Name: Rebecca Zgheib

PeopleSoft #: 0879749
Name of Lab Partner: Sandy Nguyen

Date Performed: 02/11/2015

Date Submitted: 02/25/2015

Experiment Title: Preparing Standard Acid and Base

Introduction and Theoretical Background
In analytical chemistry, accuracy and precision are crucial for obtaining the best quality end data.
Standardization, a process of determining the concentration of a reagent by reaction with a known
quantity of a primary standard1, is used in the lab to determine the exact concentrations of samples with a
great degree of accuracy. In titration, the validity of an analytical result depends on knowing the amount
of one of the reactants used. A primary standard is a reagent that is pure enough to weigh out and use
directly to provide a known number of moles1. In order to obtain the best results, a good primary standard
must be extremely pure (99.9%) and stable. It cannot be hygroscopic or fluorescent. It should have a
high molecular mass and it must react stoichiometrically and the reaction must be kinematically fast. An
indicator is used during titration to indicate when titration is complete. It is a chemical compound that
undergo a visual chemical change (i.e. color change) when titration is complete. The most important
property of an indicator is its pH range, which is dependent on the indicators acid strength. An indicators
pH range is the range of pH values over which the indicator changes colors from its acid form to its base
form2. In this experiment, HCl and NaOH were standardized. HCl was standardized by titrating it with
Na2CO3. The indicator bromocresol green was used to determine when the reaction had gone to
completion. NaOH was standardized by titrating it with potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP). The
indicator Phenolphthalein was used to determine when the reaction had gone to completion.
Materials and Methodology
Standardizing HCl was done by first preparing a stock solution of 0.1M HCl. This was done by
slowly adding 4.13 mL of concentrated HCl to about 125 mL of deionized water in two clean 500 mL
volumetric flasks (total of 8.26 mL of concentrated HCl added to 1000mL deionized water). More
deionized water was added until the solution reached just below the neck of the flasks. The flasks were
then stoppered and the solution was mixed by turning the flasks upside down and back. The two solutions
in the flasks were then transferred to a polyethylene bottle and the bottle was capped. Four samples of
about 0.1325g Na2CO3 were weighed and each placed in a 125 mL flask. The flask were labeled fast
run, Trial 1, Trial 2, and Trial 3. 25 mL of distilled water was added to each flask to dissolve
Na2CO3. Three drops of bromocresol green indicator were added to each flask before titration began. The
indicator gave the solution a blue color. A 50 mL buret was clamped in an upright position on a ring stand
using a buret clamp. The buret was filled with the stock solution of HCl until the meniscus was at 0.00
mL. The flask labeled fast run was placed under the buret and solution was drained rapidly into the

flask until an aquamarine (green) color was observed. The solution was then boiled to expel CO 2. Once
the solution turned blue again the flask was placed back under the buret and titration continued until the
solution in the flask turned to a yellow-green color. The buret volume was read and recoded (Table 1).
More HCl solution was added to the buret until the meniscus read 0.00 mL. A second flask, labeled Trial
1 was placed under the buret. HCl solution was carefully added from the buret until the color in the flask
changed to aquamarine. The flask was then heated until the color was changed back to blue. The flask
was placed back under the buret and more HCl was added slowly (1 drop per second) until the solution
turned yellow-green. This procedure was repeated again with flasks Trial 2 and Trial 3. HCl molarity,
mean molarity, standard deviation, and percent relative standard deviation were then calculated.
In the second part of the experiment, standardizing NaOH was done by first preparing a stock
solution of 0.1M NaOH. This was achieved by boiling 1 L of distilled water for five minutes to expel
CO2. The water was then poured into a polyethylene bottle and tightly capped. The bottle was placed in
an ice water bath until it reached room temperature. 4 g of NaOH pallets were weighed and placed in
another polyethylene bottle. Water from the first bottle was measured by transferring it to two 500 mL
volumetric flasks. The water was then poured into the second bottle containing the NaOH and the bottle
was immediately capped. The solution was then mixed very well until all NaOH was dissolved. Four
samples of about 0.5106 g of solid potassium hydrogen phthalate were weighed and each placed in a 125
mL flask. The flasks were labeled fast run, Trial 1, Trial 2, and Trial 3. Around 25 mL of distilled
water was added to each flask and mixed until the KHP was dissolved. Three drops of phenolphthalein
were added to each flask. The color of the solution remained clear after the indicator was added. A 50 mL
buret was filled with 0.1 M NaOH stock solution until the meniscus read 0.00 mL. The buret was loosely
capped to minimize entry of CO2 from the air. The fast run flask was placed under the buret and
solution from the buret was drained rapidly until the solution in the flask turned pink. The buret volume
was read and recorded. The buret was filled again till the 0.00 mL mark. The second flask, Trial 1, was
placed under the buret and solution was drained slowly and carefully at 1 drop per second while tilting
and rotating the flask to mix the liquids. Once the solution in the flask turned pink and stayed pink for
more than 30 seconds titration was stopped and the volume in the buret was read and recorded. The same
procedure was then repeated with flasks Trial 2 and Trial 3. NaOH molarity, mean molarity, standard
deviation, and percent relative standard deviation were then calculated.
Data, Calculations, and Error Analysis
Sample Calculations
Molarity of Standard HCl =

