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ALKALINITY

• INTRODUCTION
– refers to the total or the kind of dissolved
compounds that change the pH to alkaline.
– caused primarily by the presence of bicarbonates,
carbonates, and hydroxide, and less frequently by
borate, silicate, and phosphate.
– not the same as pH because water does not have
to be strongly basic (high pH) to have high
alkalinity.
– equivalent concentration of titration base and is
determined by titration with a standard solution of
a strong acid (H2SO4 ) to certain equivalence
points as given by indicator solutions. The
indicator phenolphthalein is commonly used for
the measurement of that portion of the alkalinity
contributed by hydroxyl and carbonate ions, while
an indicator responding in the pH range below 5 is
– The water alkalinity is closely related to
the presence of carbon dioxide(CO2).
Dissolved CO2 will react with water
molecule and form carbonic acid, H2CO3.
The carbonate ion, CO32-, act as a buffer
that will neutralize the carbonic acid.
The CO2 – HCO3- - CO32- equilibrium
system is the major buffering
mechanism in freshwaters to maintain
the water pH from dropping drastically
that will cause the water to be acidic.
REAGENT PREPARATION
1. H2SO4 (0.01N)
H2SO4 (5N) + H2O (d.w)
5m 500ml
2. NaOH (0.0227N)
6N NaOH : NaOH + H2O (d.w)
2.4g 10ml
0.0227N NaOH : NaOH + H2O (d.w)
2ml 528.63ml
3. Methyl Orange
Methyl Orange + H2O (d.w)
0.05g 100ml
4. Phenolphthalein
Phenolphthalein + Ethanol 95% + H2O (d.w) + NaOH
(0.0227N)
0.5g 50ml 50ml drop by drop
until
faintly pink
• Methods:
Sample + Phenolphthalein + H2SO4(0.01N) + Methyl Orange + H2SO4(0.01N)
50ml 2-3 drops faintly pink 2-3 drops orange

• Calculation:

Ct = NtF (1000) / n = 2502.2 mg CaCO3 / L


Cp= Ct Vt
Vp
Ct = concentration of tetrant
Vt = volume of tetrant used
Vp = volume of sample used
Cp = concentration of sample
RESULT

Area H2SO4 (ml)


1-First river 0.3
2-0 0.6
2-5 0.6
3-0 0.7
3-5 0.4
3-10 0.6
3-15 0.4
4-0 0.3
4-5 0.3
4-10 0.4
4-15 0.2
4-20 0.3
5-Second river 0.7
CALCULATION

Area H2SO4 (ml) Concentration of sample,


Cp
1-First river 0.3 15.0132
2-0 0.6 30.0264
2-5 0.6 30.0264
3-0 0.7 35.0308
3-5 0.4 20.0176
3-10 0.6 30.0264
3-15 0.4 20.0176
4-0 0.3 15.0132
4-5 0.3 15.0132
4-10 0.4 20.0176
4-15 0.2 10.0088
4-20 0.3 15.0132
5-Second river 0.7 35.0308
ALKALINITY AT EACH SITE OF AIR ITAM DAM

40
35
Alkalinity (mgCaCO3/L)

30
first site
25 second site
20 third site

15 forth site
fifth site
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20
Depth (m)
DISCUSSION
• Depth comparison :
• At site 3, the alkalinity is the highest at the surface
because of more presence of CO32- ion =>CO2 is
high;lack of phytoplankton to convert the CO2 to O2.
• The alkalinity decreased at depth of 5 meter (m)
since the CO2 is lower than the surface=> more
phytoplanktons that used up the CO2 in
photosynthesis process.
• depth increased, the alkalinity also increased =>
more respiration occurs than photosynthesis.
• more deeper, more carbonate ions needed to
neutralize the CO2.
• 15m - the alkalinity is decreased because of
decreasing in carbonate ions
• dissolved oxygen is very low => creates anoxic
• site 2, the alkalinity is the same at different
depth since it is not too deep.

• Site comparison:
• The second river and section 3-0 have the
highest alkalinity => more carbonate ions
needed to neutralize the CO2
=>less phytoplankton present here.
• the first river has much lower alkalinity
=>more phytoplankton that used up the CO2
for photosynthesis.
• decreasing from the site 2 to site 4
=>increasing in the abundance of
phytoplankton from site 2 to site 4
according to the result of concentration of
chlorophyll a.
• no drinking water standard for alkalinity
since it is not harmful.
CONCLUSION
• to determine the alkalinity of water
that related to the presence of
carbonate ion.
• If the carbonate ion is high, the
alkalinity is also high.
• The concentration of carbonate ion in
the sample is effected by the
concentration of CO2 in the water
since carbonate ion act as a buffer to
CO2.
• if the concentration of CO32- ion is
high meaning that CO2 is also high.

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