Introduction: Acid base titration involves a neutralization reaction in which an acid is reacting with an equivalent amount of base.

For the neutralization of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide: HCl + NaOH H2O + NaCl

Neutralization occurs when acid and bases exist in comparable stoichiometry, for instance the amount of the hydrochloric acid (mole) is equivalent to the amount of sodium hydroxide (mole). The end point of the titration can be determined using the indicator.

Part A Objective To determine the concentration of a solution of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) by titration with a standard solution of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl).

Apparatus and Materials 0.1 M HCl standard solution, NaOH solution (unknown concentration), vinegar (unknown concentration), phenolphthalein, burets, burette stand and clamps, flask and distilled water.

Procedure Firstly, filled the NaOH with unknown concentration in a buret and record the initial volume of NaOH in Table 1. Next, filled 10 ml of 0.1M HCl in a flask and added 10 ml of distilled water into the same flask. Then, three drops of phenolphthalein were added to the flask, and swirled the flask to mix thoroughly. At this stage, the solution is colorless. After that, titrated the HCl with NaOH until the end point is reached. The end point will be reached as soon as a permanent, pale pink color appears in the flask. Lastly, record the final volume of NaOH in Table 1. Repeat the titration twice.

Results

First Trial NaOH Initial Volume (ml) Final Volume (ml) Volume Used (ml) 0 10.3 10.3

Second Trial NaOH 10.3 20.4 10.1

Table 1: Titration of NaOH with Unknown Concentration

Trial

Calculations

[NaOH]

Mbase

First

Mbase

= = 0.097 M

0.097 M

Second

Mbase

= =
(

0.099 M 0.099 M
) ( )

Average = Average =

0.098 M

= 0.098 M

Table 2: Calculating the concentration of the NaOH

Discussion

Titration is a technique for determining either the concentration of a solution of unknown molarity or the number of moles of a substance in a given sample. A chemical reaction is used for this purpose, and the reaction must be fast, be complete, and have a determinable end point. The reactions of strong acids and bases generally meet these criteria, and acid-base titrations are among the most important examples of this technique (Faris, 2009). In this experiment, the sample is hydrochloric acid as acid substance and sodium hydroxide as base substance where the concentration of the sodium hydroxide unknown. Given that, the concentration of the acid is 0.1 M. An indicator is used as a signal the point which the titration is stopped. An acid-base indicator is a weak acid or base that has a different color from its salt. For most strong acid-strong base reactions, ionic equation is:

HCl + NaOH

NaCl + H2O

In this experiment, the indicator that use is phenolphthalein. If we use base as titrant, and acid as a solution in the Erlenmeyer flask, at the end point, the solution in the Erlenmeyer flask will turn to pale pink. At the first trial, 0.097M of Sodium Hydroxide is needed to titrate 0.1M of Hydrochloric Acid. While in the second trial 0.099M of Sodium Hydroxide is needed to titrate 0.1M of Hydrochloric Acid.

Conclusion The concentration and mole of acid or base can be determined using a titration process by a given value for one of the substances. The average values of concentration Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) using Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) is 0.098M.

Part B

Objective To determine the concentration of a sample of white vinegar by titration with a standard solution of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH).

Apparatus and Materials 0.1 M HCl standard solution, NaOH solution (unknown concentration), vinegar (unknown concentration), phenolphthalein, burets, burette stand and clamps, flask and distilled water

Procedure Firstly added 10.0 ml of vinegar to a clean Erlenmeyer flask. Next, added 100 ml of distilled water into the same flask and three drops of phenolphthalein. After that, titrated the vinegar with the NaOH solution used in Part A. Then, record the initial volume of NaOH in the buret in Table 3. Like before, the end point will be reached as soon as a permanent, pale pink color appears in the flask. Lastly, record the final volume of NaOH in Table 3. Repeat the titration twice.

Results

First Trial NaOH Initial Volume (ml) Final Volume (ml) Volume Used (ml) 20.4 31.5 11.1

Second Trial NaOH 31.5 42.9 11.4

Table 3: Titration of Vinegar

Trial Macid

Calculations =

[HC2H3O2]

Macid First

= = 0.109 M 0.109 M

Macid Second

= = 0.112 M 0.112 M

Average = Average =

0.111 M

= 0.111 M

Table 4: Calculating the concentration of the vinegar solution

Discussion In this experiment, the sample is white vinegar as acid substance and sodium hydroxide as base substance. Different from part A the concentration of the white vinegar is unknown. Given that, the average concentration of the base (NaOH) from the experiment part A is 0.098M. An indicator is used as a signal the point which the titration is stopped. An acidbase indicator is a weak acid or base that has a different color from its salt. The reaction between sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and white vinegar (acetic acid, HC2H3O2 ) is represented by: HC2H3O2 + NaOH NaC2H3O2 + H2O In this experiment, the indicator that use is phenolphthalein. In this experiment, we use base as titrant, and acid as a solution in the Erlenmeyer flask. At the end point, the solution in the 5

Erlenmeyer flask will turn to pale pink. At the first trial, 0.109M of white vinegar is needed to titrate 0.098M of Sodium Hydroxide. While in the second trial 0.112M of white vinegar is needed to titrate 0.098M of Sodium Hydroxide.

Conclusion The average concentration of white vinegar is 0.011M to be titrated by 0.098M of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

Questions

1.

Give two precautions which should be taken to ensure that the burette readings are accurate. Keep your eye in level with the liquid surface while taking the burette reading. The air bubble that present in the nozzle of the burette must be removed before taking the initial reading.

2.

The volume of water added during this experiment (to rinse the droplets of acid from biuret or as water added to the acid in the flask) does not affect the calculations and thus not need to be accounted for. Why not? This is because the water does not affect the concentration of the solution. Whether the volume of water is increasing or not, it will not affect the concentration of the solution.

3.

Why phenolphthalein is used as the indicator in this titration? Phenolphthalein is a colorless, weak acid which dissociates in water forming pink anions over the range of pH 8-9.6, which is slightly basic. So, it changes color across the equivalence point. Then the phenolphthalein is the best indicator in this titration.

References

Faris, M. (2009, September 28). Scribd.com. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from Scribd.com: http://www.scribd.com/doc/20300492/Experiment-3-Acid-and-Base-Titration Kenkel, J. (2013). Analytical Chemistry for Technicians. Broken Sound Parkway: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.