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WATCH THE VIDEO “WHAT IS A TITRATION AND HOW IS IT PERFORMED?”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqfvRBJ-iPg) BEFORE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ON THIS LAB

Acid-Base Titration Virtual Lab

Introduction
In chemistry laboratory, it is sometimes necessary to experimentally determine the concentration of an unknown acid or base
solution. A procedure for making this kind of determination is called an acid-base titration. In this laboratory process, a
solution of known concentration, called the standard solution, is carefully added to a solution of unknown concentration until
the mixture becomes neutral. The neutral point of the solution is recognized by an indicator’s color change. If the unknown
solution is acidic, then the standard solution will be basic. The opposite would be true if the unknown solution was basic.
We know that the mixing of equal amounts of acid and base ions will create neutral water. At the molecular level, this
reaction can be illustrated with the following equation.

H+ + OH- → H2O
(acid) (base)

This equation states that one mole of hydrogen ions (acid) will neutralize one mole of hydroxide ions (base). Since we can
exactly measure the moles of the standard solution, we can assume that the moles of the solution of unknown concentration
𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒂
will be the same at the neutral point. This is called the end-point of the titration. Using the equation MaVa = MbVb x , we
𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒃
can use the experimental data from the titration to find the unknown concentration.

Objective: In this experiment the unknown solution will be HCl(aq) and the standard solution will be the base sodium
hydroxide. You will know the concentration of the base and the volume of the acid and base used. With this information you
can use the titration formula to calculate the concentration of the acid. The diagram below shows the set up.

Swirl the flask continuously until one drop of titrant causes a color change to remain.
A white sheet of paper can be placed under the flask to help you recognize the color change at the end-point.

Pre Lab
1. Define the following words:
Titration-
Endpoint-
Neutralization-

2. Write the neutralization reaction for HCl reacting with NaOH.

3. What is the pH of the solution at the end point of the titration?

Procedure
1. The flask is filled with 20.00 mL of unknown concentration of HCl. Record the volume of acid on your data form
2. Phenolpthalein Indicator is added to the flask (3-4 drops).
3. Record on your data form the initial volume of base in the buret (Figure 1) .
4. You will now start adding base (0.1253 M NaOH) from the buret into the flask to neutralize the acid. The flask
is gently swirled as the base is added. A pink color should appear as the base is added, but it will disappear as
the flask is swirled. The end-point of the titration will be reached when 1 drop of base makes the solution turn
and stay pink.
5. Record the final volume of base from the buret that was needed to neutralize the acid.
Data
Standard solution: NaOH concentration 0.1253 M

TITRATION Initial reading (mL) Final reading (mL) Volume of NaOH delivered Average volume of NaOH
(mL) delivered (mL)
Titration 1 (volume should be recorded using
4 sig figs)
Titration 2
Titration 3
Titration 4

Calculations (Show all work and remember your units and significant figures!)

Determine the Molarity (concentration) of HCl using the average volume of NaOH delivered from the above data.
Questions
1. State the purpose of this experiment.

2. Describe the function of the phenolphthalein in this experiment. How would this experiment be different if you
had forgotten to add the phenolphthalein?

3. State evidence from the lab that the endpoint was reached.

4. If the theoretical concentration of the HCl was 0.1411 M, use the experimental concentration of HCl
calculated on the previous page to find the percent error?

5. If it takes 75.00 mL of a 2.50 M HCl solution to neutralize 55.00 mL of a base of unknown concentration,
a. Calculate the concentration of an unknown basic solution.
b. Based on the molarity of the base, calculated above, what is the pH of the solution?
c. Based on the molarity of the base, calculated above, what is the pOH of the solution?
 Titration Lab Review
1. Compare the two titration methods that you used.
Method #1 (using an indicator) Method #2 (using a pH meter)
Procedure

How did you determine Vb?

Define endpoint Define equivalence point and

explain when this occurs
2 a) General formula for weak acid indicator?

b) Which weak acid indicator did you use?

c) Specify form and color in an acid. Specify form and color in a base.

d) Why did you see a color change?

3. What was the purpose of doing a titration?

4. 18.2 mL of HClO4 is neutralized in a titration by 25.1 mL of a 0.382 M Ca(OH)2 solution.

a) Write a balanced molecular equation.
b) What is the mole ratio of acid to base?

c) Calculate the Molarity of the acid

5. Find the percent error if the actual value is 0.113 M

6. Strong acid and Strong base

Net ionic:

pH at equivalence point:

7. Why use a burette? How do you read a burette? (to how many places after decimal)

8. Find number of moles of KOH in 23.28 mL of a 0.2381M solution.

9. Ca(OH)2 + HNO3 → 35.12 mL (M = ?)

Ca(OH)2: 0.203 M and 28.23 mL
10. Write the BME, CI, NI for the neutralization of the acid and base you used.
a)

b)

c)

d) What is the pH of the final solution?

11. Explain how to determine the M of the base from the graph and titration of a SA with a SB. (Note: the Ma
and Va are known.)