Titration of Acids and Bases

Names: Andrew Yaksic, Christopher Pond

Purpose: To become familiar with the techniques of titration; to determine the molecular
weight of a solid acid.

Equipment: 2 50-mL burets, 1000-mL Erlenmeyer flask, 3 250-mL Erlenmeyer flasks,

weighing paper, ring stand, ring, wire gauze, analytical balance, Bunsen burner, rubber
hose, 1-quart bottle with screw top, squirt bottle, buret clamp, stopcock, microspatula,
small beaker

Materials: 19 M NaOH, potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP), phenolphthalein solution,

citric acid (H3C6H5O7), distilled water, petroleum jelly, unknown HCl solution

Introduction: One of the most common and familiar reactions in chemistry is the reaction

of an acid with a base. This reaction is called neutralization, and the essential feature of

this process in aqueous solution is the combination of hydronium ions with hydroxide

ions to form water. In this experiment, this reaction will be used to determine accurately

the concentration of a sodium hydroxide solution. The process of determining the con-

centration of a solution is called standardization.

The technique of accurately measuring the volume of a solution required to react

with another reagent is termed titration. The titration process is shown in Figure 20.2 be-

low:

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 An indicator solution is used to determine exactly when an acid has neutralized a

base or vice versa. An indicator changes colors when equivalent amounts of acid and

base are present. The color change is termed the “end point” of the titration. Indicators

change colors at different pH values. Phenolphthalein, the indicator used in this experi-

ment, changes from colorless to pink at a pH of 9. In slightly more acidic solutions it is

colorless, and in more alkaline solutions it is pink.

In this experiment, sodium hydroxide will be titrated against three solutions:

KHP, citric acid, and hydrochloric acid. KHP, or potassium hydrogen phthalate, is a

molecule with the following structural diagram:

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 The goal of this experiment is to standardize sodium hydroxide against KHP; to

determine the molecular weight of citric acid; and to determine the concentration of the

unknown hydrochloric acid. In order to determine the concentration of the hydrochloric

acid, the formula must be as follows: molarity = moles solute/volume of solution in liters.

Procedure:

A. Standardization of NaOH solution

1. Carbon-dioxide free water was prepared by boiling tap water.

2. Three samples of pure KHP were weighed with weighing paper. Between .4 and .6

grams of KHP were obtained per sample. Each KHP sample was placed into a separate

250-mL Erlenmeyer flask.

3. Between 15 and 50 mL of the boiled water was added to each Erlenmeyer flask. The

contents of each flask were swirled. Two to four drops of phenolphthalein solution were

added to each flask.

4. Some NaOH solution was poured into the buret and allowed to flow through the buret.

It was collected in a small beaker. The stopcock was then turned to the closed position.

The buret was then completely filled to the 0-mL mark with NaOH solution. The initial

buret reading was recorded.

5. NaOH solution was slowly added to one of the flasks containing KHP solution while

gently swirling the contents of the flask, as indicated in Figure 20.2 in the Introduction.

NaOH solution was added until the KHP turned completely pink. The buret reading was

recorded.

6. Steps 4 and 5 were repeated for the two other Erlenmeyer flasks.

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B. Analysis of citric acid

1. Three samples of pure citric acid were weighed with weighing paper. Between .2 and

.3 grams of citric acid were obtained per sample. Each citric acid sample was placed into

a separate 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask.

2. Between 15 and 50 mL of the previously boiled water was added to each Erlenmeyer

flask. The contents of each flask were swirled. Two to four drops of phenolphthalein so-

lution were added to each flask.

3. Some NaOH solution was poured into the buret and allowed to flow through the buret.

It was collected in the same small beaker used in step 4 of part A. The stopcock was then

turned to the closed position. The buret was then completely filled to the 0-mL mark with

NaOH solution. The initial buret reading was recorded.

4. NaOH solution was slowly added to one of the flasks containing citric acid solution

while gently swirling the contents of the flask, as indicated in Figure 20.2 in the Introduc-

tion. NaOH solution was added until the citric acid turned completely pink. The buret

reading was recorded.

