Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

PREFACE
We thank to Almighty God for his blessing that we can finally finish this
laboratory report entitled "The Determination of NaCl in Table Salt. We also wish
to express our deep and sincere gratitude for those who have guided in completing
this report. This report was made to fulfill the English task that was given to us.
We hope this report can help the reader who are amateurs in laboratory
especially volumetric analysis laboratory. The procedures and the theories are
provided in this report. They can be the guidance for those who wants to know
more about volumetric analysis and practices it directly in the laboratory.
We believe that this report is far from perfection. Therefore, any
constructive criticism as a feedback is really required in order to improve the
quality of the report.

Makassar, April 28 t h 2015

Writers

Page 1

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

Table of Contents
Preface

Table of Contents

Introduction

Content

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

4
4
6
6
6
7

Reaction
Theory
Chemicals and Equipments
Procedures
Observation Data
Calculation

Conclusion and Suggestion

Bibiliography

Page 2

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

Introduction
In quantitative analysis, the principal application of stoichiometry is in
calculating the percentage purity of a sample. We shall consider here examples
from classical titrimetric and gravimetric methods. The following is a brief review
of terminology from these areas.
In titrimetric analysis, we measure the volume of a solution of known
concentration required to react with the desired constituent. The solution of known
concentration is called a standard solution. Titration is a process by which the
concentration of an unknown substance in solution is determined by adding
measured amounts of a standard solution that reacts with the unknown.
The standard solution used in a titration is called titrant. The chemical
reactions that may serve as the basis for titrimetric determinations are conviniently
grouped into 4 types, as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Neutralization titration
Reductometry and Oxidimetry
Precipitimetry
Complexometry

As it's said in the beginning, titrimetic (volumetric) analysis can be used for
determining the percentage of NaCl in table salt. It's really important to know it
because the quality of the sample can be known.
The principle of this determination is:
Neutral chloride ion is titrated by silver nitrate and yields silver chloride
precipitate. Potassium chromate is added as the indicator in this titration. It will
form a red precipitate of silver chromate. All of the chloride ion will be precipitated
before the chromate ion. Because it's solubility product is lower than chromate
ion's

Content
Reaction
AgNO 3 +

NaCl

AgCl

NaNO 3
Page 3

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

2AgNO 3

K 2 CrO 4

Ag 2 CrO 4

2KNO 3

Theory
The precipitation methods include all methods where in reacting substance
and the standard solution react to yield a precipitate or a slightl soluble salt as the
primary reacting product.
Including in this technique is argentometric method. This technique include
the titration based on precipitation of chloride, iodide, bromide, and thiocyanate
with the standard solution of silver nitrate (AgNO 3 )
AgNO 3 + NaCl
AgCl + NaNO 3
Argentometric is divided into 3 method as follows:
1. Mohr method
2. Volhard method
3. Fayans method
According to Mohr method, the equivalent point of argentometric can be
observed with the addition of 5% solution of potassium chromate (K 2 CrO 4 ) as
indicator. The standard solution of silver (I) will form the red precipitate of silver
chromate (Ag 2 CrO 4 ). It will happen as all the chlorides in the sample react with
silver (I).
2AgNO 3 + K 2 CrO 4
Ag 2 CrO 4 + 2KNO 3
To accomplish the mohr method well, the solution being determined must be
in neutral condition. If it is done in alkaline condition, the silver hydroxide (AgOH)
will precipitate, and if it is done in acidic condition the precipitate of Ag 2 CrO 4 will
be dissolved in acid.
According to Volhard method, the solution of chloride reacts with the
standard solution of silver nitrate excessively; and the excess of silver solution is
retitrated with the with the solution of potassium thiocyanate, KSCN, or ammonium
thiocyanate NH 4 SCN solution.
The saturated solution of ferric ammonium sulphate
(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 .Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 .24H 2 O is used as indicator. Ferric ion will produce the red
complex anion (Fe(SCN) 6 ) 3 - with the excess of thiocyanate.
The condition of the reaction must be acidic condition, by adding the nitric
acid, to prevent the hydrolysis of indicator, and the process must be done in
normal temperature. At the end of titration the flask must be agitated vigorously to
ensure that all silver ions absorbed by precipitation react with thiocyanate
solution. The other erroneous could be happened owing to the reaction:
AgCl + NH 4 SCN
AgSCN + NH 4 Cl
As we know that the solubility product of silverchloride (AgCl) is higher than
silver thiocyanate (AgSCN) : 2 x 10 - 1 0 and 1.5 x 10 - 1 2 respectively.
That's why the silver chloride recipitate is dissolved, and the silver
thiocyanate is formed. To make it better, sometimes the AgCl is filtered in advance,
before titrating with thiocyaate solution. The addition of 1 ml nitrobenzene can
prevent the reaction.
According to Fayans method, there must be an adsorption takes place in the
reaction. The AgCl precipitate will adsorb the corresponding ions. If there are still
chloride ions, the ions will be adsorbed by AgCl. If the equivalent point is slightly
Page 4

