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 state and territory has varying preliminary investigation activities leading to the identification of the most proficient teams that will qualify to participate in the national component (finals) of the competition. Refer to state or territory-based information (on the right hand side of this page) for the specific information for each location. 

ach 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 whichever unknown weak acid is being used in the preliminary titration investigation within their state or territory. 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.

It is endeavoured that the top teams in each state or territory 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 students 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

2022 Finals - university venues (this will be updated for 2023 during Term 2 2023)

2022 Finals - Details for own school venues (this will be updated for 2023 during Term 2 2023)

A Guide to Titration (Updated Feb 2022, this document is still relevant for 2023)

Tips for Titration Coordinators

ANTC Dr Trevor G Appleton Memorial Award Trophy


2022 Titration Competition Final Results

All States except Victoria took part in the National Final, with a total of 126 teams being invited to compete.

Excellent and Highly Commended teams are listed below.

St John’s Grammar School from South Australia achieved an outstanding level of success, with teams placed first, seventh and seventeenth. The top team’s score of just 2 has been achieved once before, by another team from South Australia. St John’s teams and teachers are pictured below, proudly displaying the Trevor Appleton Memorial Trophy.

"St John’s Grammar students have always thoroughly enjoyed participating in RACI’s National Titration Competition. The competition provides an additional incentive for students to perfect their titration skills over and above their school grades. The collaborative team format of the competition helps create a fun and exciting atmosphere which greatly adds to the enjoyment of mastering titration skills. Winning the competition this year was a wonderful surprise and added bonus for the student's hard work and perseverance. We would like to thank all the volunteers who give up their time year after year to ensure the continued existence and success of the competition." Helen Howlett Chemistry teacher

"It's a fun experience! It's been an honour to participate in this competition. Special thanks to my teacher and my fellow teammates." St John’s student

 

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

The teachers and scientific technicians who put in many hours of their own time also deserve a huge vote of thanks and appreciation. Without their dedication, this competition would not be a success.

Sincere thanks are also extended to the volunteers who coordinate the competition in each State, and to those who provide support at competition venues.

And for the first time this year, the competition has received support from Mettler Toledo, who provided a semi-micro balance for sample preparation for the final, as well as for State competitions in Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.


2022 National Titration Competition Final Leaderboard

PLACE

SCHOOL

TEAM SCORE

TEAM AWARD

1

St John’s Grammar School SA

2

Excellent

2

Mount St Joseph College NSW

94

Excellent

3

Marymount College QLD

114

Excellent

4

Taroona High School TAS

182

Excellent

5

Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology QLD

196

Excellent

6

Marymount College QLD

198

Excellent

7

St John’s Grammar School SA

227

Excellent

8

Cabra Dominican College SA

241

Excellent

9

Prince Alfred College SA

314

Excellent

10

Torrens Valley Christian School SA

339

Excellent

11

Belmont City College WA

369

Excellent

12

Hellyer College TAS

374

Excellent

13

St Hilda’s School QLD

441

Excellent

14

Mansfield State High School QLD

650

Excellent

15

Rehoboth College WA

654

Excellent

16

Belmont City College WA

710

Excellent

17

St John’s Grammar School SA

765

Excellent

18

SHORE – Sydney Church of England Grammar School NSW

782

Excellent

19

James Ruse Agricultural High School NSW

790

Excellent

20

Radford College ACT

950

Excellent

21

All Saints Anglican College QLD

1014

Highly Commended

22

St Hilda’s School QLD

1081

Highly Commended

23

Don College TAS

1102

Highly Commended

24

Bray Park State High School QLD

1171

Highly Commended

25

Radford College ACT

1280

Highly Commended


Elaine Bergmann NTC Coordinator 

 

2023 Titration Competition

Entries for the 2023 competition are open.

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