Determining Molarity through Acid-Base Titration

Ryan Pearce
Lab Partners: N/A
CHEM 1251L-033
10/30/2013
Introduction: The purpose of this experiment was to determine the unknown concentration, or
molarity, of multiple acid and base solutions through the use of a process called titration. The
acid-base titrations performed in this lab allowed for the precise calculation of the molarity of a
solution by carefully adding a measurable quantity of an acid/base of known molarity to a
base/acid until equivalence was reached, indicated by the change in color of the combined
solution due to the addition of an indicator. The molar ratios of the corresponding reaction were
then used to determine the number of moles of base/acid present in the original sample of
solution and, subsequently, the molarity of the solution. This experiment began with the use of a
primary standard, Potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHC8H4O4, or KHP), to determine the exact
concentration, known as standardizing, of a sample of Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which was
then used for the remainder of the titrations. This was necessary, as NaOH readily absorbs
moisture from the air and, therefore, simply calculating the mass of a sample of NaOH before
dissolving it in solution would not have provided an accurate molarity. The primary standard
used, KHP, is incredibly pure and stable which allowed for the aforementioned process to be
performed. After using the KHP to accurately determine the molarity of the NaOH solution, the
NaOH solution was able to be used to determine the molarities of multiple acids through further
titration.

Procedure: First, roughly 1 gram of KHP was weighed and its exact mass recorded. This mass
of KHP was then placed into an Erlenmeyer flask and completely dissolved into approximately
70-75 mL of distilled water. A wash bottle, also filled with distilled water, was used to wash the
sides of the flask to ensure that all of the KHP was in solution. Five (5) drops of phenolphthalein,
an indicator used to identify the end point of the titration, were then added to the Erlenmeyer
flask. The flask was then placed on a white piece of paper towel (to aid in recognition of the end
point) on the base of a ring stand holding a buret. NaOH solution (the titrant) was added to the
buret and the initial volume was recorded to the correct number of significant figures. The height
of the buret was then adjusted so the tip was just above the opening of the Erlenmeyer flask.
While swirling the flask with one hand, the stopcock of the buret was opened completely using
the other hand and the titrant was allowed to drain into the flask and mix with the KHP solution
(analyte). At the first sight of the indicator turning a very light pink color, the stopcock was
closed immediately and the solution in the flask was observed. If the solution returned to clear
after a short period of time, the titration was continued at a slower pace by not opening the
stopcock as much, and eventually titrant was added one drop at a time as the indicator began to
show more pronounced color change. When a single drop of titrant added to the flask turned the
solution a light pink color for at least one minute, the titration was stopped. The volume level of
the NaOH in the buret was once again read and recorded and the difference between this final
volume and the initial volume was used to calculate the amount of NaOH that was added to the
Erlenmeyer flask. The molarity of the NaOH solution was then calculated using the recorded
figures according to the balanced molecular equation and calculations below:
Balanced molecular equation
NaOH (aq) + KHC
8
H
4
O
4
(aq) KNaC
8
H
4
O
4
(aq) + H
2
O (l)
Molarity calculations
VNaOH soln (L) = Vf - Vi
MNaOH (M) = (
mass KHP
molar mass KHP
) (
1 mol NaOH
1 mol KHP
) (
1
volume of NaOH (L)
)
This process was repeated twice more, for a total of three trials.
Next, about 2.0 mL of acetic acid solution was measured using a 10 mL graduated
cylinder and the exact volume was recorded. The solution was then poured into a clean
Erlenmeyer flask and was diluted using about 50 mL of distilled water. The graduated cylinder
was washed out multiple times using distilled water from a wash bottle and these washes were
also added to the flask. Five drops of phenolphthalein was then added to the flask. The acetic
acid solution was titrated to end point and the titration was repeated once more. The
concentration of the acetic acid was then calculated using the molarity calculation equation and
balanced reaction (for the molar ratios) below:
Balanced molecular equation
NaOH (aq) + HC2H3O2 (aq) NaC2H3O2 (aq) + H2O (l)
Molarity calculation
Macetic acid (M) =
(
M
NaOH
)(
V
NaOH
) (
1 mol acetic acid
1 mol NaOH
)(
1
volume acetic acid (L)
)
For the final part of the experiment, approximately 2.0 mL of a sulfuric acid solution was
measured using the 10 mL graduated cylinder and the exact volume was recorded. The solution
was poured into yet another Erlenmeyer flask and diluted with 50 mL of distilled water. The
graduated cylinder was again washed out several times with distilled water, and the washes
added to the flask. Five drops of indicator were added to the solution before titrating to end
point. This titration was repeated, for a total of two trials. The molarity of the sulfuric acid
solution was calculated using these molarity calculations and this balanced molecular equation:
Balanced molecular equation
2NaOH (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l)
Molarity calculation
Msulfuric acid (M) =
(
M
NaOH
)(
V
NaOH
) (
1 mol sulfuric acid
2 mol NaOH
) (
1
volume sulfuric acid (L)
)


