EXPERIMENT 1

Introduction One of the most common reactions in chemistry is the reaction of an acid with a base. The reaction is termed neutralization. Consider the reaction between an acid A and a base B, aA + bB cC + dD.From the equation, No. of moles of acid A/ No. of moles of base B = a/b. However, No. of moles of acid A/ No. of moles of base B = MAVA/MBVB. MAVA / MBVB = a/b.(M is molarity of solution and V is the volume of solution used) Concentration of A in g/dm3 = Molarity of A X molar mass of A Therefore, in this experiment, the solution of H2SO4 is standardized. Its concentration is determined by titrating a known volume of a standard solution of NaOH with the acid using methyl orange as the indicator. A change in the colour of the indicator indicates the end point of the titration. The equation for the reaction is, H2SO4 + 2NaOH Na2SO4 + 2H2O.

Objective To standardize a solution of dilute sulphuric acid, H2SO4.

Apparatus Burette Pipette 2 Beakers 3 Conical flask - retort stand - Filter funnel - white tile

Chemicals Dilute sulphuric acid, H2SO4 Sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH 8.0 g/dm3 Methyl orange indicator

Distilled water

Procedure 1. All the apparatus and materials were prepared for the experiment. 2. A burette was washed with tap water and then rinsed it with distilled water. 3. The burette was rinsed twice with the dilute H2SO4and then discarded the acid. 4. The burette was completely filled with the acid and any air bubbles from the tip were removed by running some of the acid into an empty beaker. 5. A pipette was washed with tap water and then rinsed it with distilled water. 6. The pipette was rinsed twice with the NaOH solution and then discarded the NaOH. 7. 20cm3 of the NaOH solution was pipetted into a clean conical flask then added two drops of methyl orange and the colour of the solution was recorded. 8. The conical flask was placed below the burette with the tip of the burette just inside the flask. A white tile was placed under the conical flask. 9. The initial burette reading was recorded. The acid ran slowly into the flask and swirled the flask continuously to ensure complete mixing of the two solutions. 10. The titration was stopped immediately when the colour of the solution changes to orange. The final burette reading was recorded. 11. Steps from 7 to 10 were repeated twice and then the data of result were tabulated.

Results Titration number Final burette reading (cm3) Initial burette reading (cm3) Volume of H2SO4(cm3) 1 12.6 0.7 11.9 2 14.0 1.7 12.3 3 13.2 0.5 12.7

Average volume of H2SO4 used = (11.9 + 12.3 + 12.7 )cm3 3 = 12.3 cm3. Volume of NaOH used = 20 cm3

The colour of the methyl orange indicator changed from yellow to orange red.

Question 1. Calculate a) The molarity of the sodium hydroxide 8.0 g dm-3 40.0 g mol-1 = 0.2mol dm-3 .

b) The molarity of the sulphuric acid

(2) MAVA= (1) MBVB (2) MA(12.3) = (1) (0.2) (20.0)

MAVA = Molarity and Volume of H2SO4 MBVB = Molarity and Volume of NaOH

24.6 MA= 4.0

MA = 0.2mol dm-3 .

* Molarity of H2SO4 = 0.2mol dm-3 .

c) The concentration of the sulphuric acid in g/dm3 Concentration of H2SO4 = (0.2mol dm-3) (2+32+64) g mol-1 = 19.6 g dm-3 .

2. Why are you asked to place the conical flask on a white tile? - The purpose of placing the conical flask on a white tile is making easier for us to observe the colour changes in the solution when reaching the end point.

3. The experiment is repeated using the same volume of the same NaOH but with HNO3 instead of H2SO4. The volume of HNO3 needed to reach the end point is exactly the same as that of H2SO4. Are the molarities of HNO3 and H2SO4 the same? Explain. - The molarity of HNO3 is not same with the molarity of H2SO4 although the volume of HNO3 needed to reach the end point is exactly same as the H2SO4. This is because equation of NaOH with HNO3is NaOH + HNO3 NaNO3 + H2O . This shows that both of the reactants have only one mole, therefore their reaction is MAVA /MBVB = 1/1. Whereas, the chemical equation of NaOH with H2SO4 is H2SO4 + 2NaOH Na2SO4 + 2H2O. Thus their reaction is MAVA/MBVB = 1/2 .

Conclusion The unknown concentration of sulphuric acid, H2SO4 is determined by neutralizing it with the base sodium hydroxide of a known concentration. Therefore through the above experiment, the molarity of H2SO4 is found, which is 0.2 mol dm-3. Indirectly, the concentration of H2SO4 also found by using calculation, which is 19.6 g dm3.