Ammonia titration with

Nelson and Sommers [44] have described a Kjeldahl digestion procedure for the determination of total nitrogen in soils in which the sample is digested with sulphuric acid using a selenium catalyst. The digest is steam distilled with sodium hydroxide and ammonia titrated with 3.5mM sulphuric acid. Various other workers have discussed the application of Kjeldahl digestion to the determination of total nitrogen in soils [45-47]. 

The titration curves for weak bases and strong acids are similar to those for weak acids and strong bases except that they are inverted (recall that strong is added to weak). Figure 19-5 displays the titration curve for 100.0 mL of 0.100 M aqueous ammonia titrated with 0.100 MHCl solution. 

The titration of a weak base with a strong acid is completely analogous to the above case, but the titration curves are the reverse of those for a weak acid versus a strong base. The titration curve for 100 mL of 0.1 M ammonia titrated with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid is shown in Figure 8.8. The neutralization reaction is... 

Addition of silver nitrate to a solution of a chloride in dilute nitric acid gives a white precipitate of silver chloride, AgCl, soluble in ammonia solution. This test may be used for gravimetric or volumetric estimation of chloride the silver chloride can be filtered off, dried and weighed, or the chloride titrated with standard silver nitrate using potassium chromate(VI) or fluorescein as indicator. 

The method is based on the conversion of urea to amnionium carbonate and the estimation of the latter by titration with standard acid. For this purpose, two equal quantities of urea (or urine) are measured out into two flasks A and B. A is treated with 10 ml. of a strong urease preparation and some phenol-phthalein, warm water is added and the mixture is adjusted by the addition of V/io HCl from a burette A until the red colour is just discharged. This brings the mixture to about pH 8 (the optimum for urease) and also prevents loss of ammonia. 

Devarda s Method. Nitrogen in nitrates or nitric acid also may be deterrnined by the Kjeldahl method or by Devarda s method. The latter is both convenient and accurate when no organic nitrogen is present. The nitrate is reduced by Devarda s alloy to ammonia in an alkaline solution. The ammonia is distilled and titrated with standard acid. 

Dry air is blown through the solution to remove the excess of ammonia, and the solution is then dissolved in its own volume of absolute alcohol. A sample of this solution is titrated with standard oxalic acid, litmus being used as an outside indicator (Note 3). The amount of oxalic acid (Note 4) necessary to form the acid salt is placed in a large evaporating dish and dissolved in 4 1. of 95 per cent alcohol. The amine solution is then slowly run into the acid with constant stirring. During the addition of the last half of the amine solution, the container must be cooled in order to avoid the formation of the neutral oxalate,... 

After the apparatus has been fitted together the caustic soda solution is run in slowly and the flask shaken. The liquid is no more ammonia is evolved be ascertained by testing a drop litmus paper. If the operation is titrated with half-normal sodium methyl orange as indicator. 

At 25°C and 1.00 atm pressure, one liter of ammonia is bubbled into 725 mL of water. Assume that all the ammonia dissolves and the volume of the solution is the volume of the water. A 50.0-mL portion of the prepared solution is titrated with 0.2193 M HN03. Calculate the pH of the solution... 

Discussion. The hydroxides of sodium, potassium, and barium are generally employed for the preparation of solutions of standard alkalis they are water-soluble strong bases. Solutions made from aqueous ammonia are undesirable, because they tend to lose ammonia, especially if the concentration exceeds 0.5M moreover, it is a weak base, and difficulties arise in titrations with weak acids (compare Section 10.15). Sodium hydroxide is most commonly used because of its cheapness. None of these solid hydroxides can be obtained pure, so that a standard solution cannot be prepared by dissolving a known weight in a definite volume of water. Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are extremely hygroscopic a certain amount of alkali carbonate and water are always present. Exact results cannot be obtained in the presence of carbonate with some indicators, and it is therefore necessary to discuss methods for the preparation of carbonate-free alkali solutions. For many purposes sodium hydroxide (which contains 1-2 per cent of sodium carbonate) is sufficiently pure. 

The method may be applied to commercial boric acid, but as this material may contain ammonium salts it is necessary to add a slight excess of sodium carbonate solution and then to boil down to half-bulk to expel ammonia. Any precipitate which separates is filtered off and washed thoroughly, then the filtrate is neutralised to methyl red, and after boiling, mannitol is added, and the solution titrated with standard 0.1M sodium hydroxide solution ... 

In the indirect method, the ammonium salt (other than the carbonate or bicarbonate) is boiled with a known excess of standard sodium hydroxide solution. The boiling is continued until no more ammonia escapes with the steam. The excess of sodium hydroxide is titrated with standard acid, using methyl red (or methyl orange-indigo carmine) as indicator. 

