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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: ezmenightin on July 25, 2005, 07:27:31 AM

Title: determining calcium content of milk
Post by: ezmenightin on July 25, 2005, 07:27:31 AM
Hi,

for my individual A level chemistry investigation i am looking at the calcium content of milk. We have to use two different methods. I have been told that i could titrate the milk with two different substances. I know that i can use EDTA, however i am kind of stuck with what else i could use.  Having done some research i have found that i could use NTA however i have also found that this is known to be a carcinogen,so it is highly unlikey that i will be allowed to use this.  Does anybody have any suggestions as to what else i could use to determine the calcium content of milk?
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2005, 05:06:46 AM
Does the second method have to be titrimetric? I remember some gravimetric methods but no other titration.... black hole in brain :(
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: ezmenightin on July 26, 2005, 11:03:10 AM
Im not entirely sure what gravimetric methods are?When I asked my teacher what I should do for my second method, she said that i could do another titration with another chelating agent which complexes with calcium?Im just not entirely sure what other chelating agents complex with calcium other than EDTA.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2005, 11:15:58 AM
Im not entirely sure what gravimetric methods are?

Precipitate, filter and weight. In case of calcium you precipitate oxalate and weight it after drying as oxalate, or - after roasting - as CaO.

Quote
When I asked my teacher what I should do for my second method, she said that i could do another titration with another chelating agent which complexes with calcium?Im just not entirely sure what other chelating agents complex with calcium other than EDTA.

Most of them. For details you have to look into textbooks (or start checking which reagents are in the lab, that should give you an idea which method can be used). My textbooks are in Polish, so they will be of no help to you :)

What I don't like in this approach is that basically you are doing second almost identical determination, as all complexometric titrations are similar, regardless of chelating agent used.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: sdekivit on July 26, 2005, 12:28:16 PM
Im not entirely sure what gravimetric methods are?When I asked my teacher what I should do for my second method, she said that i could do another titration with another chelating agent which complexes with calcium?Im just not entirely sure what other chelating agents complex with calcium other than EDTA.

the chemicals they use to keep blood from clotting are:

Na-EDTA, Na-citrate and Na-oxalate (3 chelating agents). With the last 2 chemicals you can do a gravimetric titration because Ca-citrate and Ca-oxalate are insoluble.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2005, 01:25:57 PM
you can do a gravimetric titration

What is a gravimetric titration?
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: sdekivit on July 26, 2005, 01:33:34 PM
a precipitation titration where you do a gravimetric analysis on.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2005, 02:12:33 PM
a precipitation titration where you do a gravimetric analysis on.

I don't get it, please elaborate. Precipitation titration an gravimetric analysis are completely different analysis methods.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: sdekivit on July 26, 2005, 02:50:41 PM
i know these are two different things. Gravimetric titration is not a commonly used term. But is just a titration were the precipitate gained by the titration is analysed by gravimetry.

read for example http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5006312.html

the precipitation titrations are for example argentometry. And,true, gravimetry is not a common titration analysis, but sometimes you have a sample that you don't know the content of. With gravimetry you can add till 10% excess of reagent. Not more. So it's done by titration.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2005, 04:05:43 PM
Gravimetric titration is not a commonly used term. But is just a titration were the precipitate gained by the titration is analysed by gravimetry.

read for example http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5006312.html

Perhaps my Enhlish fails me, but from what I read at the link provided precipitate has nothing to do with the method - "gravimetric" in this case means just that balance is used to measure amount of titrant added. So it seems to me that "gravimetric titration" is just a titration with balance used instead of burette scale.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Mitch on July 26, 2005, 04:18:17 PM
Perhaps my Enhlish fails me, but from what I read at the link provided precipitate has nothing to do with the method - "gravimetric" in this case means just that balance is used to measure amount of titrant added. So it seems to me that "gravimetric titration" is just a titration with balance used instead of burette scale.

Sounds right to me. Aside from Enhlish ;)
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2005, 04:23:54 PM
Sounds right to me. Aside from Enhlish ;)

Oops, it failed  :D
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: ezmenightin on August 29, 2005, 08:25:12 AM
the chemicals they use to keep blood from clotting are:

Na-EDTA, Na-citrate and Na-oxalate (3 chelating agents). With the last 2 chemicals you can do a gravimetric titration because Ca-citrate and Ca-oxalate are insoluble.

So...if i used Na-Oxalate to titrate the milk with...i would get a precipitation of Ca-oxalate....how would i then tell how much calcium there is? I am soooo confused!
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: kevins on August 29, 2005, 12:30:49 PM
Im not entirely sure what gravimetric methods are?When I asked my teacher what I should do for my second method, she said that i could do another titration with another chelating agent which complexes with calcium?Im just not entirely sure what other chelating agents complex with calcium other than EDTA.

The other chelating agent for Calcium:
1. EGTA
2. CDTA
Please try.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: sdekivit on August 29, 2005, 12:33:14 PM
So...if i used Na-Oxalate to titrate the milk with...i would get a precipitation of Ca-oxalate....how would i then tell how much calcium there is? I am soooo confused!

the Ca-oxalate can be weighed and than you can calculate the amount of mols Ca.
Title: Re:determining calcium content of milk
Post by: BAL on September 02, 2005, 11:09:08 AM
I dont know if one instrumental method is allowed for thread, the best way for determinate Caocium in milk is atomic absortion, but also there are others ways too.I don't remember very well the procedure but you can titrate Calcium wtih EDTA and determinate the final point using and ion selective detector, or redox system to see the first oxalate excces, even you can you and conductivity detector, this is very use because you just need and condutivity cell and titrate the calcium with oxlate, the conductiity will go changing, after the end point you will see a drastic chance in the slope.
These are titration, but you use an electrode to see your final point, is very fast and precise.