5. Steps 3 and 4 were repeated for the two other Erlenmeyer flasks.

C. Analysis of unknown hydrochloric acid solution

1. An arbitrary amount of HCl was placed into an Erlenmeyer flask from a second, clean

buret. Twice as much HCl was placed into another Erlenmeyer flask; three times as much

as the original amount of HCl was placed into a third Erlenmeyer flask. A few drops of

phenolphthalein solution were added to each flask. Some distilled water was added to

each flask for better visibility.

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2. Some NaOH solution was poured into the original buret and allowed to flow through

the buret. It was collected in the same small beaker used in step 4 of part A. The stopcock

was then turned to the closed position. The buret was then completely filled to the 0-mL

mark with NaOH solution. The initial buret reading was recorded.

3. NaOH solution was slowly added to the first Erlenmeyer flask containing HCl. The

contents of the flask were gently swirled during this titration. NaOH solution was added

until the HCl turned completely pink. The buret reading was recorded.

4. Steps 2 and 3 were repeated for the two other Erlenmeyer flasks.

Observations:

± will not be factored into results for part A. For mass observations, ± is .0001 g. For bu-
ret readings, ± is .05 mL.

A. Standardization of NaOH solution

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass of KHP used .4730 g .5311 g .5159 g
Final buret reading 20.90 mL 23.80 mL 22.90 mL
Initial buret reading 0.00 mL 0.00 mL 0.00 mL

B. Analysis of citric acid

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass of citric acid used .2456 g .2527 g .2407 g
Final buret reading 34.50 mL 36.30 mL 34.30 mL
Initial buret reading 0.00 mL 0.00 mL 0.00 mL

C. Analysis of unknown hydrochloric acid solution

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Amount of HCl used 5.00 mL 10.00 mL 15.00 mL
Initial NaOH buret reading 0.00 mL 0..00 mL 0.00 mL
Final NaOH buret reading 3.65 mL 7.30 mL 10.95 mL

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Results:

A. Standardization of NaOH solution

mL of NaOH used (final buret reading minus initial buret reading) =

Trial 1. 20.90 mL – 0.00 mL = 20.90 mL.

Trial 2. 23.80 mL – 0.00 mL = 23.80 mL.

Trial 3. 22.90 mL – 0.00 mL = 22.90 mL.

Moles of KHP used (mass of KHP used times (1 mole KHP/204.2 grams KHP)) =

Trial 1. (.4730 g KHP (1 mole/204.2 g)) = .002316 moles KHP.

Trial 2. (.5311 g KHP (1mole/204.2 g)) = .002601 moles KHP.

Trial 3. (.5159 g KHP (1 mole/204.2 g)) = .002526 moles KHP.

Moles of NaOH used (moles of KHP used times (1 mole NaOH/1 mole KHP)) =

Trial 1. (.002316 moles KHP (1 mole NaOH/1 mole KHP)) = .002316 moles NaOH.

Trial 2. (.002601 moles KHP (1 mole NaOH/1 mole KHP)) = .002601 moles NaOH.

Trial 3. (.002526 moles KHP (1 mole NaOH/1 mole KHP)) = .002526 moles NaOH.

Molarity of NaOH (moles of NaOH divided by (mL of NaOH used/1000)) =

Trial 1. .002316 moles NaOH / .02090 L = .1108 M

Trial 2. .002601 moles NaOH / .02380 L = .1093 M

Trial 3. .002526 moles NaOH / .02290 L = .1103 M

Average molarity (sum of molarities divided by 3) =

(.1108 + .1093 + .1103) / 3 = .1101 M

Standard deviation (|Average molarity minus individual molarities|) =

Trial 1. |.1101 M - .1108 M| = .0007 M

Trial 2. |.1101 M - .1093 M| = .0008 M

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Trial 3. |.1101 M - .1103 M| = .0002 M

