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LAB

: 5
LAB
: Hardness Test
NO.
TITLE
LEVEL OF OPENNESS
:
CLASS
: EC110 5F
GROUP LEADER:
GROUP MEMBERS
NO.
NAME
1.
Ahmad Syahir bin Zaimi
2.
Hazwani binti Ab Rashid
3.
Nur Amelia Syarina binti Amidin
4.
Nur Alya Khairina binti Shaiffullail
5.
Hanis Eizzati binti Ahmad
ASSESSMENT OF THE LAB ACTIVITIES
NO. ELEMENT TO ASSESS

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

DATE :

15 July
2016

STUDENT NO:
STUDENT NO.
2014665258
2014829162
2014224262
2014880742
2014449588

SIGNATURE

STUDENT
1
2
3

REMARK

INDIVIDUAL IN-LAB ACTIVITIES


PUNCTUALITIY
DISCIPLINE
(DRESS
CODE,SAFETY
SHOES,SAFETY
REGULATIONS)
KNOWLEDGE ON OPEN ENDED LABORATORY
GROUP IN-LAB ACTIVITIES
LEADERSHIP SKILL
COMMUNICATION
ORGANISATION/TEAMWORK
LAB REPORT
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES/ METHODS
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
DISCUSSION OF RESULT
CONCLUSION

LECTURERS
SIGNATURE:

REMARKS:

UiTM Pahang

THE
MUST BE SUBMITTED 1 WEEKAFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE LAB.
Faculty
ofREPORT
Civil
Engineering

ECW
351

ENGINEERING

WATER

AND

WASTE

WATER

1.0

OBJECTIVE

To determine the total hardness in water samples.

2.0

THEORY
Hardness is caused by multivalent metallic cations: those most abundant in natural

waters are calcium and magnesium. Hard waters from both underground and surface supplies
are most common in areas having extensive geological formations or limestone. Although
satisfactory for human consumption, Ca and Mg precipitate soap, reducing its cleaning action
and cause scale in water distribution mains and hot-water heaters. Waters with less than 50
mg/l are considered soft, up to 150 mg/l moderately hard and in excess of 300 mg/l very
hard.
There

are

various

methods

in

measuring

water

hardness.

EDTA

(ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) titration is one method that is commonly used. EDTA


titration is a chelating agent. A chelating agent is a substance whose molecules can form
several bonds to a single cation. An indicator is added to the sample to be tested that turns red
if magnesium is present in the sample. EDTA is added after and first reacts with the calcium
cations then the magnesium cations. After titration is complete, the water will turn blue.
Where the titration starts can be used to determine the concentration of the calcium and
magnesium cations.

3.0

PROBLEM STATEMENT

You are required to test at least three (3) water samples;


(i)
Tap/Treated water
(ii)
Mineral/Drinking water
(iii)
Pond/River water
Check whether their permissible limits are exceeded.

4.0

APPARATUS

DR 890 / DR 500 Spectrometer.

5.0

PROCEDURES

HARDNESS (0 to 4.00 mg/L Ca and Mg as CaCO3) For water. wastewater, seawater

Calcium and Magnesium; Calmagite Colorimetric Method


1. The stored program number for magnesium hardness is entered (as CaCO3).
Press: PGRM
The display showed: PGRM ?
2. Press: 30 ENTER
The display showed mg/L, CaCO3 and the ZERO icon.
Note: For alternate form (Mg, MgCO3), the CONC key is pressed.
3. 100 mL of sample is poured into a 100-mL graduated mixing cylinder.
Note: The sample temperature should be 21-29C (70-84F).
4. 1.0 mL of Calcium and Magnesium Indicator Solution are added using a 1.0-mL
measuring dropper. Stopper is placed. It is inverted several times to mix.\
5. 1.0 mL of Alkali Solution is added for Calcium and Magnesium Test using a 1.0-mL
measuring dropper. Stopper is placed. It is inverted several times to mix.
6. 10 mL of solution is poured into each of three sample cells.
Note: The test detected any calcium or magnesium contamination in the mixing
cylinder, measuring droppers or sample cells. To test cleanliness, the test is repeated
multiple times until consistent results are obtained.
7. One drop of 1 M EDTA Solution is added to one cell (the blank). It is swirled to mix.
8. One drop of EGTA is added to another cell (the prepared sample). It is swirled to mix.
9. The blank is placed into the cell holder. The sample cell is tightly covered with the
instrument cap.
10. Press: ZERO
The cursor moved to the right, then the display showed: 0.00 mg/L CaCO3.
11. The prepared sample is placed into the cell holder. The sample cell is tightly covered
with the instrument cap.
12. Press: READ
The cursor moved to the right, then the result in mg/L, magnesium hardness (as
CaCO3) is displayed.
13. Without removing the cell, the key PGRM 29 ENTER is pressed.

