IS : 2720 ( Part XXIII ) - 1976

( Reaffirmed 1995 )

Indian Standard

METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS

PART

XXIII

DETERMINATION

OF CALCIUM

CARBONATE

First Revision )

Second Reprint JUNE

UDC

1989

62413141 : 543 : 54641264

0 Copyrighf 1976
BUREAU
MANAK

OF
BHAVAN,

INDIAN
9
NEW

STANDARDS

BAHADUR
DELHI

SHAH

ZAFAR

MARG

110002

May 1976

Gr 2

-.

1s: 2720 ( Part XXIII ) - 1976

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART

XXIII

DETERMINATION
(

OF CALCIUM

CARBONATE

First Revision )

Soil Engineering Sectional Committee, BDC 23

Representing

Chainnan
PISOPDINEBE MOIiAN

CenyJorf;lding

Research

Institute

(CSIR),

Members
PBOP ALAYI SINGE
LT-COL AVTA~ SINGE
MAJ R. R. SUDHINDRA ( Altanalc
DR A. BANERJEE
SHRI S. GUPTA ( Alternate )
SERI K. N. DADINA
SERI A. G. DAEITIDAB

University
of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
Engineer-in-Chiefs Branch, Army Headquarters
)
Cementation Co Ltd, Bomb&y

In personal capacity ( P-820, .New Alipote, C&vffa)

In personal capacity [ Infer-stateEquipment ( P ) Lid,
311. Loudon Street. Calcutta 1
Irrigation Research institute,i(hagaul, Patna
SERI R. L. DEWAN
Indian Geotechnical Society, New Delhi
DR G. S. DHILLON
Central Water Commission, New Delhi
DIBECTOR ( CSMRS )
DEPUTY DIREOTOIC( CSMRS ) ( Alternate )
Indian Institute of Technology,
New Delhi
DIBECTOB
DR SHASHI K. GULEATI ( Alternate )
Irrigation & Power Research Institute, Amritsar
DIRECTOB
REEEAXOE OFFIIJE~ ( GEOTECHNICAL
SECTION ) ( Alternate )
Rodio Foundation Engineering Ltd; and Hazarat
SH~I A. H. DIVANJI
&Co, Bombay
SEXI A. N. JANQLE ( Alternate)
National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI V. G. HE~DE
SEBI S. H. BALCHANDANI ( Alfernate )
JO~;~~~ECTOB
RESEARCH ( FE ), Railway Board ( Ministry of Railways )
DEPUTY DIBECTOR RESEARCH,
SOIL MECHANICS, RDSO ( Altcrnafe )
( Confinued on page 2 )

Copyright 1976

BUREAU
OF INDIAN
STANDARDS
This publication
Is protected
under the Inntan c.oryrtgfkt llct ( XTV of 1957 ) and
reproduction
in whole or in part by any mcaus except with written pr*rmission of the
publisher &all be deemed to be an infrinRrmc*nt of copyright
under the said Act.

XXIII)..l!m

ISt27iO(i%wt
( CorJitlwd~

#ego1)
R@resenting

Members
SHBIO.

P. MALBOTRA

SHBI J. S. MARYA

SHRI N. SEN ( Alfern&

SHEI G. D. MAT?raUB

PubFatE;;ka

Department,

Roads Wing ( Ministry

Government

of Shipping

of Punjab,

& Transport

Public Works Department.

