Determining Molarity through Acid-Base Titration

James Drezner
Mason Lowndes
CHEM 1252L- 042
11/07/15
Introduction: The purpose of this experiment if to identify the concentration of a solution via a
method known as titration. Titration is when a solution of known concentration, known as the
titrant, is slowly added, via buret, to a solution of unknown concentration, known as the analyte ,
until the end point is reached. The end point is recognized when indicator is triggered, and the
color of the water is changed. Using how much of the titrant was added, the molarity of the
titrant, and the mole to mole ratio of the reactants, the moles of analyte is able to be identified.
Finally, the initial volume of analyte can be used with the moles of the analyte to find its
molarity.
Procedure: Standardization of NaOH with KPH- 1 gram of Potassium hydrogen phthalate
(KPH) was weighed, and a more acurate mass was recorded. The KPH was dissolved in an
Erlenmeyer flask. The solution was diluted to 70-75 mL. 5 drops of phenolphthalein were added
to the solution. White paper was placed under the solution to make indication more visible.
NaOH was added to a buret. The initial volume in the buret was recorded. The stopcock was
released while the solution was constantly swirled. The stopcock was closed when the solution
turned a light pink. The liquid in the bottle was rinsed with distilled water. If the solution had
turned clear, the titration was resumed until otherwise. The final volume in the buret was
recorded. The final volume was calculated using the initial and final volumes of the buret, and

the molarity of NaOH was calculated using that. The process of titration was repeated 2 more
times.
Titration of Acetic acid with NaOH- 2.0 mL of acetic acid solution was measured. The solution
was poured into an Erlenmeyer flask and diluted to 50 mL. The graduated cylinder previously
holding the solution was rinsed with distilled water, and that was added to the solution. 5 drops
of phenolphthalein were added to the solution. The titration process was repeated with this
solution and the NaOH solution 2 times.
Titration of Sulfuric acid with NaOH - 2.0 mL of sulfuric acid solution were measured into a 10
mL graduated cylinder. The solution was poured into an Erlenmeyer flask and diluted with 50
mL of distilled water. The graduated cylinder was rinsed with distilled water, and that was added
to the solution. 5 drops of phenolphthalein were added to the solution. The titration process was
repeated using NaOH solution as the titrant twice.
Results:
Standardization of NaOH with KPHAcid:Base Molar ratio = 1:1
Molar Mass of KPH = 204.22 g/mol
Table 1
Data Collected
Mass of KPH
Moles KPH
Moles NaOH
NaOH Initial Volume
NaOH Final Volume
NaOH Volume in mililiters
NaOH Volume in liters

Demonstrated (First Trial)

1.01g
0.00495mol
0.00495mol
15.61mL
42.15mL
26.54mL
0.02654 L

Second Trial
1.01g
0.00495mol
0.00495mol
4.20mL
29.60mL
25.40mL
0.02540 L

Third Trial
1.01g
0.00495mol
0.00495mol
4.90mL
29.90mL
25.00mL
0.02500 L

NaOH Molarity
Average Molarity of NaOH
% Error

0.187M
0.193M
2.03%

0.195M

Titration of Acetic acid with NaOHAcid:Base Molar Ratio = 1:1

Average Molarity of NaOH = 0.193M
Table 2:
Data Collected
NaOH Initial Volume
NaOH Final Volume
NaOH Volume
Moles of NaOH
Moles of Acetic Acid
Acetic Acid Volume in Milliliters
Acetic Acid Volume Liters
Acetic Acid Molarity
Average Molarity of Acetic Acid
% Error

First Trial
19.75mL
28.85mL
8.60mL
0.00166 mol
0.00166 mol
2.00mL
0.00200L
0.830M
0.842M
5%

Second Trial
28.85mL
37.75mL
8.90mL
0.00172 mol
0.00172 mol
2.01mL
0.00201L
0.855M