The display showed: PGRM ?


14. Press: ZERO
The cursor moved to the right, then the display showed: 0.00 mg/L CaCO3.
15. The third sample cell is placed into the cell holder.
16. Press: READ
The cursor moved to the right, then the result in mg/L calcium hardness (as CaCO 3) is
displayed.
Note: mg/L total hardness = mg/L Ca as CaCo3 + mg/L as CaCO3.

6.0

DATA ACQUISITION

No

Sample

Magnesium

Calcium

1.
2.
3.
4.
5

Tap water
Mineral water
Pond water
River water
Milk

(mg/l)
3.25
2.92
3.44
2.88
-

(mg/l)
>1 (limit)
0.21
>1 (limit)
0.66
>1 (limit)

No

Sample

Hardness

1.
2.

Tap water
Mineral water

(mg/l)
4.25
3.13

3.
4.
5.

Pond water
River water
Milk

4.44
3.54
-

7.0 DISCUSSION
In this experiment, we have to determine the total hardness of water sample which are
mineral water, tap water, river water, pond water and milk. For each type of water, we have
added two type of indicator which are magnesium and calcium indicator and also alkali
solution. Magnesium and calcium indicator change the colour of water from colourless to
purple while alkali solution change the colour of water to yellowish brown.
From the experiment, we have conducted the hardness test on five sample of water
which are stated at above. Each sample of water has different content of magnesium and
calcium that will contribute to the different level of hardness. The pond water has higher
content of calcium and magnesium which in total of CaCO 3 is 4.44 mg/l compared to others.
Mineral water has lower content of calcium and magnesium which in total of 3.13 mg/l. The
content of calcium and magnesium for river water and tap water which in total of CaCO 3 are
3.54 and 4.25 respectively. However, the test was conducted to milk is failed because it is too
concentrated to be tested on this apparatus. Therefore, it needed to be diluted first. Based on
the data we get, all the sample are classified as soft water because the total hardness is less
than 50 mg/L.
Hardness in water is caused by dissolved magnesium ions and calcium ions. These can
get into the water when it comes into contact with limestone and other rocks that contain
calcium compounds. This can happen, for example, when rainwater flows over these rocks on
its way to a reservoir.

The effect of hardness on water when it comes cleaning task which are from
laundering and dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard
water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when
dry. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks,
faucets, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be
reduced by deposits in pipes. For the health consideration, some studies showed that increase
in hard water usage will cause eczema in children.
While doing the experiment, the EDTA is added to make the reading of solution blank.
After that EGTA is added to theanother solution to get the reading. EGTA is a better chelating
ligand to calcium because it is much larger in general, as a result, it will preferably and
selectively bind to calcium than magnesium. On the other hand, EDTA has no particular
preference, binding to both calcium and magnesium ions indiscriminately.

In order to get the accurate reading of hardness of water, the sample cell must be
wiped and cleaned before placed on spectrometer to avoid inaccurate reading

8.0 CONCLUSION
We are able to determine the total hardness in different water samples by conducted
the hardness test and calculate the total hardness using the formula given. From this
experiment, we can conclude that different type of samples will produce different value of
total hardness. Total hardness in pond water are the most higher compared to other samples.
For make it easy, the simple definition of water hardness is the amount of dissolved
calcium and magnesium in the water. Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, both calcium
and magnesium. Hard water is not a health hazard, but dealing with hard water can be a
nuisance.

9.0 REFERENCES
1. http://www.water-research.net/index.php/water-treatment/tools/hard-water-hardness
2. https://www.fcwa.org/water/hardness.htm
3. http://www.lamotte.com/en/blog/test-factors/75-measuring-water-hardness

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