Average deviation (Sum of standard deviations divided by 3) =

(.0007 M + .0008 M + .0002 M) / 3 = .0006 M

B. Analysis of citric acid

mL of NaOH used (final buret reading minus initial buret reading) =

Trial 1. 34.50 mL – 0.00 mL = 34.50 mL

Trial 2. 36.30 mL – 0.00 mL = 36.30 mL

Trial 3. 34.30 mL – 0.00 mL = 34.30 mL

Moles of NaOH used (molarity of NaOH times (mL of NaOH/1000)) =

Trial 1. (.1101 ± .0006 M (34.50 ± .05 mL/1000)) =

(.1101 ± .54% M (.03450 ± .14% L)) = (.003798 ± .68% mol) =

.003798 ± .00003 mol = .00380 ± .00003 mol

Trial 2. (.1101 ± .0006 M (36.30 ± .05 mL/1000)) =

(.1101 ± .54% M (.03630 ± .14% L)) = (.003997 ± .68% mol) =

.003997 ± .00003 mol = .00400 ± .00003 mol

Trial 3. (.1101 ± .0006 M (34.30 ± .05 mL/1000)) =

(.1101 ± .54% M (.03430 ± .15% L)) = (.003776 ± .69% mol) =

.003776 ± .00003 mol = .00378 ± .00003 mol

Moles of citric acid used (moles of NaOH used (1 mole citric acid/3 moles NaOH)) =

Trial 1. (.00380 ± .00003 mol NaOH (1 mole citric acid/3 moles NaOH)) =

(.00380 ± .79% moles citric acid / 3) = (.00126 ± .79% moles citric acid) =

.00126 ± .00001 moles citric acid

Trial 2. (.00400 ± .00003 mol NaOH (1 mole citric acid/3 moles NaOH)) =

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(.00400 ± .75% moles citric acid / 3) = (.00133 ± .75% moles citric acid) =

.00133 ± .00001 moles citric acid

Trial 3. (.00378 ± .00003 mol NaOH (1 mole citric acid/3 moles NaOH)) =

(.00378 ± .79% moles citric acid / 3) = (.00126 ± .79% moles citric acid) =

.00126 ± .00001 moles citric acid

Molecular weight of citric acid (grams of citric acid divided by moles of citric acid) =

Trial 1. (.2456 g / .00126 mol) = 194.9 g/mol

Trial 2. (.2527 g / .00133 mol) = 190.0 g/mol

Trial 3. (.2407 g / .00126 mol) = 191.0 g/mol

Average molecular weight (sum of molecular weights divided by 3) =

(194.9 + 190.0 + 191.0) / 3 = 192.0 g/mol

Standard deviation (|Average molecular weight minus individual molecular weight|) =

Trial 1. |192.0 g/mol – 194.9 g/mol| = 2.9 g/mol

Trial 2. |192.0 g/mol – 190.0 g/mol| = 2.0 g/mol

Trial 3. |192.0 g/mol – 191.0 g/mol| = 1.0 g/mol

Average deviation (Sum of standard deviations divided by 3) =

(2.9 + 2.0 + 1.0) / 3 = 2.0 g/mol

C. Analysis of unknown hydrochloric acid solution

Amount of NaOH used (final buret reading minus initial buret reading) =

Trial 1. 3.65 mL – 0.00 mL = 3.65 mL

Trial 2. 7.30 mL – 0.00 mL = 7.30 mL

Trial 3. 10.95 mL – 0.00 mL = 10.95 mL

Moles of NaOH used (molarity of NaOH times (mL of NaOH/1000)) =

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Trial 1. (.1101 ± .0006 M (3.65 ± .05 mL/1000)) =

(.1101 ± .54% M (.00365 ± 1.37% L)) = (.000402 ± 1.91% mol) =

.000402 ± .000007 mol

Trial 2. (.1101 ± .0006 M (7.30 ± .05 mL/1000)) =

(.1101 ± .54% M (.00730 ± .68% L)) = (.000804 ± 1.22% mol) =

.00080 ± .00001 mol

Trial 3. (.1101 ± .0006 M (10.95 ± .05 mL/1000)) =

(.1101 ± .54% M (.01095 ± .46% L)) = (.001206 ± 1.00% mol) =

.00121 ± .00001 mol

Moles of HCl used (moles of NaOH (1 mole HCl / 1 mole NaOH) =

Trial 1. .000402 ± .000007 mol (1 mol HCl / 1 mol NaOH) = .000402 ± .000007 mol.

Trial 2. .00080 ± .00001 mol (1 mol HCl / 1 mol NaOH) = .00080 ± .00001 mol.

Trial 3. .00121 ± .00001 mol (1 mol HCl / 1 mol NaOH) = .00121 ± .00001 mol.

