EDTA titrant using solid EDTA, disodium salt, dihydrate, Na2C10H14N2O8¥2H2O. Add 3.723 g of the disodium EDTA salt to enough distilled water to prepare 1 liter of solution.


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