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.

How does the competition work?

 
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. 

Titration Competition Rules, Guide and history

ANTC Rules 2020

A Guide to Titration (Updated Feb 2022)

Tips for Titration Coordinators

ANTC Dr Trevor G Appleton Memorial Award Trophy

2021 Titration Competition Final Results

Despite the difficulties faced by schools in NSW, teams from North Sydney Boys High School were able to successfully complete the finals analysis, excelling to gain first and fifth places. With Victoria and ACT unable to field teams, and only some NSW teams able to compete, a total of approximately 120 teams took part in the final, with 18 achieving results of an Excellent standard, and three Highly Commended.

Congratulations go to all those students who took part in the Final, and especially to those who were members of these high-achieving teams.

“The fact that we got eight groups going to the state finals and then we had teams finish first and fifth in the nationals, it was just nice to see all their hard work and effort pay off,” says Laura Sacchetta, North Sydney Boys High School.

Read the article here. 

2021 Titration Competition Final Leaderboard

 Position  School Name  Results
 1  North Sydney Boys High School, NSW  174
 2  Beenleigh State High School, Qld  209
 3  Taroona High School, TAS  254
 4  St Monica’s College Cairns, Qld  294
 5  North Sydney Boys High School, NSW  317
 6  Belmont City College, WA  321
 7  Mackay State High School, Qld  366
 8  St Hilda's School, Qld  374
 9  Mansfield State High School, Qld  377
 10  Seymour College, SA  434
 11  Loxton High School, SA  473
 12  Loxton High School, SA  587
 13  All Saints Anglican School, Gold Coast, Qld  713
 14  Taminmin College, NT  744
 15  Carey Baptist College, WA  813
 16  Guildford Grammar School, WA  854
 17  Rehoboth Christian College, WA  873
 18  Loxton High School, SA  885
 19  St Hilda's School, Qld  1036
 20  Villanova College, Qld  1122
 21  Gosford High School, NSW  1419

 

Note: Excellent is a team score of 1000 or less, and Highly Commended is a score of 1001 to 1500.
Results still come in from QLD, NSW, NT and TAS. WA, SA results are now in. 

2022 Titration Competition

Entries for the 2022 competition are open. Register today.

Register here

More states will be released shortly.

Titration Teacher Challenge

Calling all Chemistry Educators and Laboratory Technicians - Can you titrate as well as your students?

Find out more

Titration Competition Qld State Finals - Win News

School Training Videos

 

Titration Training | Acid-base titration

Titration Training | Making a Standard Solution

Tips to Improve your Titration Skills

 

Step 1. RACI Titration Equipment needed

Step 2. Titration Rinsing Glassware

Step 3. Titration Rinsing Pipette