Name: _________________________________ Section: _____________________

Experiment 8 – Acid/Base Titrations

Discussion

This experiment demonstrates an analytical technique known as titration, where a solution is

delivered from a buret until it completely consumes another solution in a flask. Consider the
following: 0

10

Acid-base titrations are an example of volumetric analysis, a 20

technique in which one solution is used to analyze another. The 30

solution used to carry out the analysis is called the titrant and is
40

delivered from a device called a buret, which measures the

volume accurately. The point in the titration at which enough 50

titrant has been added to react exactly with the substance being
determined is called the equivalence point (or stoichiometric
point). This point is often marked by the change in color of a
chemical called an indicator. The titration set-up is illustrated in
the schematic shown left.

First, the concentration of a base solution (standard) will be determined; this data will be used
to determine the concentration of unknown acid solutions. To standardize the NaOH solution,
it will be reacted with potassium hydrogen phthalate, KHC8H4O4 (abbreviated KHP). The
molar mass of KHP is 204.2 g/mol. The reaction of KHP with NaOH is known to be:

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

Starting with a known mass of KHP and recording the volume of NaOH required to reach the
endpoint, the molarity of the base can be determined. The indicator to be used,
phenolphthalein, is colorless in acidic solution and rosy pink when slightly basic. Even though
the endpoint is slightly overshot in order to make the color change, the goal is to use as little
excess base as possible. Therefore, the titrated solution should be very pale pink, not bright
rosy red, at the endpoint.

Once the concentration of the NaOH solution is known, one can: (1) determine the
concentration of a hydrochloric acid solution and/or (2) determine the molarity and mass
percent of acetic acid in a sample of vinegar.

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Procedure

A. Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide

1. Measure out 1.000 to 1.200 g of KHP and add to a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask.

2. Add approximately 30 mL of D.I. water to the flask. If some KHP is sticking to the
walls of the flask, rinse it down with D.I. water from a wash bottle.

3. Take another clean, dry 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask to the hood and obtain approximately
100 mL of NaOH base. Be certain to keep the base solution stoppered when not in use.

4. Obtain a clean 50 mL buret. Carefully fill the buret with base, making sure that no air
bubbles are present. Run some of the base solution through the buret tip to remove the
air pocket in the tip.

5. Record the initial buret reading (x.xx mL) in the data section. When you read a buret,
the line of sight must be level with the BOTTOM of the meniscus to avoid error. The
top of the buret reads 0.00 mL; the bottom reads 50.00 mL. Notice the numbers increase
going down. Take note of this when reading the numbers. Your instructor will
demonstrate.

6. Add 2 to 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator solution to the 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask

containing KHP and water. Swirl your acid solution to mix well.

7. Place the flask under the tip of the buret. A piece of white paper under the flask makes
it easier to see the pale pink color at the endpoint. Open the valve and allow base to
drip from the buret into the flask. Swirl continually to mix the solutions. As you get
closer to the endpoint, the solution will begin to show pink color that goes away when
you mix. Slow the rate of base addition to one drop at a time, mixing the solutions well
after every drop. If you splash the solution up onto the sidewalls of the flask, spray a
stream of water from your wash bottle over the inside of the flask. The extra water that
mixes into your acid sample will not affect your results. Once the addition of ONE drop
of base changes the solution from colorless to pale pink, close the buret valve and make
certain that the pale pink color lasts for at least 30 seconds. If so, record the final buret
reading. If not, carefully add one more drop of base from the buret valve until the pale
pink color persists for 30 seconds or longer. If at the end of your trial the color is bright
rosy red, you have overshot the endpoint. Make a note in your data if you overshoot

8. Discard the titrated solution into the sink, rinse the flask with D.I. water, and then titrate
another new sample of KHP following the same procedure above. Do at least TWO
successful titrations that achieve a pale pink color of the indicator.

9. Calculate the average molarity of the base from your two successful trials and check
with your instructor for verification before proceeding to part B.

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B. Molarity Determination of a Hydrochloric Acid Solution

1. From the hood, half fill a medium test tube with the unknown hydrochloric acid. Using
a volumetric pipet, transfer 10.00 mL of the acid sample to a clean Erlenmeyer flask
(your instructor will demonstrate).

2. Add 2 to 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator solution and approximately 25 mL of

D.I. water to the flask containing the 10.00 mL acid and swirl.

3. Refill the buret with NaOH and record the initial buret reading.

4. Place the flask under the buret and add base until you reach the endpoint as outlined in
Part A above. Record the final buret reading, discard the sample in the sink, and repeat
the titration until you have TWO successful trials. Determine the average molarity of
the hydrochloric acid solution from your two successful trials and check with your
instructor for verification.

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Data and Calculations for Experiment 8

A. Standardization of NaOH(aq)

Data Table for Part A

Sample 1 Sample 2
Mass of flask and KHP
Mass of empty flask
Mass of KHP
Initial buret reading
Final buret reading
Volume of base used

1. Moles of acid (KHP, Molar mass = 204.2)

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

2. Moles of base used to neutralize acid

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

3. Molarity of base (NaOH)

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

4. Average Molarity of Base (to be used in Part B)

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Name: _________________________________ Section: _____________________

B. Molarity Determination of HCl(aq)

Volume of HCl solution used: ___________

Data Table for Part B

Sample 1 Sample 2
Initial buret reading
Final buret reading
Volume of base used

1. Moles of base (NaOH) used

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

2. Moles of acid used to neutralize base

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

3. Molarity of acid (HCl)

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

4. Average Molarity of Acid

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Name: _________________________________ Section: _____________________

Questions

1. A titration required 13.42 mL of 0.1638 M NaOH solution. How many moles of NaOH
were in this volume?

2. A student weighed a sample of KHP and found it weighed 1.396 g. Titration of this KHP
required 21.36 mL of base (NaOH). Calculate the molarity of the base.

3. Write and balance the equation for the neutralization of a sulfuric acid solution of unknown
concentration by sodium hydroxide. Calculate the molarity of an unknown sulfuric acid
solution if a 25.0 mL sample of the acid solution consumes 27.2 mL of 0.138 M NaOH
solution in a titration.

4. What might happen to your calculated NaOH molarity if you used tap water instead if D.I.
water to dissolve the KHP crystals or to rinse down the walls of the flask during the
titration? Hint: Tap water contains some calcium carbonate.

5. In your own words, use the back of this page to write a cohesive, well-written summary of
the background material and underlying chemical principles pertinent to this experiment.
(For additional guidelines on writing this introduction, please refer to the Moorpark
College Chemistry Department Laboratory Report Rubric found in the lab manual and
department website.)

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