ACID-BASE TITRATION Purpose: In this experiment, you will learn how to determine the concentration of a acid or base using

titration (volumetric analysis). Solutions: Standardized HCl (0.50 M supplied by the teacher), NaOH solution (concentration to be determined), Acids of unknown concentrations, PHENOLPHTHALEIN and methyl red (indicators). Safety concerns: You must wear goggles when doing this lab, aprons and gloves are a suggested option. If you get any acid or base on yourself wash the area with soap and water and let the teacher know. Any spills must be cleaned up immediately. PROCEDURE Part A 1. At each station locate the two burets, bottles marked with an A standardized acid (0.50 M), B NaOH, and H2O, a 125 ml flask, phenolphthalein, a 10 ml graduated cylinder, and a waste beaker. You can probably skip to step 5.
2. Please note steps 2-4 apply only when the burets are being filled for the first time. Sitting idle for several months requires at least a quick clean and seasoning. Fill each buret with distilled water to rinse clean. Practice opening and closing the stopcock until you can control the amount of liquid flowing out - ideally, you should be able to allow a single drop leave the buret. Empty each Buret. Making sure the stopcock of the buret is closed, pour about 3-5 ml of NaOH into one of the burets. Allow the NaOH to flow into the waste beaker. Repeat step 3 with the other buret and standardized HCl solution.

3. 4.

5. Now fill each buret with the appropriate solution (HCl in one NaOH in the other). The meniscus should be near, but above the 0.0 ml mark. Adjust the level so that it is exactly 0.0 ml. Both burets should be filled with the proper solutions and ready to use. (NEVER POUR ANYTHING BUT THE STANDARDIZED SOLUTIONS INTO THE BURETS) 6. Record the initial volume of HCl (first time 0.0). Allow 10.0 ml of HCl to flow into a clean flask. Add 3 drops of indicator (phenolphthalein or Methyl Red) please alternate. Optional: some people add some distilled water at this point for additional volume. 7. Record the initial volume of NaOH (first time 0.0). Begin to titrate by adding NaOH from the buret. Try to swirl the flask at the same time to ensure mixing. Continue to add NaOH to the flask until a pink (yellow if Methyl Red) color remains in the flask for at least 20 seconds. Record the final volume in the NaOH buret. Discard the solution and wash flask thoroughly. This first trial is designed to give you an approximate volume of NaOH. The next two trials need to be performed very carefully. 8. Repeat the titration experiment a second and third time, being very careful to find the exact point the indicator changes color. Record the initial and final volumes of both the HCl and NaOH. 9. Compare the volume of NaOH used in trials 2 and 3. If they are not within 0.5 ml, repeat a fourth time. Part B 1. Now you will determine the concentration of an unknown weak acid obtained from your teacher. Please write down which unknown solution your team received. UNKNOWN Solution _______________. 2. Using a graduated cylinder measure out 10.0 ml of unknown acid/base and transfer to a clean flask. Add 3 drops of the appropriate indicator. Optional: some people add some distilled water at this point for additional volume. Titrate with the appropriate standard solution. 3. Repeat three times.

4. If time permits, you may titrate another unknown solution. Part C CLEAN UP: Carefully return the standardized acid and base to their appropriate bottle. Once empty add a few milliliters of distilled water to the burets and allow the water to flow through into the waste beaker. Leave them in the buret clamp with the stopcocks open to drain. Place a paper towel underneath to catch the water. DATA TABLE: PART A Volume of HCl (mL) Initial TRIAL 1 Final Initial TRAIL 2 Final Volume of NaOH (mL)

Continue the data table to include all three trials for part A and part B.

CALCULATIONS 1. Write a balanced equation for the reaction in part A. 2. Calculate the molarity of the NaOH from part A. a. Use MaVa = MbVb b. For the volume of the base (Vb) average trials 2 and 3 only. Trial one was an estimate. 3. Calculate the percent error for part A, using the actual value provided by your teacher. 4. Write a balanced equation for the reaction in part B. Indicate the part B solution used. 5. Calculate the concentration of the unknown acid you titrated from part B. Following the steps in #2 above. 6. Calculate the percent error for part B, using the actual value provided by your teacher,

Teacher Note: 0.40 M NaOH, 0.15 M CH3COOH, 0.25 M CH3COOH