Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

ACID-BASE TITRATION
I. PURPOSES
1. To standardize NaOH solution by using oxalic acid
2. To determine concentration of HCl solution
II. THEORY
Titrimetric or volumetric analysis is one way of examination the number of
chemicals that are based on the measurement of the volume of reagent solution
required to react with the substance defined stoichiometry. Reagent solution
viscosity was usually known with certainty, and called standard solution. While
the process of adding to the solution titrant specified substance called titration.
In the process it section by section titrant added to a solution of the substance to
be determined with the aid of an instrument called burette until the equivalence
point is reached. Equivalence point is the point at the time specified reagents
and substances reacted in stoichiometric. Titration should be stopped at or near
the point of this equality. The total volume of used titrant to reach equivalence
point is called the equivalence volume. By knowing the volume of equity, titer
levels darn stoichiometric factor, then the specified amount of a substance can
be calculated. [1]
In practice, the equivalence point is determined by a variety of ways,
depending on the nature of the reaction. Typically, the point of equality is not
accompanied by a change in the nature that can be seen. Because it needed
additional substances that can indicate changes that can be seen at or near the
point of equality. Additional substances are called indicators. This indicator
changes color around the point of equality. [1]
When a color change of the indicator in the titration process called
endpoint. When the end point is reached, the titration should be stopped.
Usually the endpoint is not exactly the same as the equivalence point. The
smaller the difference between the endpoint and the equivalence point, the
smaller the error of titration.[1]

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

The object of titration, say, an alkaline solution with a standard solution

of an acid is the determination of the amount of acid which is exactly equivalent
chemically to the amount of base present. The point at which this is reached is
the equivalence point, stoichiometric point, or theoretical end point; the
resulting aqueous solution contains the corresponding salt. If both the acid and
base are strong electrolytes, the solution at the end-point will be neutral and
have a pH of 7, but if either the acid or the base is a weak electrolyte, the salt
will be hydrolyzed to a certain degree, and the solution at the equivalence point
will be either slightly alkaline or slightly acid. The exact pH of the solution at the
equivalence point can readily be calculated from the ionization constant of the
weak acid or the weak base and the concentration of the solution. For any actual
titration the correct end-point will be characterized by a definite value of the
hydrogen-ion concentration of the solution, the value depending upon the
nature of the acid and the base and the concentration of the solution. [2]
Acid-base titration is a precise and easy way to determine the number of
compounds that are acidic and alkaline. Most acids and organic and inorganic
bases can be titrated in aqueous solution, but most of the compounds, especially
organic compounds are not soluble in water. However, organic compounds are
generally soluble in organic solvents, therefore the organic compounds can be
determined by acid-base titrations in non-water solvents. [1]
To determine the base used standard solution of a strong acid (example :
HCl), whereas the acid used to determine standard solution of a strong base
(example : NaOH). The end point of the titration is usually determined with the
aid of a color change indicator corresponding acid-base or with the aid of
equipment (example : potentiometers, spectrophotometers, conductometers ).
[1]

Acid-base titration can be regarded as an acid-base pair interactions in

pairs accordihng to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, namely:
Acid 1 + Base 2 Base 1 + Acid 2

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

When the titration is done in water solvent, the proton transfer is always
expressed through a water molecule. As a result, the general equation for acidbase titrations in aqueous solvent is written as an equation between hydronium
ions and hydroxide ions, which is opposed to water otoprotolis reaction:
H3O + + OH- H2O + H2O
During the titration the pH of the solution changes slowly, but in the
equivalence point pH change is very large. That is why the graphic presentation
of the pH as a function of the added volume pentiter very important. The graphic
presentation of the experiment called titration curve. [1]
Acidimetry and alkalimetry including neutralization reaction is the
reaction between hydrogen ions from the acid with hydroxide ions from the base
to produce water that is neutral. Neutralization can also be regarded as a
reaction between a proton donor (acid) and proton acceptor (base). Acidimetry a
quantitative assay of the compounds using a standard alkaline acid. Instead
alkalimetry is assay compounds that are using the standard bases. [3]
There are 3 understanding of what constitutes the so-called acid and alkali.
1. According to Arrhenius, an acid is a compound that when dissolved in water
will decompose into hydrogen ions (H+) and the anion, while the base is a
compound that when dissolved in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH-) and
cations. Arrhenius theory is only applicable to inorganic compounds in watersoluble.
2. To be valid in all solvents, the Bronsted in 1923 provide restrictions, namely:
an acid is a compound that is likely to release protons while bases are
compounds that tend to capture protons.
A

H+ + B

Acid Proton + Base Conjugate

3. Another restriction is given by Lewis in 1983 which stated that the acid is the
acceptor (receiver) while the base is an electron pair donor (giver) electron
pairs. With this limitation, the concept of acid-base change at all, namely: acid

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

compound that does not have to contain hydrogen. According to the following
reaction is Lewis acid-base reaction: [3]
NH3 + BF3 H3N:BF3
The analysis benefited from a large pH changes that occur in the titration
to determine when equivalence point can be achieved. There are many weak
organic acids and bases which form non unraveling and ionic forms have
different colors . These molecules can be used to determine when the addition of
titrant has been insufficient, and called a visual indicator. A simple example is pNitrophenol, which is a weak acid. The form does not biodegrade p-Nitrophenol
colorless, but the anion, which has a system of converting single and double
bonds (conjugated system), yellow. Molecules or ions that have the conjugated
system absorbs longer wavelength than the molecules are no comparable
conjugated system. Light absorbed is often located on the looks of the spectrum,
so the color molecules or ions . [4]
Indicator phenolphthalein known a diprotic acid and colorless. Indicator is
first decomposed into a colored shape and then, with the loss of two protons,
ions into the conjugated system produce a red color. The following reaction :
H2In (colorless of phenolphthalein ) + H2O HIn- (Colorless) + H3O+ In2- (Red)
+ H3O+
Methyl orange, another indicator that is widely used is the base and yellow in the
form of the molecule. The addition of a proton generates cation pink. [4]
Table Several Indicators of Acid-Base
Indicator

