ABSTRACT

Back titration is a type of titration method wherein the concentration of an analyte by reacting it with a
known amount of excess reagent is determined. The left excess reagent is then titrated with a second
reagent. Back titrations are used when: one of the reactants is volatile; an acid or a base is an insoluble salt;
and the endpoint of hard to observe. The experiment aims to develop techniques on dilution of a solution in
a specific volume and manage calculations involving back-titration. The preparation and standardization of
0.1 N HCl solution will be preceded and will be diluted with a standard NaOH used on from the previous
experiment until a faint pink appeared after indicator on three trials. An analysis of aspirin will be executed.
In relation with this, the hydrolyzed aspirin solution will be titrated with the use of standardized HCl solution
and titrating it with 2-3 drops of phenolphthalein
Keywords: Back titration, excess reagent, dilution, standardization, 0.1 N HCl, NaOH, faint pink, 2-3 drops
phenolphthalein
RESULTS
Concentration of NaOH: 0.0927 N = 0.0927 M
Table 1 Volume of HCl
Trial 1
Trial 2
25 mL
25 mL

Trial 3
25 mL

*Table 1 shows the volume HCl that was titrated for the standardization of HCl

Table 2 Volume of NaOH used in HCl

Volume of
Trial 1
Trial 2
NaOH
(in mL)
(in mL)
Initial
1.4
22.9
Final
22.9
46.2
Used
21.5
23.3

Trial 3
(in mL)
13.1
33.9
20.8

*Table 2 shows the volume of NaOH used to titrate 25 mL HCl

Mass of Aspirin: 0.1074 g

Table 3 Aliquot of Aspirin
Trial 1
Trial 2
50 mL
50 mL

Trial 3
50 mL

*Table 3 shows the aliquot volume of the ground aspirin to be titrated with the standardized HCl

Table 4 Volume of HCl used in Aspirin

Volume of
Trial 1
Trial 2
HCl
(in mL)
(in mL)
Initial
13.1
15.5
Final
15.5
17.2
Used
2.4
1.7

Trial 3
(in mL)
17.2
20.4
3.2

*Table 4 shows the volume of HCl that was used in the titration of the ground aspirin

DISCUSSION
Aspirin (HC9H7O4, 180.15742 g/mol ) also known as Acetylsalicylic acid, is a type of salicylate acid.It is a kind o drug
wherein it reduces substances in the body that experience pain, soreness, and fever. Aspirin or ASA has been used
for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, and mild infection. At some instances, it used to cure and
prevent heart attacks, strokes, and chest pains. It is commonly used for regulating cardiovascular conditions with the
recommendation of a medical psychiatrist. It is composed of white, crystalline, weakly acidic substance.
Correspondingly, it has a melting point of 137 C. Moreover, Aspirin is similar to Acetic acid, HC2H3O2 (I) which reacts
with strong bases such as Sodium Hydroxide.
The experiment is divided into two parts: (a) preparation and standardization of 0.1N of HCl solution and (b)
determination of Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in aspirin.
In the preparation of the standardized 0.1N HCl, an 8.3 mL of 12 M HCl was mixed with water to have 100mL of 0.1
N HCl. It was then standardized with NaOH.Prior to the experiment, the NaOH solution was already standardized.
Table 1 and Table 2 shows the volume of HCl and NaOH used. The standardized HCl was then used in the analysis
of the aspirin.
A 0.1074 gram of aspirin sample was pounded and a 20.00 mL of standardized NaOH was added to it. The mixture
was then boiled for 10-15 minutes. It was done in order to hydrolyze the aspirin sample. The experiment involved
three trials for the analysis of the aspirin. After the mixture has been cooled, it was then transferred to a 250 mL
volumetric flask. It was then washed and diluted until it was filled to the mark. The hydrolyzed aspirin was then
titrated with standardized HCl using a phenolphthalein indicator. Table 3 and 4 illustrate the aliquot of the aspirin and
the HCl used.
The calculations involved in the experiment were: number of moles of NaOH used; the mole of excess NaOH; and
the concentration of Acetylsalicylic acid. The formula for calculating the moles of NaOH used was the molarity of
NaOH was 0.0927 M and its volume for every trial as shown in Table 2.The computed moles per trial were 1.99 x 10-3
mol, 2.16 x 10-3 mol, and 1.93 x 10-3 mol of NaOH respectively. Furthermore, the mole of excess NaOH was
computed by multiplying the molarity of HCl by the volume of HCl used. The molarity of HCl was given as 0.1 M and
the volume for every trial was given in Table 4. The calculated results were 2.4 x 10-4 mol, 1.7 x 10-4 mol, and 3.2 x
10-4 mol for first, second and third trial respectively. Lastly, one of the main objectives of this experiment was to
determine the concentration of the acetylsalicylic acid in the aspirin tablet. The computed number of moles of the
acetyl salicylic acid in the aspirin was 8.92 x 10-4 mol.
CONCLUSION
The back titration process was properly executed and introduced. Moreover, the objectives of the experiment were
successfully met. It was also observed that the volume of NaOH used to titrate HCl along with the volume of HCl
used to titrate aspitin does not have a significant difference. The number of moles of Aspirin computed was 8.92 x 104
mol.
References:
http://www.ausetute.com.au/backtitration.html

http://www.drugs.com/aspirin.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin