Salt content of

Biscuit Sticks

Sample that we used to

determine the salt content

Methods that we used determining

salt content:
(I) Mohr Method

(II)Volhard Method

Chemical used for 2 methods

95cm3 Standard 0.1M silver nitrate
solution
5cm3 5% Potassium chromate(VI)indicator
solution
70cm3 0.05M Potassium thiocyanate
solution
5cm3 Saturated ammonium iron(III)
sulphate solution
10cm3 6M nitric acid(1:1)

Mohr Method
Chloride is titrated with AgNO3 solution. A soluble
chromate salt is added as the indicator. This
produces a yellow color solution. When the
precipitation of the chloride is complete, the first
excess of Ag+ reacts with the indicator to
precipitate red silver chromate:
2 Ag+(aq) + CrO42 (aq) Ag2CrO4(s)
Yellow
red ppt
The Mohr method must be performed at a pH
about 8. This method is useful for determining Clin neutral or unbuffered solutions such as drinking
water.

Titration Set-up(Mohr Method)

0.1M AgNO3

25 cm3 sample filtrate

+ 1cm3 5% K2Cr2O7
White tile

Volhard Method
This is an indirect titration procedure for the
determination of anions that precipitate with silver like Cl -,
Br-, I-, SCN-, and it is preferred in acid (HNO 3) solution. A
measured excess of AgNO3 is added to ppt the anion,
and the excess of Ag+ is determined by back titration with
standard potassium thiocyanate solution:
Ag+(aq) + Cl (aq) AgCl(s) + excess Ag+
excess Ag+ (aq) + SCN (aq) AgSCN(s)
The end point is detected by adding iron III (Fe 3+) as ferric
ammonium sulfate which forms a soluble red complex
with the first excess of titrant.
Fe3+ (aq) + SCN(aq) [FeSCN]2+ (aq)
These indicators must not form a compound with the
titrant that is more stable than the precipitate or the color
reaction would occur on addition of the first drop of titrant.

Filtration Set-up

Sample solution

Filtrate

Titration Set-up(Volhard Method)

0.05M KCNS

White tile

50 cm3 sample filtrate +

1cm3 saturated
ammonium iron(III)
sulphate

Safety
1. No eating or drinking is allowed in the laboratory.
2. Never ingest any snacks used in the experiments.
3. Do not touch any hot objects with your bare hands.
4. Avoid direct contact with chemicals.
5. Wash immediately with plenty of tap water if
chemicals spill on your skin.
6. Keep silver nitrate away from your skin and
clothes. Silver salts are readily reduced tometallic
silver which forms stains that are difficult to remove.
7. Wear suitable gloves and eye protection. Use a
fume cupboard if the solid is a fine powder.

Excepted Experiment Observation

Mohr Method
The end point changes from pale yellow to
persists pale reddish brown.
Volhard Method
The end point changes from reddish
brown to slightly orange.

Data collected
Mohr method

Trial

2nd

3rd

Final reading(cm3)

2.73

4.10

15.28

Initial reading(cm3)

1.30

2.73

14.12

AgNO3 used

1.43

1.37

1.16

Calculation of Mohr method

Mass of sample used:9.74g

Average Volume of AgNO3 used=(1.43+1.37)/2=1.40cm3

No. of mole of AgNO3 used

=(1.4/1000)(0.1)=1.4*10-4 mol
=No.of Cl- used(diluted sample)

No. of mole of Cl-(undiluted sample)=1.4*10-4*10=1.4*10-3 mol

Mass of Cl- in 9.74g=(1.4*10-3)(23)=0.0322g

Mass of Cl- in 100g=0.0322*(100/9.74)
=0.331g
=331mg
% difference of Na in sample=(0.38-0.331)/0.38*100%=12.89%

Data collected
Volhard method

Trial

2nd

3rd

Final reading(cm3)

8.10

15.60

22.80

Initial reading(cm3)

0.80

8.10

15.60

AgNO3 used

7.30

7.40

7.20

Calculation of Volhard method

Mass of sample used:10.79g

Average Volume of KCNS used=(7.3+7.4+7.2)/3=7.3cm3

No. of mole of KCNS used

=(7.3/1000)(0.05)=3.65*10-4 mol
=No.of 50cm3 AgNO3 unreacted after precipitation

No. of mole of AgNO3 unreacted after precipitation in 250cm3

=(3.65*10-4)*5=1.825*10-3 mol

No. of AgNO3 added before dilution

=(25/1000)(0.1)=2.5*10-3 mol

No. of AgNO3 used=(2.5*10-3) (1.825*10-3)=6.75*10-4 mol

No. of mole of Ag+ = No. of mole of Cl- =6.75*10-4 mol

Mass of Cl- in 10.79g=(6.75*10-4)(23)=0.0155g

Mass of Cl- in 100g=0.0155*(100/10.79)
=0.144g
=144mg
% difference of Na in sample=(0.38-0.144)/0.38*100%=62.11%

Comparison between 2 methods

mg

Salt
content in
sample

Source of Error
Misjudging the color of the indicator near the end
point.
Misreading the volume
Not transferring all solid of sample when
preparing sample solution
Not suitable pH value to perform the
titration(Mohr Method)
results of titration can be skewed by the already
mentioned replacement of precipitated chlorides
by silver thiocyanate(Volhard Method)