Standardization of Acid and Base Solutions

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 (signal) the endpoint. The indicators used in these experiments are phenolphthalein
(phenolphthalein, an organic compound, is colorless in an acidic solution and pink in basic solution) and
methyl orange (methyl orange is yellow in basic solution and red in acidic solution).

This experiment involves two separate acid-base standardization procedures. In the first standardization
the molarity of a hydrochloric solution (HCl) will be determined by titrating a sample of anhydrous sodium
carbonate (Na2CO3) with HCl. NOTE: We are not performing this part this year. I have pasted it at the
bottom of the document for your information only in case you need to do this in University. In the
second standardization the molarity of a sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) will be determined by
titrating a sample of potassium acid phthalate (KHP; HKC8H4O4) with NaOH. Watch these videos to help
you.
Performing an Acid Base Titration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DkB82xLvNE
What is a Titration and How is it Performed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqfvRBJ-iPg

Materials
• unknown sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH(aq) (Part II and III)
• solid potassium acid phthalate; HKC8H4O4, (Part II)
• unknown weak acid solution, CH3COOH(aq)(Part III) CH3COOH(aq)
• unknown strong acid solution, HCl (Part III)
• methyl orange indicator (Part I)
• phenolphthalein indicator (Part II and III)
• 100 mL graduated cylinder
• 250 mL volumetric flask
• four 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks
• two 100 mL beakers
• three 30 mL beakers
• distilled water
• burette
• funnel
• stirring rod
• universal indicator paper (pH paper) or pH meter (Part III)
• 25 mL pipette (Part III)
NOTE: We are not completing Part 1 this semester.
unknown hydrochloric acid solution, HCl (Part I)
solid anhydrous sodium carbonate, Na2CO3(s), (Part I)

Part II: Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide with Potassium Acid Phthalate, KHP to Determine the
Unknown Concentration of Hydrochloric Acid

Equation : HKC8H4O4 + NaOH -----> NaKC8H4O4 + H2O

NaOH + HCl -----> NaCl + H2O

ChemCollective Virtual Lab for Online Students Only:

http://chemcollective.org/activities/autograded/128 Simulation use the information given in red.
1. Clean a buret by rinsing with several portions (about 10 mL) of tap water. (The buret is clean
enough when water droplets do not cling to the inner surface.) This rinse water can be poured down
the drain.
2. Obtain about 150 mL of the NaOH solution in a clean, dry 150 mL beaker. Cover with a watch
glass.
3. Rinse the buret with three portions (about 5 mL) of the NaOH solution. Drain each NaOH rinse and
discard.
4. Fill the buret with NaOH to slightly above the zero mark (simulation: stop
when the burette reaches between 5 to 10 mL otherwise you will overshoot the
burette using the realistic button otherwise you cannot titrate, record the initial
volume to within + 0.05mL) and clamp the buret up vertically.

5. Remove the air bubbles from the tip of the buret by draining the NaOH into a
small beaker. Read the NaOH level to within + 0.05 mL and record this value in the
initial base reading on the data sheet. (It is not necessary to have the NaOH level
at exactly the 0.00 mL mark. Anywhere below 0.00 mL will suffice. What is
important, is to record this initial NaOH reading to two decimal places.)
6. Place a clean 30.00 mL beaker (weigh boat) on the electronic balance, tare
the balance, then add 0.6 to 0.7 g (3 to 5 g using the Realistic button, record the mass to + 0.0001 g.)
of KHP (potassium acid phthalate; HKC 8H4O4). Record the mass to + 0.001 g. Repeat this three times so
that you have at least three trials. If time permits, complete a fourth trial.
7. (Transfer the solid by adding all the solid using the Precise button so that all the solid goes into a
250mL Erlenmeyer flask.) Dissolve all the KHP in water by adding about 30 mL of distilled water to the
beaker and stirring with a glass rod. (If necessary, you can warm the solution to dissolve all the solid
acid.) Transfer this solution into a clean 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Rinse the beaker twice with about 5
mL of distilled water to make sure all of the acid has been transferred to the flask.
8. Add 3 to 4 drops (add 0.15mL using the Precise button)of phenolphthalein indicator to the KHP
solution in the Erlenmeyer flask. Colour change: colourless to faint pink
9. Place the flask containing the acid solution and indicator under the burette. Add NaOH from the
burette to the flask while swirling until the colour of the solution in the flask is a faint pink. This faint
pink color should last only 45 to 60 seconds. There should be a one-drop difference between when the
solution is colourless and when it is pink. If too much base is added (that is, if you "overshoot" the
endpoint), discard the solution and repeat the titration. A white piece of paper (white tile) placed
under the flask will aid in the colour detection.
10. When the proper end point is reached, read and record the final NaOH volume to within + 0.05
mL.
11. Discard the contents of the Erlenmeyer flask.
12. Repeat the titration procedure by following steps 4 - 11.
13. Refer to the Procedure for Part III below to determine the unknown concentration of HCl.
Replace the weak acid with the strong acid, HCl.

Calculations:
a. Calculate the molarity of the NaOH for each titration from the standard acid.
b. Calculate the average molarity of NaOH. If the calculated base concentrations from each
titration vary by more than (0.05M) 0.005 M, do not use that value in the average molarity.

