ACID BASE TITRATION CHEMISTRY LAB

INTRODUCTION:
In the chemistry laboratory, it is sometimes necessary to experimentally determine the concentration of
an unknown acid or base solution. A procedure for making this kind of determination is called an acid-base
titration. In this procedure, a solution of known concentration, called the standard solution, is used to
neutralize a precisely measure volume of the solution of unknown concentration, to which one or two drops of
an appropriate acids-base indicator have been added. If the solution of unknown concentration is acidic, a
standard base solution is added to the acid solution until it is neutralized. If the solution of unknown
concentration is basic, a standard acid solution is added to the base solution until it is neutralized.

While carrying out an acid-base titration, you must be able to recognize when to stop adding the
standard solution, that is, when neutralization is reached. This is the purpose of the acid-base indicator
mentioned above. A sudden change in color of the indicator signals that neutralization has occurred. At
this point, the number of hydronium ions from the acid equals the number of hydroxide ions from the
base. The point at which this occurs is called the endpoint of the titration. When the endpoint is reached, the
volume of the standard solution is carefully determined. Then, the measured volumes of the two solutions and
the known concentration of the standard solution can be used to calculate the concentration of the unknown
solution. The following steps tell us how to calculate the unknown concentration:

1. Write the balanced equation for the reaction: Acid + Base  Salt + HOH
From the coefficients, determine how many moles of acid react with moles of base
2. The following relationship can be used to calculate the unknown concentration (note: the
coefficients of acid & base come from the balanced equation)

(H+) x MA x VA = (OH-) x MB x VB

Where MA = molarity of acid solution

MB = molarity of base solution
VA = volume of acid solution
VB = volume of base solution
H+ = moles of hydronium ions in the acid
OH- = moles of hydroxide ions in the base

Example #1:
Step 1: H2SO4 + 2 NaOH  Na2SO4 + 2 HOH

Step 2: (2) x MA x VA = (1) x MB x VB

PURPOSE: To determine the molarity of a NaOH solution by titrating it with a standard acid solution

EQUIPMENT:
50 mL buret 2 Erlenmeyer flasks, 150 mL funnel
Ring stand dropper pipet
Buret clamp graduated cylinder
Goggles 2 beakers (any size)

MATERIALS:
Standard Acid Solution: _______M HCl distilled water
NaOH (concentration unknown) indicator solution (bromthymol blue)
PROCEDURE:
One partner does steps 1 – 3 while the other partner does steps 4-7.
1. Rinse the buret with tap water. Clamp it to a ring stand with the buret clamp.

2. Obtain about 30 mL of base solution in a clean, dry 150 mL beaker. CAUTION: Handle these
solutions with care. They can cause painful burns if they contact the skin.

3. Fill the buret with the basic solution (use a funnel the pour the base into the
buret). Place the beaker which held the base in it under the tip of the buret.
Then allow the base to flow out the buret tip until the bottom of the meniscus is
at the nearest whole number mL mark (SEE FIGURE 1). This will be the
initial reading of base in trial 1, record this volume in the data table. figure 1
The volume should be recorded to the nearest 0.01 mL.

4. Obtain about 30 mL of acid solution in a clean, dry 150 mL beaker.

5. Measure out exactly 10.0 mL of HCL into a graduated cylinder (pour less than 10 mL into the
cylinder and finish to 10.0 mL with a dropper pipet). Pour the acid into a 125 mL Erlenmeyer
flask.

6. Add exactly 10.0 mL of distilled water to the Erlenmeyer flask (measured the same way as the
acid). ADD 3 DROPS OF INDICATOR TO THE FLASK. Swirl the flask to mix all the
ingredients. Record the volume of acid used in trial 1 in the data table. The volume should
be recorded to the nearest 0.1 mL.

7. Repeat steps 4-6 for a second flask. Record this volume of acid in trial 2 of
the data table. When you are done, you should have two flasks containing
acid and indicator.

8. Place a sheet of white paper under the buret (makes it easier to see the color
change for the indicator). Place the flask under the tip of the buret. To avoid
splashing, be sure the tip of the buret is in the flask as illustrated to the right.

9. Swirling the flask gently, begin the titration by adding base to the flask drop
by drop. Continue until a faint color remains for about 30 seconds. If over-
titration occurs (the color is too deep), follow your teacher’s instruction for
correcting this condition.

10. Note and record the exact final volume reading on the scale of the buret.
Discard the solution in the flask as per instructions. Wash and rinse the flask
before putting it away.

11. Repeat the titration (steps 8-10). IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REFILL THE BURET
BETWEEN TRIALS, simply read and record the initial volume of the solution in the buret
and place that value in the data table under trial 2 – initial reading buret. If time permits do
a third trial.
Name _______________________________________________ Acid-Base Titration
Date _____________________________ Write up Sheet
Period/Section _____________________

A. PURPOSE:

B. PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:
Define the following:
a. Titration: _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
b. Standard solution: ________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
c. Endpoint: ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

C. OBSERVATIONS:
1. Color of indicator in acidic solution_______________________
Color of indicator in neutral solution _______________________
Color of indicator in basic solution _______________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________

D. DATA
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Base Base Base
Initial reading buret
Final reading buret
Volume Base used
Volume Acid used

E. CHEMICAL REACTION (Balanced Neutralization Reaction):

________________ + ________________  _________________ + __________________

F. CALCULATIONS: show equation used, insert values, and give answer with appropriate units
For each trial, calculate the molarity of the base solution (unknown concentration).
TRIAL #1

TRIAL #2

G. CONCLUSIONS:
Causes of error: 1.
2.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does your answer from calculation #1 compare with your answer from calculation #2? _________
If there are discrepancies, what might account for them?

For the following problems, show equation used, insert values, and give answer with appropriate units
2. If 30.0 mL of 0.500 M KOH are needed to neutralize 10.0 mL of HCl of unknown concentration, what
is the molarity of the HCl?

3. If 45.0 mL of 1.50 M Ca(OH)2 are needed to neutralize 25.0 mL of HI of unknown concentration, what
is the molarity of the HI?

4. How many mL of 0.100 M NaOH are needed to titrate 20.0 mL of 0.100 M H2SO4?