Acid-Base Volumetric Titration

Cody Shakespeare
Joe Hnat
Josh Pomeroy
11-5-15
Due: 11-12-15

Research
Volumetric titration works by titrating an acidic or basic solution of known
concentration into a basic or acidic solution of unknown concentration to determine its
concentration. This is done by fully reacting the two solutions and then using the volume
of added solution to calculate the unknown solution. The way to determine if the solution
is fully reacted is to either test the pH with a pH meter or add in color-changing acidbase indicator to show when the solution becomes neutral.
For titration using a pH meter, the pH meters detector would be placed into the
solution and the pH would be recorded when the pH changes. When the solution begins
to neutralize, the aliquots will be reduced so the pH doesnt change to quickly as it
approaches 7. The volume of titrant added when the pH becomes 7 would be used to
calculate the unknown solutions concentration.1
For titration using a color-changing acid-base indicator, a universal indicator would be
added to the unknown concentration solution. When the solution starts to change color,
1 (2005). pH meter titration - chem.usu.edu. Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://ion.chem.usu.edu/~sbialkow/Classes/361/mixed/titration.html.

the volume of titrant is recorded and then recorded again when it starts to change to
another color. This should be done very slowly since the color can change fast. For the
universal indicator used in this lab, neutral is green. So the volume that should be used
when calculating the unknown concentration is the volume of titrant used when the color
of the solution begins to turn blue, after already being green. 2
For this lab specifically, a 0.150 M concentration of KOH was titrated into an unknown
concentration of HCl. The reaction occurring would be KOH (aq) + HCl(aq) = KCl(aq) + H2O(l ).
Universal indicator will be added to the HCl to determine the pH throughout titration.
Upon turning green the solution will begin to become neutral but only when it is fully
green and stops turning green would it be completely neutralized. The volume of titrant
used at this moment will then be used to calculate the unknown concentration.

Procedure
A. Materials:
Hot Plate/Stirrer
Stir Bar
50 mL Buret
50 mL Pipet
1 250 mL Beaker
1 100 mL Beaker
0.150 M KOH
Unknown HCl
Universal Indicator
Ring Stand
Buret Clamps
Safety Goggles
Shoes
B. Final Procedure
1. Place a hot plate/stirrer on the base of a large ring stand.
2 (2014). UNIVERSAL INDICATOR - James Kennedy - WordPress.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015, from https://jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/colourfulchemistry-chemistry-of-universal-indicator/.

2. Place a buret clamp onto the ring stand.

3. Pipet 25.00 mL of the unknown HCl into the 250 mL beaker. Add 5 drops
of Universal Indicator and a stirring bar. Place the beaker on the stirring plate.
4. Rinse the buret by pouring ~5 mL of distilled water into the top and slowly
spin it so the water contacts all the surface. Then allow the water to pour out the
stop cock for a few seconds and then empty the rest out the top. Do this three
times with distilled water and then three times with ~5 mL of 0.150 M KOH.
5. Place ~60 mL 0.150 M KOH into a 100 mL beaker. Close the stopcock of
the buret. Hold the buret over the sink at an angle and fill the buret slightly over
the 50 mL mark. Place the buret in the buret clamp. Place the 100 mL beaker
under the buret to drain so that the tip is full and the meniscus is on the top
graduation. You are ready to titrate.
6. Turn on the stirring apparatus to speed 3 or 4.
7. Slowly add titrant to the solution. When the solution begins to change
color, slow down the rate of titration. When the solution is about to change color,
start to add titrant one drop at a time to be as accurate as possible.
8. Record the volume of titrant added when the solution becomes a color and
then when it is no longer that color. The volume when the solution is no longer
that color will be used in calculations.
9. Repeat for two more trials but add a large portion of the base to get to the
end point faster. If it took 45 mL to reach the endpoint, add 30 mL immediately
then go up in 1 mL aliquots, 0.5 mL aliquots, then dropwise.
10. Cleanup:
Pour the solution in the beaker down the drain while running water. Clean
and dry the beaker.
Pour the remaining titrant down the drain with plenty of water. Clean and
dry the buret.
Clean and return all equipment to its proper location.
Data
Volume of Titrant Titrated at Beginning and End of Neutralization for All Trials
Trial #1

Trial #2

Trial #3

Green Beginning
34.72
(mL of Titrant, 0.150
M KOH)

34.71

34.94

Green Ending (mL

of Titrant, 0.150 M
KOH)

34.80

35.06

34.92

Analysis/Calculations/Error

KOH(aq) + HCl(aq) = KCl(aq) + H2O(l )

Trial #1
34.92 mL of 0.150 M KOH
34.92mL KOH x 1L x 0.150mol KOH x 1mol HCl x
1
x 1000mL = 0.210 M HCL
1
1000 mL 1 L KOH
1mol KOH 25.00mL HCl
1L
Trial #2
34.80 mL of 0.150 M KOH
34.80mL KOH x 1L x 0.150mol KOH x 1mol HCl x
1
x 1000mL = 0.209 M HCL
1
1000 mL 1 L KOH
1mol KOH 25.00mL HCl
1L
Trial #1
35.06 mL of 0.150 M KOH
35.06mL KOH x 1L x 0.150mol KOH x 1mol HCl x
1
x 1000mL = 0.210 M HCL
1
1000 mL 1 L KOH
1mol KOH 25.00mL HCl
1L
Average Concentration:
0.210 M + 0.209 M + 0.210 M = 0.210 M HCl
3
Error:
True Value: 0.250 M HCl Experimental Value: 0.210 M HCl
Absolute Error: |0.210 M - 0.250 M| = 0.040 M
Percent Error: |0.210 M - 0.250 M| x 100% = 4.00%
0.250 M
Conclusions
The unknown concentration was discovered to be 0.210 M HCl. The true value of the
concentration is 0.250 M HCl. Using this, the absolute error is found to be 0.040 M and the
percent error is found to be 4.00 %.
The error in this experiment was human error cause by failure to judge the correct time
of neutralization. The precision of the results suggest that the same moment of color change
was used each time which is good. Sadly, that moment of color change was consistently wrong
which means the results were wrong. The value of titrant used was premature of neutralization.
This caused our concentration to be too low in the end.
The results were proficient so they are satisfying. To improve the results, a pH meter
could be used to gain a more accurate result or just waiting for the color to change more during
titration.

The lab showed how difficult it is to pinpoint the exact moment of neutralization. Since
neutralization occurs so quickly, it's hard to pinpoint the exact moment of full neutralization with
universal indicator.
This lab could be used to find the molar concentration of a lake that has been polluted
with sulfuric acid and the actual damage needs to be determined. This method could test a
sample of the water to determine the amount of sulfuric in the water and whether or not its safe.