Worked step-by-step Example for acid-base titration

A student performs a titration to determine the concentration of a hydrochloric acid solution

(HCl). The student makes use of a sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) with a concentration
0.1 mol dm-3. The student adds the sodium hydroxide solution to 25.00 cm3 of hydrochloric acid
solution each time.

It is saying that a student pipette out 25.00 cm3 of HCl and titrated it against NaOH. The
concentration of NaOH was 0.10 mol dm-3, which is the same thing as 0.1 mol of the solute is in
1dm3 or 1000 cm3.

Results of his experiment tabulated below:

Titration number
Burette Reading
rough 1 2 3
Final reading/ cm3 21.15 20.50 41.00 20.45
Initial reading/ cm3 0.00 0.00 20.50 0.00
Volume of NaOH added/ cm3 21.50 20.50 20.50 20.45
Volume using * *
The table is stating that

- for the rough titration 21.15 cm3 of NaOH was titrated against 25. 00 cm3 of HCl solution
for neutralization to occur (Neutralisation point or end-point)
- for the first titration 20. 50cm3 of NaOH was titrated against 25. 00 cm3 of HCl solution
for neutralization to occur (Neutralisation point or end-point)
- for the second titration 20.50 cm3 of NaOH was titrated against 25. 00 cm3 of HCl
solution for neutralization to occur (Neutralisation point or end-point)
- for the third titration 20.45 cm3 of NaOH was titrated against 25. 00 cm3 of HCl solution
for neutralization to occur (Neutralisation point or end-point)

Calculate the molar concentration of HCl solution.

STEP 1: Write down the balanced equation

NaOH (aq) +HCl (aq)  NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

STEP 2: Calculate the average volume of NaOH used

Average volume of NaOH used= 20.50+20.50/2

= 20.50 cm3

Therefore it took 20.50 cm3 of NaOH solution to neutralize 25.00 cm3 of HCl solution.
STEP 3: Calculate the number of moles of NaOH in 20.50 cm3

OR

Concentration of NaOH is 0.1 mol dm-3 Concentration of NaOH is 0.1 mol dm-3

1 dm3 = 1000 cm3 Therefore 0.1 mol NaOH  1 dm3

Therefore 0.1 mol NaOH  1 dm3 1 dm3 = 1000 cm3

Hence x NaOH  0.0205 dm3 Hence 0.1 mol NaOH  1000 cm3

X= 0.1 mole x 0.0205 dm3/ 1 dm3 x NaOH  20.50 cm3

= 0.00205 moles or 2.05*10-3 moles X= 1 mole x 20.50 cm3/ 1000 cm3

= 0.00205 moles or 2.05*10-3 moles

STEP 4: Calculate the number of moles of HCl using mole ratio from balanced equation

NaOH : HCl

Based on the mole ratio 1:1

If 1 mol NaOH is required to neutralize  1 mol HCl

Then 2.05*10-3 mol NaOH is required to neutralize  x HCl

X = 1 mol x 2.05*10-3 mol / 1 mol

= 2.05*10-3 mol

Therefore, 2.05*10-3 mol of HCl reacted with 2.05*10-3 mol of NaOH for neutralization to occur.

Since the volume of HCl measured was 25.00 cm3, we can there for say 25.00 cm3 of the HCl
solution measured had 2.05*10-3 moles of HCl.

STEP 5: Calculate the molar concentration of HCl solution (This is the # of moles of HCl in 1
dm3 or 1000 cm3 of the total solution)
 OR

2.05*10-3 mol HCl  25.00 cm3 2.05*10-3 mol HCl  25.00 cm3

1 dm3= 1000 cm3 1 dm3= 1000 cm3

Hence 2.05*10-3 mol HCl  0.025 cm3 Hence 2.05*10-3 mol HCl  25.00 cm3

x HCl  1 dm3 x HCl  1000 cm3

X= 1 dm3 x 2.05*10-3 mol / 0.025 dm3 X= 2.05*10-3 mole x 1000 cm3 / 25.00 cm3

= 0.082 moles = 0.082 moles of HCl

Concentration of HCl is 0.082 mol dm-3 Concentration of HCl is 0.082 mol dm-3

ANSWER