7.75770.0004-6014964898 msp.

March 2019

1.08047.0001 8. Procedure
Determination of total hardness:
Rinse the test vessel several times with the pretreated sample.
MQuant®
Pretreated sample 5 ml Inject into the test vessel with the syringe.
Total Hardness Test (15 - 30 °C)
Reagent H-1 3 drops 1)
Add and swirl.
The sample turns red in color in the presence
of hardening constituents.
1. Definition Place the titration pipette loosely on the open reagent bottle H-2. Slowly with-
The hardness (total hardness) of a given water is due to its content of salts draw the piston of the titration pipette from the lowest position until the lower
of the alkaline earth metals calcium, magnesium, strontium, and barium edge of the black piston seal is level with the zero mark of the scale. (This fills
(“hardening constituents”). Since strontium and barium are generally pres- only the dropping tube with titration solution.)
ent in waters only in traces, the hardness is defined as the content in a Remove the titration pipette and briefly wipe the tip of the dropping tube. Then
water of calcium ions, Ca2+, and magnesium ions, Mg2+ (“hardness ions”). slowly add the titration solution dropwise to the sample while swirling until its
The conventional procedure is to relate the statement of the water hardness color changes from red via grey-violet (shortly before the complete color
only to calcium, in other words to express also the content of magnesium change) to green. Shortly before the color changes, wait a few seconds after
ions as calcium content. adding each drop.
The units for the water hardness relate to calcium or its compounds CaO Read off the result in °d or mg/l CaCO3 from the corresponding scale of the titra-
^ 10 mg/l CaO) or CaCO3 (1 °e =
(1 °d = ^ 14.25 mg/l CaCO3; 1 °f = ^ 10 mg/l tion pipette at the lower edge of the black piston seal.
CaCO3), with the magnesium content being expressed as calcium content
and included in the calculation accordingly.
1)
Hold the bottle vertically while adding the reagent!

Notes on the measurement:

2. Method
• While filling the titration pipette, it must not be screwed tightly on the
Titrimetric determination with titration pipette reagent bottle!
Calcium and magnesium ions react with an indicator to form a red complex
compound. The indicator is released from this compound by titration with a • After the analysis inject any titration solution still remaining in the
solution of ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid disodium salt dihydrate pipette back into reagent bottle H-2 and close the reagent bottle
(Titriplex® III). At the titration end-point the color changes to green. The tightly using the pipette instead of the screw cap.
total hardness is determined from the consumption of titration solution.
Determination of residual hardness:
3. Measuring range and number of determinations Rinse the test vessel several times with the pretreated sample.

Graduation of the Number of Pretreated sample 5 ml Inject into the test vessel with the syringe.
Measuring range 1), 2)
titration pipette determinations 3) (15 - 30 °C)

Reagent H-1 3 drops 1) Add and swirl.
0.13 - 7 °e (0.1 - 5.6 °d) 0.13 °e (0.1 °d) at 3.8 °e (3 °d)
300 Depending on the residual hardness the measurement solution turns
1 - 100 mg/l CaCO3 1 mg/l CaCO3 at 53.5 mg/l CaCO3
green: 0 °e
1)
with 1 full pipette grey-violet: 0,1 °e
2)
for conversion factors see section 9 red-violet: 0,6 °e
3)
In the case of total hardness values exceeding 3.8 °e, the maximum number of red: >0,6 °e
determinations possible is fewer than 300 (see section 11).
1)
Hold the bottle vertically while adding the reagent!
4. Applications
Sample material: 9. Conversions
Groundwater and surface water, seawater
Drinking water and mineral water required mmol/l mg/l mg/l English French German
Waters from aquaculture CaCO3 CaCO3 Ca degree degree degree
Swimming-pool water given (Ca) °e °f °d
Boiler water
1 mmol/l
CaCO3 (Ca) 1 100.1 40.08 7.02 10.01 5.61
5. Influence of foreign substances 1 mg/l
Cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, mercury, nickel, and zinc interfere with the CaCO3 0.010 1 0.400 0.070 0.100 0.056
determination. 1 mg/l
Ca 0.025 2.50 1 0.175 0.250 0.140
1 English
6. Reagents and auxiliaries degree °e 0.142 14.25 5.71 1 1.43 0.799
1 French
The test reagents are stable up to the date stated on the pack when degree °f 0.100 10.00 4.00 0.702 1 0.560
stored closed at +15 to +25 °C. 1 German
degree °d 0.178 17.85 7.15 1.25 1.78 1
Package contents:
2 bottles of reagent H-1 (indicator solution)
2 bottles of reagent H-2 (titration solution) 10. Method control
1 graduated 5-ml plastic syringe
1 test vessel To check test reagents, measurement device, and handling:
1 titration pipette Dissolve 3.67 g of calcium chloride dihydrate in distilled water, make up to
1000 ml with distilled water, and mix. Ca content: 1000 mg/l (= ^ 175 °e).
1 card with brief instruction ^ 3.5 °e =
^
Dilute this standard solution with distilled water to 20 mg/l Ca (=
Other reagents: 50 mg/l CaCO3) and analyze as described in section 8.
MQuant® Universal indicator strips pH 0 - 14, Cat. No. 109535 Additional notes see under www.qa-test-kits.com.
Sodium hydroxide solution 1 mol/l Titripur®, Cat. No. 109137
Hydrochloric acid 1 mol/l Titripur®, Cat. No. 109057 11. Notes
MQuant® Total Hardness Tests:
Cat. No. 110025, measuring range <4 - >26 °e or • Reclose the reagent bottles immediately after use.
Cat. No. 110046, measuring range >6 - >31 °e • Store the reagent bottle H-2 (titration solution) with the titration pipette
MQuant® Total Hardness Test, Cat. No. 108039, firmly attached lying flat in the corresponding depression in the pack.
measuring range 0.25 - 25 °e (with 1 full pipette) • Rinse the test vessel and the syringe with distilled water only.
Calcium chloride dihydrate for analysis EMSURE®, Cat. No. 102382 • In titrimetric determinations the consumption of titration solution is
Refill pack: dependent on the concentration of the substance to be determined
(here: the hardness ions). The quantities of indicator and titration solu-
Cat. No. 108040 tion contained in the reagent bottles have been calculated to suffice for
MQuant® Total Hardness Test, 300 determinations each of 3.8 °e. The following applies for softer or
Refill pack for 108047 harder waters:
(Reagents without technical accessories for 300 determinations at 3.8 °e)
Hardness Number of Indicator Titration
7. Preparation °e determinations solution solution
• The pH must be within the range 6 - 8.
Adjust, if necessary, with sodium hydroxide solution or hydrochloric acid. 0.13 - 3.8 300 is used up A remainder
completely is left over.
• Check the total hardness with the MQuant® Total Hardness Test.
Samples with a high water hardness should be determined using the >3.8 <300 A remainder is is not sufficient for
is left over. 300 determinations
MQuant® Total Hardness Test Cat. No. 108039.
• Information on disposal can be obtained at
www.disposal-test-kits.com.

Merck KGaA, 64271 Darmstadt, Germany,

Tel. +49(0)6151 72-2440
www.analytical-test-kits.com
EMD Millipore Corporation, 400 Summit Drive
Burlington MA 01803, USA, Tel. +1-978-715-4321