SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

SOLOMON MAHLANGU COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION,

Department of Chemistry and Physics

CHE: 111 CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL 1

PRACTICAL NO 1.

ACID – BASE TITRATION

Introduction
In the titration of strong acid and strong base the acid ionizes completely in solution. Likewise, a
strong base. The conjugate base of the strong acid has no tendency to combine with a H +.
Likewise, the conjugate acid of the strong base has no tendency to combine with OH - to produce
H2O. Because of that, when a strong acid is combined with a strong base it produces a salt
(anion from strong acid, cation from a strong base) that has no tendency to affect the pH of a
solution. When a stoichiometrically equivalent amount of strong base is added to a solution of a
strong acid, all of the H+ ions present in the acid react with an equivalent amount of OH- ions
from the base; and there are no net H+ or OH- ions left over (i.e. [H+] = [OH-]). The reaction of
the H+ and OH- ions produces H2O (l). In addition, if the reaction is between HCl and NaCl:
HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l),

[K+] = [Cl-],
Therefore, we will essentially have a solution of H 2O and NaCl(aq).

Since the KCl produced has no effect upon pH, when an equivalent amount of NaOH is added to
a solution of HCl the solution has a neutral pH (i.e. pH = 7.0)
The titration of a weak acid with a strong base is very similar in form to that of the titration of a
strong acid with a weak base. The reaction that occurs in the solution is;
HA (aq) + OH-(aq) A-(aq) + H2O (l)
In this, the conjugate base of the weak acid affects the pH of the solution (i.e. it has some
tendency to combine with a proton and produce the weak acid, thus affecting the concentration
of H+). Thus, in the stoichiometry between the acid and the base, the equilibrium reactions of the
species that remain must be considered.
The amount of strong base that is added will ionize completely, to produce a stoichiometric
amount of OH-(aq) and conjugate acid (e.g. Na+).

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The stoichiometric amount of OH-(aq) will react completely with an equivalent amount of H + ion
released by the weak acid therefore; a stoichiometric amount of weak acid will ionize and be
neutralized.

This will also result in the production of a stoichiometric amount of conjugate base.
When doing this kind of titration, the solution starts out acidic with a pH equal to that of the weak
acid solution. As base is added, a buffer solution forms and the pH does not change rapidly until
all of the weak acid reacts with the base. When the equivalent amount of the base/acid has been
added, the solution is at the equivalence (end) point, the point at which a stoichiometrically
equivalent amount of base has been added to the acid which corresponds to a certain pH value.
We therefore use pH indicators to determine the end point of the titration. Different indicators are
used in titration depending on the nature of acid, strength or concentration (i.e. different pH at
the end point).

Titration can be between a strong base/strong acid and weak base/weak acid. The following
practical is between weak acid (acetic acid) and a strong base (sodium hydroxide). Read the
theory of the dissociation nature of the weak acids and bases in aqueous solutions. According to
that nature of dissociation, at the equivalent point [OH-] = [HA].
Experimental Programme
Chemicals

NaOH(s), KHC8H4O4(s) (dried at 120oC for two hours), 0.1 M CH3COOH, commercial vinegar 4-5 %, methyl
red indicators and phenolphthalein indicators.

The preparation and standardization of a 0.12 M NaOH solution

Potassium hydrogen phthalate is used for the standardization of the solution of sodium hydroxide.

O
H
H C OH Phthalic acid is a divalent acid
with the acid constants PKa1 =
H OH 2.9 and pKa2 = 5.5
C
H
O
Phthalic Acid

When titrating a solution of potassium hydrogen phthalate with sodium hydroxide the net equation
is:
KHC8H4O4 + OH¯ → KC8H4O4- + H2O
Potassium hydrogen phthalate is obtainable in a high degree of purity, it is almost non-
hydroscopic, but it is advisable to dry it (120o for two hours) before weighing.

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 CHEMICAL PREPARATION

Prepare, 0.12 M sodium hydroxide solution.

Calculate the mass of sodium hydroxide pellet needed to perform this experiment, use the volume
of volumetric flask given as total volume of the sodium hydroxide solution to be prepared. Use a
chemical balance and weighing boot

Sodium hydroxide is highly corrosive and must not be spilled. Avoid touching the pellets with your
fingers. If any is spilled by accident, wash thoroughly with water immediately.

Transfer the pellets to a large beaker and rinse them quickly with a small amount of distilled water.
Stir immediately to avoid caking of the pellets (heat is evolved). Then add about 100 cm3 of
distilled water. When all dissolved, transfer to a stoppered volumetric flask. Make up to the mark
with distilled water.

(a) Standardization of 0.12 M NaOH

Weigh accurately 0.5 – 1.2 g of KHC8H4O4 into a 250 cm3 conical flask dissolve about 25 cm3
distilled water. Add 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator and titrate with the NaOH solution until a
faint pink colour persists. Calculate the molarity of the NaOH solution separately for each aliquot
(minimum two aliquots).

(b) The selection of an indicator for the titration of a weak acid with a strong base
Acetic acid is a weak acid, pKa = 4.7. When titrating a solution of acetic acid with sodium
hydroxide, the net equation is: CH3COOH + OH¯ → CH3COO¯ + H2O.
Procedure
Pipette 20 cm of 0.1 M CH3COOH then dilute with about 20 cm3 of distilled water in a conical
3

flask. Add 2 drops of methyl red indicator solution and 2 drops of phenolphthalein methyl red
indicator solution. Titrate slowly with the standardized sodium hydroxide solution and note the
colour changes. From the result decide which indicator is the more suitable for the titration.

NB: If the result above leaves you in doubt as to the choice of indicator, you may titrate one
aliquot with the addition of methyl red indicator solution only, and one aliquot with the
addition of phenolphthalein indicator solution only.

(c) Determination of acetic acid in commercial vinegar

Weigh a stoppered 100 cm3 volumetric flask accurately. Add about 35 cm3 of the commercial
vinegar to the flask and reweigh the stoppered flask. Make up to the mark with distilled water.
Titrate 20 cm3 aliquots with standardized sodium hydroxide solution in the same way as done
above except that only more suitable indicator is added. (Minimum two aliquots).
Calculate the quantity (in grams) of acetic acid per 100 grams of vinegar obtained

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 PROBLEMS

i. Calculate how many grams of sodium formate, HCOONa must be added to one litre of 0.1 M HCOOH
(formic acid) to give a buffer solution of pH = 3.5 (for HCOOH: pKa = 3.7).

ii. Calculate the pH at the equivalence point when a solution of 0.1M acetic acid is titrated with a solution of 0.1M
sodium hydroxide. Ka for acetic acid =1.9×10−5

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