Determinations of Carbon Dioxide by Titration: New Experiments for General, Physical, and Quantitative Analysis Courses

The determination of mixtures containing NaOH and Na2CO3 or Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 by titration is a common experiment in a Quantitative Analysis course. This determination can be adapted for the analysis of CO2 within a sample. The CO2 is released and absorbed in a solution containing excess NaOH. Titration with standard HCl leads to the determination of CO2 present in the sample. A number of interesting experiments in Quantitative Analysis, General and/or Physical Chemistry have been developed. Among these are the following determinations: CO2 content in carbonated beverages, carbonate and bicarbonate in various real life samples, and the molecular weight of CO2.