Inorganic Chemistry I Laboratory (CHEM 1204 LAB)

Department of Chemistry
-1-

TITRIMETRY:
STANDARDIZATION OF ACIDS AND BASES
AND DETERMINATION OF PERCENT COMPOSITION OF
VINEGAR
Joevelyn Melite M. Valdez, Leanne Mari Tungpalan, Jim Dino Padama and Jerian Calderon

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment is that the student should be familiar with the different steps for the standardization of
acids and bases. Determine the actual molar concentration of a prepared sodium hydroxide solution using potassium hydrogen
phthalate as primary standard. Also, to determine the actual molar concentration of a prepared hydrochloric acid solution using
the standardized sodium hydroxide solution. The students were able to compute the molar concentratins of solutions. Compare
primary standard to secondary standard, and endpoint to equivalence point.
Keywords: titrant, titrand, standardization, mole, equivalence point, indicator

Introduction NaOH, KHP, phenolphthalein, vinegar sample, aspirator,

Titration is the process of making measured
volumes of reacting solutions in such a manner that one can
determine when chemically equivalent amounts of reactants
are present. The purpose of titration is to determine the
concentration of a solution of unknown strength. The
concentration of one of the molarity of the other solution can
be calculated.
The equivalence point of a titration is the point at which
equivalent amounts of reactants have been mixed. In order to
determine the equivalence point one usually adds a visual
indicator to the solution to be titrated. Such an indicator, if
properly selected, undergoes a sharp color change at (or very
near) the equivalence point. The point of the titration at which
the indicator changes color is known as the endpoint. If the
indicator is chosen correctly, the endpoint will occur at the
same instant when the equivalence point has been reached.
In acid-base titrations, phenolphthaleinis often used as
indicator. It is colorless in acidic solution and at a pH of about
8.4, it undergoes a sharp change to a pink color as one adds a
base. At a pH of about 10, it is red.
Other visual indicators are available to different pH ranges.
In the titration of a strong acid with a strong base, the pH of
the solution increases rapidly and has a value of 7 at the
equivalence point. Since equivalence points for many acid lie
between a pH of 7 to 9, phenolphthalein is an excellent
general purpose acid-base indicator.
Materials and Methods
Apparatuses, Materials and Reagents
The chemistry main laboratory provided
the students with the laboratory apparatus and reagents that
were used on the experiment. Namely: 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M
beaker (100 mL), buret with clamp, dropper, erlenmeyer flask
(250 mL), graduated cylinder, iron stand, pipet, spatula,
stirring rod, volumetric flask (1000 mL), wash bottle, watch
glass, analytical balance
Standardization of NaOH with KHP
The group prepared 1000 mL of 0.1M NaOH
solution. The buret was cleaned by rinsing several portions of
tap water. 150 mL of 0.1M NaOH solution was obtained in a
clean, dry beaker, then it was covered with a watch glass. The
buret was rinsed with three 5mL portions of the NaOH
solution. Each NaOH rinse was drained and discarded into
the waste container. A buret was filled with NaOH to slightly
above the zero mark. The same process was repeated one
time. 0.2 grams of KHP (potassium acid phthalate,
HKC8H4O4) in a 250mL erlenmeyer flask was then
wighed.The KHP was dissolved by adding 30 mL of distilled
water. 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator was added to the
KHP solution in the erlenmeyer flask. The flask containing
the KHP solution and indicator under the buret was placed.
NaOH was added from the buret to the flask with swirling
until the color of the solution in the flask is faint pink. The
faint pink color lasted 45 to 60 seconds. The second and third
replicate was then titrated.
Standardization of HCl with Na2CO3
The group prepared 1000 mL of 0.1M HCl solution. The
level of Na2CO3 in the buret to lower than zero mark was
set. A clean 250 mL erlenmeyer flask was obtained. The
buret labelled ‘HCl’ was transfered approximately 15.00 mL
of the acid solution in the flask. 3 drops of bromocresol
green indicator was added to the HCl solution in the flask.
The flask containing the HCl solution and indicator was
placed under the buret. Na2CO3 was added from the buret to
Inorganic Chemistry I Laboratory (CHEM 1204 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
-2-

the flask with swirling until the color of the solution in the
flask is faint green. Repeat the same process twice.