Discussion. When a solution of an orthophosphate is treated with a large excess of ammonium molybdate solution in the presence of nitric acid at a temperature of 20-45 °C, a precipitate is obtained, which after washing is converted into ammonium molybdophosphate with the composition (NH4)3[P04,12Mo03]. This may be titrated with standard sodium hydroxide solution using phenolph-thalein as indicator, but the end point is rather poor due to the liberation of ammonia. If, however, the ammonium molybdate is replaced by a reagent containing sodium molybdate and quinoline, then quinoline molybdophosphate is precipitated which can be isolated and titrated with standard sodium hydroxide ... 

Pipette 25 mL of the bismuth solution (approx. 0.01 M) into a 500 mL conical flask and dilute with de-ionised water to about 150 mL. If necessary, adjust the pH to about 1 by the cautious addition of dilute aqueous ammonia or of dilute nitric acid use a pH meter. Add 30 mg of the xylenol orange/potassium nitrate mixture (see Section 10.50) and then titrate with standard 0.01 M EDTA solution until the red colour starts to fade. From this point add the titrant slowly until the end point is reached and the indicator changes to yellow. 

Pipette 25 mL of the copper solution (0.01 M) into a conical flask, add 100 mL de-ionised water, 5 mL concentrated ammonia solution and 5 drops of the indicator solution. Titrate with standard EDTA solution (0.01 M) until the colour changes from purple to dark green. 

Pipette 25 mL nickel solution (0.01 M) into a conical flask and dilute to 100mL with de-ionised water. Add the solid indicator mixture (50mg) and 10 mL of the 1M ammonium chloride solution, and then add concentrated ammonia solution dropwise until the pH is about 7 as shown by the yellow colour of the solution. Titrate with standard (0.01 M) EDTA solution until the end point is approached, then render the solution strongly alkaline by the addition of 10 mL of concentrated ammonia solution, and continue the titration until the colour changes from yellow to violet. The pH of the final solution must be 10 at lower pH values an orange-yellow colour develops and more ammonia solution must be added until the colour is clear yellow. Nickel complexes rather slowly with EDTA, and consequently the EDTA solution must be added dropwise near the end point. 

Silver halides can be dissolved in a solution of potassium tetracyanonickelate(II) in the presence of an ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer, and the nickel ion set free may be titrated with standard EDTA using murexide as indicator. 

Procedure. Dissolve a weighed amount of ferro-manganese (about 0.40 g) in concentrated nitric acid and then add concentrated hydrochloric acid (or use a mixture of the two concentrated acids) prolonged boiling may be necessary. Evaporate to a small volume on a water bath. Dilute with water and filter directly into a 100 mL graduated flask, wash with distilled water and finally dilute to the mark. Pipette 25.0 mL of the solution into a 500 mL conical flask, add 5 mL of 10 per cent aqueous hydroxylammonium chloride solution, 10 mL of 20 per cent aqueous triethanolamine solution, 10-35 mL of concentrated ammonia solution, about 100 mL of water, and 6 drops of thymolphthalexone indicator solution. Titrate with standard 0.05M EDTA until the colour changes from blue to colourless (or a very pale pink). 

Into a conical flask, pipette a 50.0 or 100.0 mL aliquot of the solution and adjust the pH to 1-2 with aqueous ammonia solution (use pH test-paper). Add five drops of xylenol orange indicator and titrate with additional 0.05 M EDTA until the colour changes sharply from red to yellow. This gives the bismuth content. Record the total (combined) volume of EDTA solution used. Now add small amounts of hexamine (ca 5g) until an intense red-violet coloration persists, and titrate with the standard EDTA to a yellow end point the further consumption of EDTA corresponds to the lead-plus-cadmium content. 

The procedure involved in the determination of these anions is virtually that discussed in Section 10.58 for the indirect determination of silver. The anion to be determined is precipitated as the silver salt the precipitate is collected and dissolved in a solution of potassium tetracyanonickelate(II) in the presence of an ammonia/ammonium chloride buffer. Nickel ions are liberated and titrated with standard EDTA solution using murexide as indicator ... 

Pipette 25.0 mL of the bromide ion solution (0.01-0.02M) into a 400 mL beaker, add excess of dilute silver nitrate solution, filter off the precipitated silver bromide on a sintered glass filtering crucible, and wash it with cold water. Dissolve the precipitate in a warm solution prepared from 15 mL of concentrated ammonia solution, 15 mL of 1M ammonium chloride, and 0.3 g of potassium tetracyanonickelate. Dilute to 100-200 mL, add three drops of murexide indicator, and titrate with standard EDTA (0.01 M) (slowly near the end point) until the colour changes from yellow to violet. 

The sulphate is precipitated as barium sulphate from acid solution, the precipitate is filtered off and dissolved in a measured excess of standard EDTA solution in the presence of aqueous ammonia. The excess of EDTA is then titrated with standard magnesium chloride solution using solochrome black as indicator. 