Conclusion
Appendix (for online simulation only)
Part III. Titration of Weak Acid (i) acetic acid/ethanoic acid ) with NaOH to find the Ka and Percent Ionization of
the Weak Acid *(if time permits titrate the strong acid, HCl) ChemCollective Virtual Lab for Online Students
Only: Note: online students use 1M for all solutions. http://chemcollective.org/vlab/99

Procedure
1. Once the burette is rinsed with water and then with NaOH, fill the burette with NaOH.
Read the NaOH level to within + 0.05 mL and record this value in the initial base reading in
a table. Also record the average [NaOH] you obtained from Part 11.
2. Obtain about 100 mL of weak acid and record the initial pH of the solution.
3. Obtain three or four clean, but not necessarily dry, 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, and using a
25.00 ml pipette, transfer 25.00 mL (use the precise button) of weak acid solution into
each flask.
4. Add 3 to 4 drops (0.15 mL) of phenolphthalein indicator to the weak acid solutions in the
Erlenmeyer flask.
5. Place the flask containing the acid solution and indicator under the buret, (use the realistic
button) and add NaOH, from the buret to the flask with swirling until a phenolphthalein
endpoint is reached. There should be a one-drop difference between when the solution is colorless and when
it is pink. If too much base is added (that is, if you "overshoot" the endpoint), discard the solution and repeat
the titration.
6. When the proper end point is reached, read and record the final NaOH volume to within + 0.05 mL.
7. Repeat the titration procedure a second and third time by following steps 1 - 6.

Calculations and Analysis:

1. Write the balanced chemical equation for the neutralization reaction you performed.
2. Calculate the molar concentration of weak acid for each titration. Use the ratio in which the acid and base
react (Use the average [NaOH] you obtained from Part 11), determined from the chemical equation. If the
calculated acid concentrations from each titration vary by more than 0.05 M, do not use that value in the
average molarity.
3. Calculate the average molarity of the weak acid.
4. Calculate [H3O+] using your measurement of the pH of the weak acid solution.
5. Write the expression for Ka, the acid-dissociation constant, of weak acid in water.
6. Set up a RICE table and substitute equilibrium concentrations into your expression for Ka. Calculate the value
of Ka and the percentage of weak acid molecules that ionized in solution.
7. Calculate the percent difference between your value for Ka of weak acid and the accepted value. State two
sources of error that might account for any differences in the results.
8. Do the values you calculated for [H3O+] and [weak acid] demonstrate that the acid is a weak
acid? Explain your answer.
9. Research If weak acids ionize only a few percent in aqueous solution, why is it possible to fully neutralize a
weak acid by reacting it with the stoichiometric equivalent of sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH(aq)?
10. Calculate the molar concentration of strong acid for each titration. *If you did not complete this section in the
lab you may use the online simulation for this section (Note: use 1M solutions in the simulation)
11. Calculate the average concentration of the strong acid.
12. Calculate [H3O+] using your measurement of the pH of the strong acid solution.
13. Do the values you calculated for [H3O+] and [strong acid] demonstrate that the acid is a strong
acid? Explain your answer.
Conclusion
References
Clancy, C., Farrow, K., Finkle, T., Francis, L., Heimbecker, B., Nixon-Ewing, B., & Thomas, T. (2011).
Chemistry12. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Appendix (for online simulation only)

Part I. Standardization of Hydrochloric Acid with Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate NOTE: We are not
completing this part as it is not necessary for out lab next week but this is how you would standardize
the acid if you needed to know the exact concentration in another lab.

Equation : Na2CO3(aq) + 2 HCl(aq) → 2 NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

1. Clean a buret by rinsing with several portions (about 10 mL) of tap water. (The buret is clean
enough when water droplets do not cling to the inner surface.) This rinse water can be poured down
the drain.
2. Obtain about 100 mL of the HCl solution in a clean, dry 100 mL beaker. Cover with a watch glass.
3. Rinse the buret with three portions (about 5 mL) of the HCl solution. Drain each HCl rinse and
discard.
4. Fill the buret with HCl to slightly above the zero mark and clamp the buret up vertically.
5. Remove the air bubbles from the tip of the buret by draining the HCl into a small beaker. Read the
HCl level to within + 0.05 mL and record this value in the initial base reading on the data sheet. (It is
not necessary to have the HCl level at exactly the 0.00 mL mark. Anywhere below 0.00 mL will suffice.
What is important, is to record this initial HCl reading to two decimal places.)
6. Place a clean 30.00 mL beaker on the electronic balance, tare the balance, then add 1.0 to 1.5 g of
anhydrous sodium carbonate powder; Na2CO3. Record the mass to + 0.001 g.
7. Dissolve all the Na2CO3 in water by adding about 30 mL of distilled water to the beaker and stirring
with a glass rod. (If necessary, you can warm the solution to dissolve all the solid acid.) Transfer this
solution into a clean 250 mL volumetric flask. Rinse the beaker twice with about 5 mL of distilled water
to make sure all of the acid has been transferred to the flask. Fill the volumetric flask until the line and
close the flask with a stopper. Invert it 3-4 times to ensure the solution is properly mixed.
8. Measure 25 mL of the solution and transfer it into a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask.
9. Add 3 to 4 drops of methyl orange indicator and titrate against the hydrochloric acid solution.
Colour change: yellow to reddish orange
10. Place the flask containing the base solution and indicator under the buret. Add HCl from the buret
to the flask with swirling until the colour of the solution in the flask is a reddish orange. This reddish
orange colour should last only 45 to 60 seconds. If too much acid is added (that is, if you "overshoot"
the endpoint), discard the solution and repeat the titration. A white piece of paper (white tile) placed
under the flask will aid in the colour detection.
11. When the proper end point is reached, read and record the final HCl volume to within + 0.05 mL.
12. Discard the contents of the Erlenmeyer flask.
13. Repeat the titration procedure by following steps 8 - 12.
14. Calculate the molarity of the HCl from the titrations.
15. Calculate the average molarity. If the calculated acid concentrations from each titration vary by
more than 0.005 M, do not use that value in the average molarity.