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Acid value and iodine number of oils and fats (lab visit) sheet
Essay frame

Determine the acid value and iodine value of the given oil. Give the principle, procedure and calculations.

How to lay out the answer. Follow the frame, then write it in your own words.

  1. 1 · Aim. To find the acid value and the iodine value (Wijs) of the given oil (observed during the lab visit).
  2. 2 · Principle.
    • Acid value: free fatty acids are titrated with standard KOH using phenolphthalein; mg KOH per g of fat.
    • Iodine value: ICl adds across C=C; unused ICl + KI → I₂, titrated with thiosulphate using starch; g iodine per 100 g of fat.
  3. 3 · Requirements.
    • Neutralised alcohol-ether, 0.1 N KOH, phenolphthalein.
    • Chloroform, Wijs solution, 10% KI, 0.1 N thiosulphate, starch.
    • Iodine flasks, burettes, pipettes with a filler, balance, fume hood.
  4. 4 · Procedure.
    • Acid value: about 5 g oil + 50 mL solvent + phenolphthalein; titrate with KOH to faint pink.
    • Iodine value: 0.2-0.3 g oil in chloroform + 25 mL Wijs; 30 min in the dark with a blank; add KI and water; titrate with thiosulphate, starch near the end.
  5. 5 · Observation. [Table: burette readings for the acid value; blank and sample titres for the iodine value]
  6. 6 · Calculation.
    • Acid value = 56.1 × N × V ÷ W, e.g. 56.1 × 0.1 × 0.45 ÷ 5.00 = 0.50 mg KOH/g.
    • Iodine value = (B − S) × N × 12.69 ÷ W, e.g. 20.0 × 0.1 × 12.69 ÷ 0.2700 = 94.0.
  7. 7 · Result. Acid value = ___ mg KOH/g; iodine value = ___ g I₂ per 100 g. State what they mean for the oil's quality and unsaturation.
  8. 8 · Precautions.
    • Neutralised solvent; first faint pink.
    • Dry flasks, dark, blank; starch near the end.
    • Gloves, goggles, fume hood; no flames; no mouth pipetting.

Scoring tip: Write both definitions word for word and give the basis of 56.1 and 12.69; examiners check these before the arithmetic.