Molarity of unknown HCl solution (moles of HCl used / (Amount of HCl used/1000))=

Trial 1. (.000402 ± .000007 mol HCl / (5.00 ± .05 mL / 1000) =

(.000402 ± 1.74% mol HCl / (.00500 ± 1.00% L)) = (.0804 ± 2.74% M) =

.080 ± .002 M

Trial 2. (.00080 ± .00001 mol HCl / (10.00 ± .05 mL / 1000) =

(.00080 ± 1.25% mol HCl / (.0100 ± .50% L)) = (.08 ± 1.75% M) =

.080 ± .001 M

Trial 3. (.00121 ± .00001 mol HCl / (15.00 ± .05 mL / 1000) =

(.00121 ± .83% mol HCl / (.0150 ± .33% L)) = (.081 ± 1.16% M) =

.081 ± .001 M

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Average molarity (sum of molarities divided by 3) =

(.080 + .080 + .081) / 3 = .080 M

Discussion: The value obtained for the molecular weight of citric acid was 192.0 g/mol.

The true value is 192.1 g/mol. The percent error calculation is as follows:

(observed-true)/true * 100

(192.0-192.1)/192.1 * 100 =

-.1/192.1 * 100 =

-.05% error.

This value is very close. The experiment was very accurate. Some sources of error

in this experiment include faulty equipment. If the buret was leaking at all, then the read-

ing would have been inaccurate. If there was any petroleum jelly in the hole of the stop-

cock, then this would have served as an impurity, distorting volumetric readings. If there

were any air bubbles in the buret, then the volume reading would have been too low, be-

cause the meniscus would have been pushed upwards.

The theory associated with this experiment is the process of metathesis reactions.

Metathesis, or single-replacement, reactions occur in the following form: AX + BY →

AY + BX. There are three driving forces for metathesis reactions to occur: the formation

of a precipitate, the formation of a weak electrolyte or nonelectrolyte, or the formation of

a gas that escapes from solution. Metathesis reactions occur to neutralize acids and bases,

as they did in this experiment.

Ramifications of this experiment are both personal and general. In general, a new

procedure was learned and practiced extensively. Specific technical applications of this

experiment include titrating to determine the acid or base content of a solution. For ex-

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ample, titration can be used to determine the acid content of beer. If beer is too acidic or

too basic, it will not taste the way it should. Thus, titrating a small sample of beer against

a base like sodium hydroxide while using an indicator like phenolphthalein will reveal

the acid content. This can be done with any solution.

Questions:

1. The balanced chemical equation for the reaction of KHP with NaOH is:

KHC8H4O4(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H2O(l) + KNaC8H4O4(aq)

2. If the KHP sample were contaminated with NaCl before standardization, the molarity

reading would have been too low because the number of moles of NaOH measured would

have been too low.

3. To find the molarity of the malonic acid solution, first find the number of moles of

NaOH used.

mol NaOH = molarity * liters

mol NaOH = .100 M * .02182 L = .002182 mol NaOH

Then calculate the number of moles of malonic acid needed.

mol malonic acid = mol NaOH (1 mol malonic acid / 2 mol NaOH)

mol malonic acid = .002182 mol NaOH (1/2) = .001091 mol malonic acid

Then calculate the molarity of malonic acid.

molarity = moles / liters

molarity = .001091 mol / .01212 L = .0900 M

4. To find the molarity of the sulfuric acid, first find the number of moles of sodium car-

bonate used.

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mol sodium carbonate = .432 g sodium carbonate (1 mol / 106.0 g)

mol sodium carbonate = .00408 mol

Then find how many moles of sulfuric acid were used.

mol sulfuric acid = .00408 mol sodium carbonate (1 mol sulfuric acid / 1 mol sodium

carbonate) = .00408 mol sulfuric acid

Then calculate the molarity of the sulfuric acid.

molarity = moles / liters

molarity = .00408 mol / .0223 L = .183 M sulfuric acid.

5. To find the molarity of the solution, first determine the number of moles.

.252 g oxalic acid (1 mole / 126.0 g) = .00200 mol oxalic acid

Then calculate the molarity of the solution.

molarity = moles / liters

molarity = .00200 mol / .500 L = .00400 M oxalic acid

Conclusion: The experiment was completed with a high degree of success. Titration

techniques were learned and practiced, and the molecular weight of a solid acid was de-

termined accurately.

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