DETERMINATION OF CARBONATES

MARTINEZ P. Luz; RODRÍGUEZ N. Jessica

Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. Facultad de ciencias y educación.
Proyecto curricular Licenciatura en química

ABSTRACT
The presence of carbonates in solution of an unknown sample is determined through
the valuation with strong acid, by means of two successive points of equivalence,
using a combined indicator of phenolphthalein and methyl orange that allows the
identification of these; obtaining that the test sample contained sodium carbonate
Na2CO3 and sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 (discarding the presence of hydroxide),
with a mass amount of: 0.17 g and 0.369 g respectively.
Key words: ​Carbonate, bicarbonate, strong acid, alkalinity, equivalence points.

THEORETICAL:
CARBONATES carbonate. If Heliantina (Orange or
Alkaline mixtures are those formed by Methyl Orange) is added to the
compatible combinations of soda, colorless solution and it is evaluated,
carbonate and acid carbonate. These the change from Yellow to Red will
mixtures have great importance in locate the end point of the
Industrial, Environmental, Food or transformation of acid carbonate a to
Clinical Chemistry, so their analytical CO​2​.
determination is of great interest.
The carbonate and the acid carbonate
(bicarbonate or hydrogencarbonate)
belong to the acid-base system:

1) If a solution containing carbonate is

titrated with a strong acid (eg HCl) the
following volumetric reactions will
2) If the solution contains only acidic
occur:
carbonate, the phenolphthalein would
take directly the colorless acid form,
and when adding Heliantina and
titrating with strong acid, the turn
Using the appropriate visual indicators, would mark as before the passage of
the two end points can be detected: acid carbonate a to CO2.
With Phenolphthalein, the change from
Rosa to Colorless will mark the
transition from carbonate to acid

3) On the other hand, if a solution
containing sodium hydroxide is
evaluated using the same procedure,
there is only one volumetric reaction,
which will be detected by both
phenolphthalein (which turns from pink
to colorless) and by heliantine
(yellowing from yellow). to Red)
Taking advantage of the three different
behaviors, a single experimental
procedure can be proposed based on
the evaluation of a test sample with
strong acid (HCl) using first
Fenolftaleína that will turn from Rosa
to Colorless when a volume V1 of acid
has been added, and adding later
Heliantina and evaluating with acid,
from which a V2 volume will be spent
when the turn from Yellow to Red is
reached.
Phenolphthalein: Phenolphthalein is
a diprotic acid, it is colorless and after
losing the second hydrogen, even ion,
with a system conjugated with a
purplish red color.
Methyl orange: it is another indicator
very used, it is a base, and of yellow
color, and with the addition of the
hydrogens it forms cation of red color.
In this method, alkalinity is determined
by titration of the sample with a
solution of a strong acid such as HCl,
through two successive equivalence
points, indicated by the color change
of two suitable acid-base indicators.
CO3-HCO3 y HCO3-H2CO3
When it is added to the
phenolphthalein indicator water
sample and a pink color appears, this
indicates that the sample has a pH
greater than 8.3 and is indicative of the
presence of carbonates.
Titrate with HCl titrated, until the pink
color turns colorless, with this, it is
titled half of CO​3​=​ .
Then a few drops of bromophenol blue
indicator are added, appearing a blue
coloration and continuing titrating with
HCl until the appearance of a green
coloration. With this, it is titled the
bicarbonates (HCO​3​-​) and the
remaining half of the carbonates
(CO​3​=​).
If the water samples have a pH lower
than 8.3, the titration is carried out in a
single stage. A few drops of
bromophenol blue indicator are added,
appearing a blue coloration and
proceeding to titrate with HCl solution
until the appearance of a green color
with that is titled HCO​3​-​.
DATA CHART

COMPUESTO PRESENCIA CANTIDAD

hidróxido de sodio X X

carbonato de sodio ✓ 0.17 g

bicarbonato de sodio ✓ 0.369 g

RESULTS ANALYSIS

VOLUME SPENT TO A PINK VIEW (PHENOLPHTALEIN):

3.3 mL
VOLUME SPENTED TO ORANGE RED TURNING (METAL ORANGE):
8.8 mL

As the amount spent in the second equivalence is greater, it is assumed that the
compounds obtained in the sample are: sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

AMOUNT IN GRAMS OF THE VARIOUS COMPOUNDS:

● SODIUM CARBONATE:
g N a2CO3 : 3.3 mL × 0.5mL
meq
= 1.65 meq × 105.98
mg 1g
1 meq
× 1000 mg
= 0.174 g
● SODIUM BICARBONATE:
0.5 meq 84 g 1g
g N aHCO3 : 8.8 mL × mL
= 4.4 meq × 1 meq
× 1000 mg
= 0.3693 g

It was determined that the mass amount of the compounds present in solution is
0.17 g and 0.369 g for sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, respectively.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
● Anonymous. Determination of carbonates and bicarbonates. nd. taken from:
http://arturobola.tripod.com/carbo.htm
● Giuliana Garza García. Determination of carbonates and bicarbonates in a
mixture. nd. taken from:
https://prezi.com/gjkkoalgzyzs/determinacion-de-carbonatos-y-bicarbonatos-en-una-
mezcla-po/