Color Changes With

Increased pH

Range Of pH

Picric acid

Colorless to yellow

0.1 0.8

Blue thymol

Red to yellow

1.2 2.8

2,6 dinitrophenol

Colorless to yellow

2.0 4.0

Yellow methyl

Red to yellow

2.9 4.0

Blue bromphenol

Yellow to blue

3.0 4.6

Orange methyl

Red to yellow

3.1 4.4

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

Green bromcresol

Yellow to blue

3.8 5.4

Red Methyl

Red to yellow

4.2 6.2

Litmus

Red to blue

5.0 8.0

Purple Methyl

Purple to green

4.8 5.4

p- Nitrophenol

Colorless to yellow

5.6 7.6

Purple bromcresol

Yellow to purple

5.2 6.8

Blue bromthymol

Yellow to blue

6.0 7.6

Merah neutral

Red to yellow

6.8 8.0

Red phenol

Yellow to blue

6.8 8.4

p--naphtholftalein

Yellow to blue

7.0 9.0

Phenolftalein

Colorless to red

8.0 9.6

Thymolftalein

Colorless to blue

9.3 10.6

Alizarin yellow R

Yellow to violet

10.1 12.0

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene

Colorless to orange

12.0 14.0

A large number of substances, called neutralization or acid-base

indicators, change color according to the hydrogen-ion concentration of the
solution. The chief characteristic of these indicators is that the change from a
predominantly 'acid' color to a predominantly 'alkaline' color is not sudden and
abrupt, but takes place within a small interval of pH (usually about two pH units)
termed the color-change interval of the indicator. The position of the colorchange interval in the pH scale varies widely with different indicators. For most
acid-base titrations it is possible to select an indicator which exhibits a distinct
color change at a pH close to that corresponding to the equivalence point.[2]
The basic solution was added slowly to a solution of the acid to the
equivalent point is reached. If the concentration of one of the known solution,
the concentration of another solution can be sought. Changes in pH during the
titration can be followed by using a pH meter. But to determine the equivalent
point is more commonly used pH indicator. Indicator pH is acidic or weakly
alkaline pH, which in certain circumstances the color will change with pH.

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

Indicator usually have a range of color change of 2 pH units. The pH value at

which the indicator starts to change color depending on the type of indicators. [5]
Consider an indicator which has the general form HIn (this form is called
the acid form). This indicator (HIn) has a different color with conjugate base
(inclusive). In this indicator solution will establish a balance:
H2O + HIn H3O+ + InFor example, if phenolphthalein regarded as Hin, then HIn colorless, being Inpurple. Equilibrium constant for the above reaction:
KIn = [H3O+][In-] / [HIn]
[HIn]/[In-] = [H3O+]/ KIn
At a certain temperature, the value of Kin is always fixed, so the color of
the indicator will depend on the [H3O+] or pH. When [HIn] = [In-], ie when [HIn] /
[In-] = 1, then the color of the indicator will be in transition between one color
with another color. For this transitional form of phenolphthalein color pink. In
order to obtain an estimate on how much the color of the indicator depends on
the value ratio [HIn] / [In-], it is assumed that, if:
[HIn]/[In-] > 10 color is like the color indicator HIn in acid form.
Meanwhile, when:
[HIn]/[In-] < 1/10 indicator color is like the color of In- in base form.
The selection of indicators should be such that the first, with the addition of a
base, the indicator must be demonstrated that the observed color change, and
second, the color change should be as close as possible to the equivalence
point.[5]
The reaction between substances chosen as the primary standard and
acids or bases must meet the requirements for titrimetric analysis. In addition,
the primary standard should have the following characteristics:
1. Must be available in pure form or in a state that is known purity. In general,
the total amount of impurities must not exceed 0,01 to of 0,02%, and we
should be able to test for the presence of impurities with a known sensitivity
qualitative test.

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

2. These substances should be easy to dry and should not be too hygroscopic
because it can lead to water shipped when weighting. These substances
should not lose weight when exposed to air. Salt hydrates are generally not
used as a primary standard.
3. The main standards it is desirable to have a high equivalent weight to minimize
the effects of errors when weighting.
4. Acid or base is preferably a strong, ie, highly dissociated. However, a weak
acid or base can be used as a primary standard, without significant losses,
especially when the standard solution will be used to analyze a sample of a
weak acid or base . [4]

Acid-Base Titration

Experimental of Fundamental Analytical Chemistry

Academic Period 2014/2015

REFERENCES
[1]

Rivai, Harrizul. 1995. Principles of Chemistry. UI Press : Jakarta. Page: 49-50,

117-188.

[2]

Bassett, J, Jeffery, G. H.

Mendham, J, Denney, R.C. 1989. Textbook of

Quantitativen Chemical Analysis. Fifth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
New York : USA. Page: 262-263.
[3]

Mursyidi, Achmad and Abdul Rohman. 2006. Introduction to Pharmaceutical

Analysis Volumetric and Gravimetry. Gadjah

Mada

University

Press:

Yogyakarta. Page: 81-82.

[4]

Day, R. A. and A. L.Underwood. 2002. Quantitative Analysis of Chemistry. 6th

Edition. Erlangga: Jakarta. Page: 141-144, 155.

[5]

Bird, Tony. 1993. Physical Chemistry for University. Gramedia Pustaka Utama:
Jakarta. Page: 253-255.

Acid-Base Titration