King Faisal University

College of Engineering
Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering Lab

CEE 350

Experiment
Number and
Name
Date of
Performing the
Experiment
Date of
Submission the
Report
Student Name
Student ID
Group No./Group
Name
Section No./Section
Day

Lab Instructor

( 3 )

Determination of Acidity in Water.

17d

Oct

2016

31th

Oct

2016

Arafat Abdulrahman Ali

213189413
2
1/Mon

Engr. Ziad Shatnawi

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-

Abstract:
The aim of this experiment is to determine the acidity of water samples to identify the quantitative
capacity to how it will be able to neutralize a strong base to a designated pH. It has been used two
samples of water (Alasfar water & waste water). The two samples were under testing to determine
their acidity against a strong base (0.02NaOH). Two common indicators have been used during this

experiment: methyl orange indicator to specify the mineral acidity about (pH = 4.5), and the
phenolphthalein to determine the end point of titration to specify the total acidity at pH of 8.3. by the
end of this experiment it has been realized that Alasfar water has an acidity only due to the dissolved
CO2 as bicarbonate acid (H2CO3). And the other sample (waste water) has neutralized the base
(NaOH) with acidity comes from both mineral and CO2 acidities.

II-

Presentation of Results:

2.1- Data & Results

Table (1): Mineral acidity indicated by Methyl orange.
Sample
Initial
Final
Vol. Of
reading
reading
NaOH Run
(in ml)
(in ml)
down
(in ml)
Alasfar
Lab
Sample
(Waste
Water)

Mineral
acidity
mg/l of
CaCO3

12

12

240

Table (2): Total acidity indicated by phenolphthalein

Sample

Initial reading
(in ml)

Final reading
(in ml)

Vol. Of NaOH
Run down
(in ml)

Total acidity
mg/l of CaCO3

2.1

2.1

42

13.3

13.3

266

Alasfar
Lab Sample
(Waste Water)

Table (3): CO2 acidity

Sample

Total acidity
Mg/l of CaCO3

Mineral acidity
Mg/l of CaCO3

CO2 acidity
Mg/l of CaCO3

2.1

2.1

13.3

12

1.3

Alasfar

Lab Sample
(Waste Water)

2.2 sample of calculation:

-

Mineral acidity of waste water =

=

volume of NaOH
volume of sample

x 1000

12
x 1000
= 240 mg/l of CaCO3
50

volume of NaOH
volume of sample

Total acidity of waste water=

=

x 1000

13.3
x 1000
= 266 mg/l of CaCO3
50

CO2 acidity of waste water = Total acidity mineral acidity = 13.3 -12 = 1.3 mg/l of CaCO3

III-

Discussion of Results:

According to the results showed in the tables above. The calculated values for the first sample (Alasfar
water) indicates that this sample has pH higher than 4.5 means the Methyl orange is useless as well as it has
no mineral acidity. Moreover, the acidity contained in this sample which is equal to 2.5 mg/l of CaCO3 as it is
measured in this experiment is due to the CO2 acidity. Also, the second sample (waste water) has experienced
(12 mg/l of CaCO3) from the mineral acidity and (1.3 mg/l of CaCO3) from the CO2 acidity.

IV-

Conclusion:

In this experiment it could be conclude that the acidity is an important issue related to
the corrosive properties which can take a leading role in regulating biological processes
as well as in chemical reactions such as chemical coagulation and
flocculation. Therefor this issue need to be under test in order to control the pH in the
biological means and the chemical reactions. This acidity results from carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, from biological oxidation of organic matter, or from industrial waste discharges. Titrating with
0.02 NaOH sodium hydroxide measures the concentration of mineral acids (such as sulfuric acid),
hydrolyzing salts, and total acidity.

V- References:
- http://www.lagoonsonline.com/laboratory-articles/acid.htm