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

reached, means that the solution doesn't contain chlorides anymore, but there
must be silver ions Ag + , so the ions will be adsorbed by AgCl. Before the titration,
the solution of 0.2 % fluorescein is added as the indicator, and it makes the
solution yellowish green in color. At the equivalent point, the fluorescein together
with silver ions (Ag + ) will be adsorbed by the precipitation to form the red colour of
silver fluoresceinic. So the end point will be reached at the time when the white
precipitate changes to pink colour.
Edible Salt
Salt is essential to the health of people and animals and is used universally as a seasoning. It is
used in cooking, is added to manufactured foodstuffs and is often present on the table at
mealtimes for individuals to sprinkle on their own food. Saltiness is one of the five basic taste
sensations.

In many cuisines around the world, salt is used in cooking, and is often found in salt shakers on
diners' eating tables for their personal use on food. Table salt is a refined salt containing about
97 to 99 percent sodium chloride. Usually, anticaking agents such as sodium
aluminosilicate or magnesium carbonate are added to make it free-flowing. Iodized salt,
containing potassium iodide, is widely available. Some people put a desiccant, such as a few
grains of uncooked rice[28] or a saltine cracker, in their salt shakers to absorb extra moisture and
help break up salt clumps that may otherwise form.
Silver nitrate
Silver nitrate is an inorganic compound with chemical formula AgNO3. This compound is a
versatile precursor to many other silver compounds, such as those used in photography. It is far
less sensitive to light than the halides. It was once called lunar caustic because silver was
called luna by the ancient alchemists, who believed that silver was associated with the moon.[7]
In solid silver nitrate, the silver ions are three-coordinated in a trigonal planar arrangement
As an oxidant, silver nitrate should be properly stored away from organic compounds. Despite
its common usage in extremely low concentrations to prevent gonorrhea and control nose
bleeds, silver nitrate is still very much toxic and corrosive.[21] Brief exposure will not produce any
immediate side effects other than the purple, brown or black stains on the skin, but upon
Page 5

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

constant exposure to high concentrations, side effects will be noticeable, which include burns.
Long-term exposure may cause eye damage. Silver nitrate is known to be a skin and eye
irritant.
Silver nitrate is currently unregulated in water sources by the Environmental Protection Agency.
However, if more than 1 gram of silver is accumulated in the body, a condition
called argyria may develop. Argyria is a permanent cosmetic condition in which the skin and
internal organs turn a blue-gray color. The United States Environmental Protection Agency used
to have a maximum contaminant limit for silver in water until 1990, when it was determined that
argyria did not impact the function of any affected organs.[22] Argyria is more often associated
with the consumption of colloidal silver solutions rather than with silver nitrate, since it is only
used at extremely low concentrations to disinfect the water. However, it is still important to be
wary before ingesting any sort of silver-ion solution.

Chemicals and Equipments

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Table salt
AgNO 3 0.0506 N
K 2 CrO 4 5%
Analytical balance
Erlenmeyer flask
Volumetric flask
Volumetric pipette
Burette
Beaker glass

Procedures
1. Weigh 0.8 g of table salt and dissolve it in the volumetric flask 100 ml,
dilute it and then homogenize it.
2. Dispense 10 ml of the sample solution into the erlenmeyer flask using the
volumetric pipette, and add 2 ml of K 2 CrO 4 5%.
3. Titrate the solution with AgNO 3 0.05N until it forms a red precipitate
Observation Data
Sample weight

= 800.3 mg

Volume of titrant

= 26.33 ml

The colour of solution before adding the indicator

= none

The colour of solution after adding the indicator

= yellow

The colour of precipitate at the end point

= brownish red

Calculation
Page 6

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

NaCl=

f V N 58.5
100
Sample weight

NaCl=

10 26.33 0.0506 58.5

100
800.3

NaCl=97.39

Conclusion and Suggestion

1. From the calculation result, we can conclude that the percentage of sodium
chloride (NaCl) in table salt is 97.39 %.
2. This kind of analysis method can be used for determining other constituent
such as, chloride, bromide, iodide or thiocyanate. And for the table salt
itself, can be determined using spectrophotometery or gravimetric method.

Bibiliography

academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu
Page 7

Determination of NaCl in Table Salt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt
www.outreach.cantebury.ac.nz/chemistry/documents/chloride_mohr.pdf
Ratta, Darius, 2012, Bahasa Inggris 2, Kementrian Perindustrian republik
Indonesia, Makassar

Page 8