Titration of Sulfuric acid with NaOHAcid:Base Molar Ratio = 1:2

Molarity of NaOH = 0.193M
Table 3:
Data Collected
NaOH Initial Volume
NaOH Final Volume
NaOH Volume
Moles of NaOH
Moles of Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric Acid Volume in Milliliters
Sulfuric Acid Volume in Liters

First Trial
18.40mL
28.20mL
9.80mL
0.00189 mol
0.000946 mol
2.00mL
0.00200L

Second Trial
28.35mL
39.00mL
10.65mL
0.00206 mol
0.00103 mol
2.05mL
0.00205L

0.198M

Sulfuric Acid Molarity

Sulfuric Acid Average Molarity
% Error

0.473M
0.487M
3%

0.501M

Discussion:
Standardization of NaOH- The results found from standardizing a sample of NaOH were
relatively accurate. As table one will show, each test s within 1/1000th of the actual molarity
(0.197M). However, they were not as accurate as they were precise, seeing as the molarity of
trial one and trial 3 in table have a difference greater than 1/100th. Over all this test can be called
a success because the percent error of the average was just over two percent, making it
satisfactory in an educational setting. This accuracy may not have been achieved using another
primary standard. KPH was used because it is not hygroscopic, therefore the mass can be
accurately measured with little effort and preparation. Without using KPH as a primary standard
it would have been more difficult to identify the of the secondary standard. Without the
secondary standard the procedure would not have been able to be carried out, and the data would
not have been collected.
Titration of acetic acid- The results from the titration of acetic acid were the least satisfactory of
the results found. The molarities found in table 2 are within 3/100ths of each other, which is
relatively precise. However, both of the molarities found in table 2 were considerable higher than
the actual molarity (0.8). On top of that, the percent error was over 5 percent (rounded due to sig
figs), the highest percent error found in this experiment.
Titration of sulfuric acid- The results of the titration of sulfuric acid are as expected. The
molarity found in table 3 is about as precise as those found in table 2. Unlike it table 2 however,
the percent error in table 3 is about twice as accurate. There was however, a little trouble when

calculating the molarity as the molar ration found form the balanced chemical equation was
misinterpreted, making the moles of sulfuric acid initially calculated four times as much as was
accurate.
Between these three types of titration, none can be definitively called more of less precise or
efficient than the rest. The presence of an acid/base indicator is necessary due to the lack of
precipitate in these acid base reactions. Without one, the end point would not be able to be
identified, making it impossible to know if the equivalence point has been passed. With the
indicator the precision and accuracy of titration is all dependent on the conductor of the test, and
how much time is available to them. When both of these condition are maximized the technique
can be accurate to a fraction of a milliliter.
Conclusion: During this experiment the method of titration was used to, somewhat accurately,
identify the concentration of solutions with unknown molarity. However, there was much room
for error along the way. For both acetic and sulfuric acid, the titration process had to be repeated
due to complications. The acetic acid titration had to be redone due to a strange yellow-brown
color appearing before the indicator was seen, making it hard to see when the indicator would
have been noticeable. During the sulfuric acid titration, the indicator had not been added making
it unknown how close the reaction was to the end point. Over all the results of this experiment
were satisfactory and achieved as desired.
Sample Calculations:
Molar Mass of KPH

Find the sum of the

molar mass of
individual elements.

39.10g / mol K +51.008g /mol H +812.01g /mol C +416

Finding moles from grams

mg
=M mol
N g /mol

1.01 g
=0.00495mol
204.24 g
mol

Finding moles from

Concentration
Finding Volume
Converting Volume to Liters

C MV L =M mol
V f V i=V

0.193 M0.00860 L =0.00166mol

39.00 mL28.35 mL=10.65 mL

mL1 L
103 mL

25.0

mL1 L
=0.0250 L
1000 mL

Finding Molarity of one Sample

Mmol
VL

0.00166 mol
=0.830 M
0.00200 L

Finding the Average Molarity

Cn
n

1.89 M +2.01 M
=1.95
2

% Error

actualtheoretical

0.842 M 0.8 M 100 =5.25

actual
0.8 M