Results:
Table 1: Standardization of NaOH


Data Equation-Calculation Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Mass KHP used (g) 1.00 1.04 1.04
Molar mass of KHP (g/mol) 204.22 204.22 204.22
Moles of KHP used (moles)
4.90 10
-3
5.09 10
-3
5.09 10
-3
Acid:Base molar ratio 1:1 1:1 1:1
Moles of NaOH (moles)
4.90 10
-3
5.09 10
-3
5.09 10
-3
Initial volume of NaOH (mL) 9.25 6.11 9.21
Final volume of NaOH (mL) 33.81 31.87 34.79
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 24.56 25.76 25.58
Volume of NaOH used (L)
2.456 10
-2
2.576 10
-2
2.558 10
-2
Molarity of NaOH (moles/L) 0.200 0.200 0.200
Average molarity of NaOH (moles/L)
Percent Error (%)
0.200
0.401

1
1

()
()

1
() ()
()
( )
()
1
1

1
1
Table 2: Titration of Acetic Acid with NaOH









Unknown Acetic Acid ID # = 923
Data Equation-Calculation Trial 1 Trial 2
Molarity of NaOH (moles/L) 0.200 0.200
Initial volume of NaOH (mL) 13.21 21.60
Final volume of NaOH (mL) 21.60 30.20
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 8.39 8.60
Volume of NaOH used (L)
8.39 10
-3
8.60 10
-3
Moles of NaOH used (moles)
1.69 10
-3
1.72 10
-3
Acid:Base molar ratio 1:1 1:1
Moles of acetic acid (moles)
1.69 10
-3
1.72 10
-3
Volume of acetic acid used (mL) 2.0 2.1
Volume of acetic acid used (L)
2.0 10
-3
2.1 10
-3
Molarity of acetic acid (moles/L) 0.84 0.82
Average molarity (moles/L)
Percent Error (%)
0.83
3.8


1

2
()
()
() ()

1
1

1
1

1
()
()
1
1

1
1
Table 3: Titration of Sulfuric Acid with NaOH










Data Equation-Calculation Trial 1 Trial 2
Molarity of NaOH (moles/L) 0.200 0.200
Initial volume of NaOH (mL) 30.30 29.47
Final volume of NaOH (mL) 41.11 41.71
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 10.81 12.24
Volume of NaOH used (L)
1.081 10
-2
1.224 10
-2
Moles of NaOH used (moles)
2.16 10
-3
2.45 10
-3
Acid:Base molar ratio 1:2 1:2
Moles of sulfuric acid (moles)
1.08 10
-3
1.22 10
-3
Volume of sulfuric acid used (mL) 2.0 2.2
Volume of sulfuric acid used (L)
2.0 10
-3
2.2 10
-3
Molarity of sulfuric acid (moles/L) 0.54 0.56
Average molarity (moles/L)
Percent Error (%)
0.55
10
() ()

1
1

()
()

