In addition to acid-base titrations, potentiometric chloride titration is one of the most commonly used titrations. Potentiometry is a widely used, accurate method for the determination of chloride (Cl- ion) content of an aqueous sample solution. The method is also specified in several AOAC, ASTM, and ISO standard methods.
The potentiometric determination of chloride uses an automatic titrator with silver nitrate (AgNO3) as the titrant and a silver indicator electrode. The chloride in the sample solution interacts with silver ions (Ag+) and precipitates as insoluble silver chloride (AgCl) when the silver nitrate titrant is added. The concentration of the titrant is determined by the amount of chloride ions in the sample solution. It is crucial to select the correct silver electrode, especially for the analysis of samples with low chloride concentrations.
The method of potentiometric titration provides accurate and reliable results. This makes it suitable for various applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and environmental industries. Potentiometric titration enables better decision-making for more informed choices compared to other manual titration methods that determine chloride (e.g., Mohr and Volhard titration).
For more information about the potentiometric titration of chloride, download our Application Bulletin, which describes the determination method for a wide range of samples. The Application Bulletin provides detailed instructions on how to perform chloride determination by titration, including electrode selection, titrant preparation, and sample preparation. It also includes tips for troubleshooting common problems during the analysis.