National Titration Competition

The RACI's Titration Competition is designed to encourage secondary students who enjoy Chemistry, particularly its practical side, to develop their scientific skills and understanding. It provides students an opportunity to experience conducting an experiment in a laboratory environment at a local university in their state and the chance to compete at a national level.

What is the Titration experiment?

Each team member performs two sets of acid-base titrations in order to determine the unknown concentration of a weak acid in a solution that is supplied to them. This weak acid is either ethanoic acid (commonly known as acetic acid), oxalic acid or potassium hydrogen phthalate. A solution of the strong base sodium hydroxide is standardised against the standard acid provided, before being used to determine the concentration of the unknown acid.

Each team member performs two sets of acid-base titrations in order to determine the unknown concentration of a weak acid in a solution that is supplied to them. This weak acid is either ethanoic acid (commonly known as acetic acid) or oxalic acid. This acid is standardised against a solution of the strong base, sodium hydroxide, which is first standardised against a standard solution of an acid (either hydrochloric acid or oxalic acid).
How does the judging work?

Judging is based on the values each team reports for each of the 3 unknown weak acids. Teams are ranked on how close they get to the actual concentration for each acid. These volumetric analyses vary slightly from state to state, but are equivalent in their requirements.

Judging is based on the values each team reports for the concentration of the 3 weak acid solutions. Teams are ranked on how close they get to the actual concentration for each acid solution.
These volumetric analyses vary slightly from state to state, but are equivalent in their requirements.
The top teams in each State competition will be invited to participate in the national finals held in Term 3. All finalists complete the same analysis using the provided samples of solid potassium hydrogen phthalate. Some States will do this at university campuses, others at school.

National Titration winners will be announced at the start of Term 4. All national finalists receive a gold or silver badge and a team plaque and certificates are awarded to outstanding teams.

How does the competition work?

Register your school in the competition. (Prices vary in each state)
Gather team/s of three students. Students may also be able to enter for fun individually or in pairs but their results will not entered into the competition.
Conduct the Titration experiment in Term 2. Depending on your state, these can either be done at your school or at a local university.
Top teams in each state will be invited to compete in the ANTC Finals as detailed above.
Titration results will be sent to the national judging panel and the winners announced.