1
1

2
()
()
1
2
1
2

1
Discussion: During the standardization of the NaOH in this experiment (Table 1), KPH was used
as the primary standard. A primary standard was used for this purpose because NaOH will
readily absorb moisture in the air and would not have allowed for an accurate concentration
calculation based off of mass of the solid before dissolution. Primary standards serve the purpose
of being incredibly stable and pure, which allowed the concentration of the resulting solution to
be very accurate based off of calculations using the mass of solid that was weighed. Using the
primary standard allowed the calculation of molarity of a NaOH solution, removing the
inaccuracy of calculating concentration of the NaOH solution because the solid was dissolved in
water and was no longer vulnerable to the hygroscopic properties of its solid form. KHP was
used as the standard for the standardization because it exhibits all of the necessary properties of a
primary standard, such as high purity and stability in air. In the standardization of the NaOH
using KPH, it was determined that the average molarity of the NaOH throughout the three trials
was 0.200 M. Comparing this with the actual concentration of the batch of NaOH (batch 241) of
0.1992 M, the calculated percent error was 0.401%. This showed that the experimental value was
highly accurate and precise.
In the titration of the acetic acid using standardized NaOH, the experimental value for the
concentration of the acetic acid (batch 923) was calculated to be 0.83 M (Table 2) and the actual
molarity value of the sample was 0.8 M. This gave a percent error of approximately 3.8%. This
experimental value was not as accurate as the values obtained during the standardization of the
NaOH, but still depicts a fairly accurate result. Precision of these values were also slightly less
because of the measuring equipment used. For this trial, a 10 mL graduated cylinder was used to
measure volume, which does not have a very high precision.
For the third set of titrations, shown in Table 3, sulfuric acid was neutralized using the
0.200 M NaOH solution. Sulfuric acid is a diprotic acid and, when it is neutralized with NaOH,
there is a molar ratio of 1:2, meaning two moles of NaOH were needed to neutralize each mole
of the sulfuric acid, where in each of the previous rounds of titrations the molar ratio was 1:1.
This meant that more NaOH was necessary to reach the end point of the titration. The actual
value given for the concentration of the sulfuric acid sample was 0.5 M and the experimental
value obtained was 0.55 M sulfuric acid. This gave a percent error of 10%. This number was
neither highly precise, nor incredibly accurate. Once again, the measuring equipment was less
precise than in the first round of titrations and experimental error was introduced at some point.
Each of the three titrations performed served their own purpose. The first of the three
titrations was a standardization, which allowed a highly accurate calculation of the concentration
of a solution of NaOH which would be used for the remaining two titrations. Using this known
concentration, titrations were conducted with both a monoprotic acid (acetic acid), which gave a
molar ratio of 1:1, and a diprotic acid (sulfuric acid), which gave a molar ratio of 1:2. These two
titrations allowed for the visual observance of varying molar ratios that influence the amount of
titrant, consistent in concentration throughout the experiment, required to neutralize an analyte.
For each of the titrations performed during this experiment, phenolphthalein was used as
an indicator to signify the end point of the titration. This was important, as it was impossible to
visually observe the when the solution had reached its equivalence point, or the point at which
there has been a complete neutralization of acid/base and base/acid without the help of the
indicator.


Conclusion: The purpose of the experiment performed during this lab was to show the utility
and benefits of highly pure, stable substances which can be used to accurately calculate molarity
of solutions which would otherwise not be possible to the degree of accuracy within this
experiment. Another purpose was to show the differences between a neutralization reaction when
using a monoprotic acid versus a diprotic acid and the differing molar ratios encountered with
each. This experiment served both of those purposes, indicated by the numbers in the results
tables. The primary standard KHP allowed for a highly accurate calculation of the concentration
of NaOH solution, with little error. Further, looking at Table 2 and Table 3 for the monoprotic
and diprotic acid neutralization reactions, the differing molar ratios are shown, as is the
difference in volume of titrant that was required to neutralize each acid. The tables also show
that the percent error, for the most part was relatively low. Table 3 shows the highest percent
error, at 10%. There could be multiple explanations for this level of error; one of the most likely
errors that could have been responsible for the calculation of a higher molarity than actual value
was the ease with which the equivalence point can be exceeded. The titrations performed in this
experiment relied on very precise addition of titrant and just a couple of drops too many could
have really affected the calculations.

Sample Calculations:
1.

() =

= .81 9.25 = 24.56

2.

() =

() (

0
3

) = 24.56 (

0
3

) = 2.456 1

3.

() =


=
.00
04.
= 4.9 1

4. () =

()
=
4.90 0
3

.456 0
2

= .2
5. . (

) =

1
++

=
0.84 + 0.8

= .8
6. () =


1 =
=
0.99 0.00
0.99
1 = .41