Results and Discussion

Standardization of NaOH with KHP

Table 1. Standardization of NaOH vs KHP

Trial 1 Trial 2
Weight of KHP 0.3 grams 0.3 grams
(g)
Initial Volume 50 mL 50 mL
(mL)
Final Volume 41.1 mL 36.7 mL
(mL)
Volume of NaOH 8.9 mL 13.3 mL
(mL)
Molarity of NaOH 0.165 M 0.110 M
Mean Molarity 0.1375 M Figure 1. Solution of NaOH with KHP.
Standard 0.0389
Deviation
The table above shows the reaction of the solution Standardization of HCl with Na2CO3
of NaOH and KHP. Faster reaction was observed at the first
titration. The indicator used, phenolphthalein is a weak Table 2. Titration of HCl vs Na2CO3
acid that responds to additions or subtractions of the
hydrogen ion so it was proper that the unknown Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
potassium hydrogen phthalate was diluted with a neutral Weight of 0.2077 0.2004 0.2034
diluents. The endpoint was indicated by a light pink Na2CO3 grams grams grams
color. The pink color in two titrations were all slightly Initial 50 mL 50 mL 50 mL
different, some being darker than others. It was crucial Volume
to make use of the half drop technique as well because
Final Volume 0.5 mL 0.6 mL 0.7 mL
the endpoint was very sensitive to even 0.05 mL. The
Volume of 49.5 mL 49.4 mL 49.3 mL
average molarity of the sodium hydroxide solution was
Na2CO3
found to be 0.1375 M after standardization. The
Molarity of 0.0396 M 0.0382 M 0.0388 M
standard deviation was calculated as 0.0389. This was
HCl
done by standardizing HCl that will be used in future
experiments by titration with sodium hydroxide solution. Mean 0.0389 M
However, the NaOH solution has not been standardized. Molarity
Before the NaOH can be used to standardize HCl, it is needed Standard 7.02x10−4
to standardize the NaOH(aq) using the primary solid acid Deviation
standard, KHP. Standardizing NaOH, KHP is a solid,
monoprotic acid. To standardize a solution means to The table above shows the reaction of the solution of
determine its actual concentration. HCl vs Na2CO3. Faster reaction was observed at the first
titration. The indicator used, bromocresol green is a
weak acid that responds to additions or subtractions of
the hydrogen ion so it was proper that the unknown
Na2CO3 was diluted with a neutral diluents. The
endpoint was indicated by a light green color. The light
green color in the three titrations were all slightly
different, some being darker than others. It was crucial
to make use of the half drop technique as well because
the endpoint was very sensitive to even 0.05 mL. The
average molarity of the hydrochloric acid solution was
found to be 0.0389 M after standardization. The

standard deviation was calculated as 7.02x10−4 .
Figure 3. Solution of HCl and Na2CO3
Distillled water was used in the experiment to avoid
interference in the experiment. Primary standard is the
compound used to determine the concentration of another
compound or solution. It is not guaranteed that the
concentration of a solution NaOH or HCl by simply
dividing the mass of NaOH or HCl by the volume of its
solution. These solutions tends to moisture and other
elements from the atmosphere; thus, a gram sample of
NaOH or HCl may not actually contain a gram of NaOH or
HCl since the moisture and other elements content may
impact the total. Instead, NaOH solution is used to titrate a
solution of KHP to use as a primary standard since KHP
does not absorb moisture or carbon dioxide. Same in HCl
and Na2CO3. On the other hand, secondary standard is a
standard that is prepared in the laboratory for a specific
analysis. It is usually standardized against a primary standard.
The equivalence point is the point in a titration where the
amount of titrantadded is enough to completely neutralize the
analyte solution. The equivalence point is not the same as the
endpoint of a titration. The endpoint refers to the point at
which an indicator changes color. More often than not, the
color change occurs after the equivalence point has already
been reached. Using the endpoint to calculate equivalence
naturally introduces error.
The possible errors during titrimetric analysis are inaccuracy
in weighing and adding certain chemicals.
Inorganic Chemistry I Laboratory (CHEM 1204 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
-3-
Conclusion
Standardization is the process of determining the exact
concentration (molarity) of a solution. Titration is one type of
analytical procedure often used in standardization. In a
titration, an exact volume of one substance is reacted with a
known amount of another substance. The point at which the
reaction is complete in a titration is referred to as
the endpoint. A chemical substance known as an indicator is
used to indicate the endpoint. The indicator used in this
experiment is phenolphthalein and bromocresol green. The
base for every accurate and reliable titration method are high
quality volumetric solutions and accurate high purity
standards for a correct and reliable titer determination.
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Titration Lab: NaOH with Standardized solution of KHP.
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naoh-standardized-solution-khp/
http://web.mnstate.edu/marasing/CHEM210L_2013_Summ
er/11Standardization%20of%20a%20Hydrochloric%20Aci
%20Solution.pdf
https://sciencing.com/four-characteristics-primary-standard-
substance-8304038.html
https://study.com/academy/lesson/standard-solution-
definition-
method.html?fbclid=IwAR2UT5b7jKGYdBBll5qwcrayj5e8
I_If5bXfqUaiu2thHakq0Asr0XiQdTU