Government
of Uttar
Pradesh, Lucknow
SHRI D. t?...f?3iATURVEDI ( Alfernnte 1
Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SamM.
A. MEHTA
SHRI I. M. .M~NON ( Alternate )
Cenr;hpd
Research Institute
(CSIR),
New
SARI T. K. NATAI~AJAN
REPRERENTATIVE
RESEA~CE OFFICER
SHEI K. R. SAXZCNA
fhCRETABY
DEPUTY SEC~ETAEY ( Alternate )
Da SI~ADISHEI~
PRAKASH
SHRI H. D. SItAl~MA
ENQINEI~~
SVPERINTENDIN~
(PLANNING 8~ DESIGN CIRCLE )

Hindztan
Construction
Co Ltd, Bombay
Buildings & Roads Research Laboratory,
Public
Works Department,
Government
of Punjab,
Chandigarh
Engineering
Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
Central loard of Irrigation & Power, New Delhi

University of Roorkee, Roorkee

Irrigation Research Institute, Roorkee
Concrete
& Soil Research
Laboratory,
Public
Works Department,
Government
of Tamil
Nadu, Madras
EXECUTIVE ENOINEER ( IN~HAXGE,
SOIL MECHANIST & R~SEAR~E
DIVISION ) ( Alternale )
Institution of Engineers ( India ), Calcutta
SHRI Cl. G. SWAMINATHAN
All India Instrument
Manufacturers
& Dealers
SR~I H. C. VBRHA
Association, Bombay
Sum V. K. VASUDEVAN ( Altcrnafe )
Snsr D. AJITEA SIDIHA,
Director General, IS1 ( Ex-oBcio Member)
Director ( Civ Engg )
Secretary
Deputy

Soil

Smu G. RAMAN
Director ( Civ Engg ), IS1

Testing Procedures r-id Equipment Subcommittee, BDC 23 : 3

Poor ALAM S&OH

University

of Jodhpur,

Jodhpur

Members
Central
Building
Research
Institute
( CSIR ),
Roorkee
Engineer-in-Chiefs
Branch, Army Headquarters
LT-COL AVTAB SINOH
MAJ R. R. SUDHINDRA I. Alternate 1
Beas Dams Project, Talwara Township
SHRI N. K. BXRBY
SHBI K. S. PEEN ( Alternate )
( Continued on pge 6 )

SHRI ARAB .%NGH

IS:272O(PartX2CHI)-1976

Indian Standard

METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS

PART XXIII

DETERMINATION

OF CALCIUM

CARBONATE

(First Revision)
0.

FOREWORD

0.1 This Indian Standard ( Part XXIII ) ( First Revision ) was adopted
by the Indian Standards Institution on 16 February ,1976, after the draft
finalized by the Soil Engineering Sectional Committee had been approved
by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
0.2 With a view to establish uniform procedures for the determination
of different characteristics of soils and also for facilitating comparative
studies of the results, the Indian Standards Institution has published
Indian Standard methods of test for soils ( IS : 2720 ) in
rts. So far
38 parts of this standard have been published. This part (pa
Part XXIII )
deals with the method of test for determination of calcium carbonate content
in soils for civil engineering purposes. The calcium carbonate content of soil
affects the engineering properties of the soils and is of interest to the
engineer.
0.2.1 This standard ( Part XXIII ) was first published in 1966.
In the
present revision acetic acid has been replaced by hydrochloric acid which is
comparatively less costly. The factor 0.074 used for the calculation in the
original method has been omitted as its effect on the ultimate result is
insign&ant.
Blank titration has also been omitted to save time. It
is considered that the accuracy given by this method is sufficient for
interpretation of engineering properties of soils.
0.3 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been given to
international coordination among the standards and practices prevailing in
different countries in addition to relating it to the practices in the field in
this country.
0.4 In reporting the results of a test or analysis made in accordance with
this standard, if the final value, observed or calculated, is to be rounded off,
it shall be done in accordance with IS : 2-1960*.
*Ruler for rounding off numericalvalues*(n&d

).

IS : 2720 (Part XXIII ) - 1976

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standd
( Part XXIII
) lays down the method for rapid determination of the calcium carbonate content in soil,
2. APPARATUS
2.1 Burette-

50 ml, conforming to IS : 199701967*.

2.2 Conical Flask -

500 ml capacity.

2.3 Glass

75 mm diameter.

Funnel -

2.4 Filter Paper 3. REAGENTS

Whatman No. 40 or equivalent, of 125 cm diameter.

