CHEM 321

Evaluation of Acid-Base Indicators

Report
Name:
Lab Partner:
Experiment Date:
Report Due Date:
*When typing your report, please 1.5 or 2.0 space your text. Remember to submit your report to
Safe Assign and turn in a hard copy to your instructor. The hard copy may be printed on both
sides of the paper.
*When you write a report, please remove all questions/text that we have included to guide your
responses. You may leave the questions at the end in the report. You may need to reformat your
tables to fit your data. Do not treat this as a fill in worksheet it should appear like a formal
lab report when printed out.
Abstract
In one paragraph, summarize the results of your experiment. Include all pertinent information as
described in earlier reports.

I. Data and Results

Table 1. Titration of Tris and HCl using Bromothymol Blue (BB)

Tris (g)
Vinitial (mL) Vfinal (mL) Vtotal (mL)
Titrations
( 0.0002)
(0.05)
(0.05)
(0.07)
Scout

Color Change

HCl (M)

NA

Discuss the data in Table 1.

Table 2. Titration of Tris and HCl using Methyl Red (MR)

Tris (g)

Vinitial (mL)

Vfinal (mL)

Vtotal (mL)

Scout

( 0.0002)

(0.05)

(0.05)

(0.07)

Titrations

Color Change

HCl (M)

NA

Discuss the data in Table 2.

Table 3. Titration of Tris and HCl using Bromocresol green (BG)

Titrations

Tris (g)

Vinitial (mL) Vfinal (mL) Vtotal (mL)

Color Change

HCl (M)

Scout

( 0.0002)

(0.05)

(0.05)

(0.07)

NA

Discuss the data in Table 3.


Table 4. Titration of Tris and HCl using Methyl Orange (MO)
Tris (g)
Vinitial (mL) Vfinal (mL) Vtotal (mL)
Color Change
Titrations
( 0.0002) (0.05)
(0.05)
(0.07)

Scout

HCl (M)

NA

Discuss the data in Table 4.

II. Results and Conclusions

Briefly summarize your results and describe your conclusions. Include specific results for each
part of the experiment. This section should include everything that appears in your abstract as
well as a thoughtful analysis of the experiment.
In your analysis of the experiment, address the following:
1. Which indicator is best for standardizing HCl? Explain.
2. Write out the reaction taking place and draw chemical structures. Describe the reaction
under consideration.
3. Do your experimental results agree with what you predicted before the lab?
4. Describe your pre-lab predictions for the experiment and explain why the results can be
determined without performing the actual experiment.
5. Draw the chemical structures of all the indicators used and incorporate into your discussion.
6. Explain why you should never use more than a few drops of indicator and why the number of
drops you use should be consistent over the course of your experiment.

III. Questions
1. Based on the results of this experiment, what indicator would you use for an experiment using
Tris and nitric acid?
2. Consider a titration curve for a weak base and a strong acid. Suppose both phenolphthalein
and bromocresol green are present in the solution. What color changes would occur at pH 10,
pH 7, and pH 3?
3. Students measured the concentration of HCl in a solution by various titrations in which
different indicators were used to find the end point.
Indicator

Mean HCl (M) StdDev

Number of Measurements

1. Bromothymol Blue

0.09565 0.00225

28

2. Bromocresol Green

0.08641 0.00113

18

3. Methyl Red

0.08686 0.00098

29

Is the difference between indicators significant at the 95% confidence level?

a. Compare indicators 1 and 2.
b. Compare indicators 2 and 3.
c. Compare indicators 1 and 3.
d. Relate these results back to your experimental findings.

IV. Calculations
You may hand-write or scan your notebook calculations. Please include calculations even if you
submitted them on your data sheet.

V. References
Please use Journal of the American Chemical Society format.