Question:

Karl Fischer method determines

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The Karl Fischer (KF) titration is a very common analytical technique in pharmacy used to find out how much water is present in a sample. Knowing exactly what it measures is the key to this question.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Free water only
  • Bound water only
  • Total water content
  • Volatile impurities
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Concept:
The Karl Fischer (KF) titration is a very common analytical technique in pharmacy used to find out how much water is present in a sample. Knowing exactly what it measures is the key to this question.

Step 1: The Karl Fischer method is a specific chemical titration that reacts selectively with water. The reaction involves iodine, sulphur dioxide, a base and methanol, and it consumes water in a known stoichiometric way, which lets us calculate the amount of water present.

Step 2: An important strength of the KF method is that it detects water in all its forms in the sample — both the free (surface) water and the bound (tightly held, water-of-crystallisation type) water. Together these make up the total water content.

Step 3: Therefore the method does not stop at only free water or only bound water; it measures the total water. It is also specific to water, so it does not simply measure all volatile impurities.

Answer: Option (3) — Total water content.
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