AND INDICATOR

3.1 Sodium
Hydroxide
Solution - 1 N. Dissolve slightly more than
40 g sodium hydroxide in 1 litre of distilled water and standardize against
N hydrazine sulphate to get exact strength, using methyl red as indicator.
3.2 Hydrochloric Acid - 1 N. Dilute 175 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid to 2 litres and standardize it against sodium hydroxide solution
prepared as in 3.1 and determine the exact factor ( strength ) if the solution
is not exactly 1 N.
3.3 Bromothymol

Blue Indicator

4. PROCEDURE
4.1 Weigh 5 g ( see Note 1 ) of soil accurately and transfer to a 150-ml beaker and add 100 ml of hydrochloric acid solution prepared as in 3.2
( seeNotes 2 and 3 ). Cover with a watch-glass and stir vigorously several
times for 1. hour. After settling, pipette off 20 ml of the supernatant liquid
and take into a conical flask; add 6 to 8 drops of bromothymol blue indicator and titrate with sodium hydroxide solution ( see Notes 2 and 3 ) prepared
as in 3.1.
With some soils, the colour of the indicator may fade as the
In such cases, add more indicator and complete
end-point is approached.
the titration.
NOTE 1 - First take about 1 g of soil in a test tube and pour a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Note the intensity of reaction:
a) For vigorous reaction, take only 2.5 g of soil and multiply the result by 2.
b) In case of modcratc reaction, follow the above procedure.
c) If there is fceblc reaction, take 10 g of soil and divide the result by 2.
NOTE 2 -Accurate
weighing and standardization
sodium hydroxide are important for correct results.
NOTE

3 -

*Specification

Intcrmitteut

checking

of the strength

for burettes (Jirst revirion ).

of

hydrochloric

of stock solution

acid

is necessary.

and

IS : 2720( Part XXIII ) - lW6

5. CALCULATlON
5.1 One millilitre of 1N hydrochloric acid is equivalent to 005 g of calcium
carbonate present in the soil sample.
Carbonate present
percent by mass

in soil,

Volume of 1N hydro=

x 005 XT

chloric acid used for

5 g of soil

= Volume of hydrochloric
for 5 g of Soil.

acid consumed

Details are shown in the example given below.

Example:
1 ml of N hydrochloric acid
Strength of NaOH
Strength of HCl

Therefore, quantity of 1N
HCl added in 5 g of soil
Therefore, quantity of 1N
NaOH required for titration of 20 ml of the
extractant
Therefore,
tractant

for

100 ml ex-

Therefore, IN HCl consumed by 5 g ofsoil

Therefore,

percentage

CaCO,
Thus, percentage of CaCG

= 005 g of calcium carbonate

-i= 0.93 N
= 1.023 N

Quantity of NaOH used in

titration

= 19.0 ml
= 100 x 1023 ml
= 1023 ml

= 190 x 093
= 17.67
= 1767 x 5
= 88.35
= ( 10230 = 13.95

of
=

8835 )

1395 x 0.05 x 100

5

= 13.95
= IN HCI consumed by 5 g of soil.

100

( Cmtitkd$iom fqp 2 )
liadmbsrs
DB R, K, BEARD~B~
Syu T. N. BHAIWAWA
SH~I A. S. BIMINOI( Altematc)
DB A. K. CEATT~JEIO

R6p6mntillg

Central
Road
Research
Institute
(CSIR ),
New Delhi
Roads Wing ( Ministry of Shipping ik Transport )
Public Works Department,
Pradesh, Lucknow