[ 2 ( mass Na2 CO 3 ) ( %purity Na 2 CO 3 ) ]

[( Volume HCl ) ( Molecular mass Na2 CO 3 ) ]

[ 2 ( 0.1326 g ) ( 0.99 ) ]
Fast run =

Average Molarity HCl:

( 0.02640 L )

x =

g
( 105.99
mol )]

= 0.0938M

0.0938+ 0.0967+0.0965+0.0960
4
= 0.0957

Standard Deviation HCl: s =

( x i x )
n1

Percent Relative Standard Deviation =

Molarity of NaOH (fast run) =

= 0.0013

( sx )100

= 1.3%

( Mass KHP ) ( %purity KHP )

( Volume NaOH )( Molecular Mass KHP )

= 0.0951 M

Tabulated Summary of Results

Mass
Fast Run
Mass Na2CO3
0.1326g
Titrant Volume
26.40 mL
Molarity
0.0938 M
Average Molarity
Standard Deviation
RSD %
Table 1 HCl Experiment

Trial 1
0.1325g
25.60 mL
0.0967 M

Trial 2
0.1323g
25.61 mL
0.0965 M
0.0957M
0.0013
1.4%

Trial 3
0.1326g
25.80 mL
0.0960 M

Mass
Fast Run
Mass KHP
0.5102g
Titrant Volume
26.00 mL
Molarity
0.0951 M
Average Molarity
Standard Deviation
RSD %
Table 2 NaOH Experiment

Trial 1
0.5110g
26.51 mL
0.0934 M

Trial 2
0.5100g
25.90 mL
0.0954 M
0.0947M
0.00088
0.9%

Trial 3
0.5106g
26.10 mL
0.0948 M

Results and Discussion

In this experiment, primary standards Na2CO3 and KHP were used in standardizing HCl and
NaOH respectively. These two standards were chosen because they are both chemically stable, water
soluble, inexpensive, and have high purity of 99.0%. Indicators bromocresol blue and phenolphthalein
were used because they change the color of the solution at certain pH meaning the end point was reached.
Bromocresol blue is used in the analysis of amphiprotic substances and phenolphthalein is used in strong

acid strong base titrations. Indicators are very important in titrations. Using an indicator helps determine
an end point that is very close to the equivalence point therefore minimizing titration error (the difference
between the end point and the equivalence point). Water was boiled for the preparation of NaOH standard
to expel CO2 and minimize errors. CO2 is expelled to avoid formation of H2CO3. Even though H2CO3
is a weak acid it can skew the titration results.
The results from the first part of the experiment show that the average molarity of HCl was
0.0957 M. This value is lower than the concentration of 0.1 M desired. This could be due to over-titration.
When over titration occurs, the volume of the titrant increases lowering the molarity value. The low
concentration could also be due to the mass of Na2CO3. If the mass measured was less than what was
required then the molarity becomes smaller. The standard deviation calculated was 0.0013 and the percent
relative standard deviation was 1.3%.
The results from the second part of the experiment show that the average molarity of NaOH was
0.0947 M. This value is also lower that the concentration of 0.1 M NaOH desired. Same reasons such as
over titration and incorrectly measured mass could have led to this result. The standard deviation
calculated was 0.00088 and the percent relative standard deviation was 0.9%.
Conclusion
In this experiment hydrochloric acid HCl and sodium hydroxide NaOH were each standardized to
learn their exact concentrations. Na2CO3 and KHP were used as primary standards respectively.
Bromocresol blue was used as an indicator in standardizing HCl and phenolphthalein was used as an
indicator in standardizing NaOH. Results showed that the concentrations of HCl and NaOH were slightly
lower that the desired concentration. This was most likely caused by over titration.
References
1. Harris, D.C. Exploring Chemical Analyis, 5th ed,; W.H Freeman and Company; New York, N.Y., 2013
pp46,124.
2. Acid-Base Indicators, 2015. http://www.carolina.com/teacher-resources/Interactive/acid-baseindicators/tr10647.tr