Either the Mohr titration or the adsorption indicator method may be used for the determination of chlorides in neutral solution by titration with standard 0.1M silver nitrate. If the solution is acid, neutralisation may be effected with chloride-free calcium carbonate, sodium tetraborate, or sodium hydrogencarbonate. Mineral acid may also be removed by neutralising most ofthe acid with ammonia solution and then adding an excess of ammonium acetate. Titration of the neutral solution, prepared with calcium carbonate, by the adsorption indicator method is rendered easier by the addition of 5 mL of 2 per cent dextrin solution this offsets the coagulating effect of the calcium ion. If the solution is basic, it may be neutralised with chloride-free nitric acid, using phenolphthalein as indicator. 

Method A. Weigh out accurately about 3.5 g of potassium cyanide from a glass-stoppered weighing bottle, dissolve it in water and make up to 250 mL in a graduated flask. Shake well. Transfer 25.0 mL of this solution by means of a burette and NOT a pipette to a 250 mL conical flask, add 75 mL water, 5-6 mL 6M ammonia solution, and 2 mL 10 per cent potassium iodide solution. Place the flask on a sheet of black paper, and titrate with standard 0.1 M silver nitrate. Add the silver nitrate solution dropwise as soon as the yellow colour of silver iodide shows any signs of persisting. When one drop produces a permanent turbidity, the end-point has been reached. 

It may be noted that very weak acids, such as boric acid and phenol, which cannot be titrated potentiometrically in aqueous solution, can be titrated conductimetrically with relative ease. Mixtures of certain acids can be titrated more accurately by conductimetric than by potentiometric (pH) methods. Thus mixtures of hydrochloric acid (or any other strong acid) and acetic (ethanoic) acid (or any other weak acid of comparable strength) can be titrated with a weak base (e.g. aqueous ammonia) or with a strong base (e.g. sodium hydroxide) reasonably satisfactory end points are obtained. 

A method of analysis based on converting nitrate groups to ammonia with Devarda s alloy is described by Smeenk (Ref 103). PETN is dissolved in ethanol and the ammonia formed is titrated with standard acid soln... 

In many titrations, one solution—either the analyte or the titrant—contains a weak acid or base and the other solution contains a strong base or acid. For example, if we want to know the concentration of formic acid, the weak acid found in ant venom (1), we can titrate it with sodium hydroxide, a strong base. Alternatively, to find the concentration of ammonia, a weak base, in a soil sample, titrate it with hydrochloric acid, a strong acid. Weak acids are not normally titrated with weak bases, because the stoichiometric point is too difficult to locate. 

A weighed sample is boiled in concentrated sulfuric acid, which quantitatively produces ammonia that reacts with the excess sulfuric acid to produce ammonium sulfate. An excess of sodium hydroxide is then added and the liberated ammonia is distilled into an excess of a standard acid solution, which is then titrated with sodium hydroxide. 

The pH of a 50.00-mL sample of 0.1100 M ammonia, NH3, is measured as it is titrated with a 0.1100 M hydrochloric acid, HC1. Determine the pH of the solution after the following total volumes of hydrochloric acid have been added. 

The polyhedral boranes and carboranes discussed above may be regarded as boron clusters in which the single external orbital of each vertex atom helps to bind an external hydrogen or other monovalent atom or group. Post-transition main group elements are known to form clusters without external ligands bound to the vertex atoms. Such species are called bare metal clusters for convenience. Anionic bare metal clusters were first observed by Zintl and co-workers in the 1930s [2-5], The first evidence for anionic clusters of post-transition metals such as tin, lead, antimony, and bismuth was obtained by potentiometric titrations with alkali metals in liquid ammonia. Consequently, such anionic post-transition metal clusters are often called Zintl phases. 

Procedure Weigh accurately about 0.3 g of ethionamide in a flask and dissolve in 10 ml of dilute sulphuric acid. Add to it 100 ml of water, 20 ml of dilute ammonia solution and rapidly 50 ml of 0.1 N silver nitrate solution. Allow the resulting mixture to stand for a few minutes, filter and wash the filter paper with three successive quantities, each of 10 ml of DW. To the combined filtrate and washings, add 60 ml of dilute nitric acid, cool and titrate with 0.1 N ammonium thiocyanate employing 5 ml of ferric ammonium sulphate solution as an indicator. Each ml of 0.1 N silver nitrate is equivalent to 0.008312 g of C8H1QN2S. 

Procedure Weigh accurately about 0.8 g of granulated zinc, dissolve by gentle warming in 12 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid and 5 drops of bromine water. Boil to remove excess bromine, cool and add sufficient DW to produce 200 ml in a volumetric flask. Pipette 20 ml of the resulting solution into a flask and neutralize carefully with 2 N sodium hydroxide. Dilute to about 150 ml with DW, add to it sufficient ammonia buffer (pH 10.0) to dissolve the precipitate and add a further 5 ml quantity in excess. Finally add 50 mg of Mordant Black II mixture and titrate with the disodium edetate solution until the solution turns green. Each 0.003269 g of granulated zinc is equivalent to 1 ml of 0.05 M disodium ethylenediaminetetracetate. 

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