Government

of Uttar

Ds B. L. DEAWAN ( Abmd6)
Sxnr R. L. DBWAN
Irrigation Research Institute, Khagaul,
Patna
DEPUTY DsmwmoxRESIEABOEI
Railway Board ( Ministry of Railways)
( Son MEOHAXIOS)-I
AS%IST ANT DIBEOTOB
RXWEABOH( SOIL MEOHANICS )-I ( Ak?md6 )
DI.BE~OE ( CSMRS )
Central Water Commission,
New Delhi
D~~JTY DI~EOTOR ( CSMRS ) ( Altarnote )
S@Etr& K. hEA
Geologists Syndicate Pvt Ltd, Calcutta
SEEI N. N. BHATTACHABAYA ( Altrmat6)
DE SEAWI K. GULHATI
Indian Institute of Technology,
dew Delhi
United Technical Consultants
Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
S-r
R. K. JAXN
DE P. K. DE (A&mote )
S~BI 0. P. MALH~TXA
Buildings
& Roads Research Laboratory,
Public
Works Department,
Government
of Punjab,
Chandigarh
DI~SUOTOR( Akmutc )
In personal capacity ( F-24, Green Park, fiw D&i )
DB V. V. S. RAO
Associated
Instrument
Manufacturers
( India)
hRI~.C.V~BYA
Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
PBOFT. S. NA~ARAJ ( Alt6rnaf6 )

rNbtAN

STANDARDS

ON
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS

Is:
2720 Methods of teet for soils:
Part I-1972 Preparation of dry soil samples for various terts (&~t rh~h)
Part II-1973
Determination of water content ( smmd ~eui~iom )
Part III-1964 Determination of specific gravity
Part IV-1975 Grain size analysis (&JJ rwisioa)
Part V-1970 Determination of liquid and plastic limits (&J: revision)
Part VI-1972 Determination of shrinkage factors (fist rdsion )
Part VII-1974 Determination of moisture content-dry density relation using light
compaction (fist rakion )
Part VIII-1974 Determination.of moisture content-dry density relation using heavy
compaction (firJt rwision )
Pwt
IX-1971 Determination of dry density-moisture content relation by constant
weight of soil method
Part X-1975 Determination of unconfined compressive strength (first reoi~bn)
Part XI-1971 Determination of shear strength parameters of a specimen tested in
unconsolidated undrained triaxial compression without the measurement of
pore water pressure
Part XII-1975 Determination of shear strength parameters of soil from consolidated
undrained triaxial test with measurement of pore water pressure
Part XIII-1972 Direct shear test (f;rsr revision)
Part XIV-1968 Determination of density index ( relative density) of cohesionless
IOilS

Part XV-1965 Determination of consolidation properties

Part XVI-1965 Laboratory determination of GRR
Part XVII-1966 Laboratory determination permeability
Part XVIII-1964 Determination of field moisture equivalent
Part XIX-1964 Determination of centrifuge moisture equivalent
Part XX-1966 Determiuation of linear shrinkage
Part XXI-1965 Determinatiop of total soluble solids
Part XXII-1972 Determination of organic matter (Ifrsl r&rioa )
Part XXIII-1976 Determination ofcalcium carbonate (Itisf reuirim )
Part XXIV-1976 Determination of cation exchange capacity (./irsr rezhion )
Part XXV-1967
Determination of silica reequioxide ratio
Part XXVI-1975 Determination of pH value (first reui~ion )
Part XXVII-1968
Determination of total soluble sulphates
Part XXVIII-1974 Determination of dry density of soils, in-place, by the sand
replacement method (jirs; revision )
Part XXIX-1975
Determination of dry density of soils in-place by the core cutter
method (jlrst revision)

2720

Methods of test for soils:

Part XXX-1968

Laboratory

Part XxX1-1969
Part XXXII-1970

vane shear test

Field determination

of California

bearing ratio

North dakota cone test

Part XXXIIT-1971
Determination
cement method

of density in-place by the ring and water repla-

Part XXzix-$72

of density of soil in-place

Part XXXV-1974

Determination
Measurement

Part XXXVI-1975
Laboratory
( constant head )

by the rubber-balloon

of negative pore water pressure

determination

Part XXXVII-1976
aggregates

Determination

Part XXXVIII-1976

Compaction

of

sand

of

permeability

equivalent

value

control teat ( Hilf method)

of
of

granular

soil

soils and fine

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