R 1 contains the monobasic acid RCO2H.

You are to determine the relative molecular mass, Mr,

of the acid and deduce its molecular formula.
You are provided with the following.
⮚ R 1, the aqueous acid, containing 31.50 g dm-3 RCO2H
⮚ R 2 , aqueous sodium hydroxide containing 3.40 g dm-3 NaOH
⮚ Phenolphthalein indicator.

Procedure
(a) Dilution of R 1
1. By using a burette measure between 38.00 cm3 and 39.00 cm3 of R 1 into the 250 cm3
graduated (volumetric) flask labelled R 3. Record your burette readings and the volume
of R 1 added to the flask.
2. Make up the contents of the flask to the 250 cm3 mark with distilled water. Place the
stopper in the flask and mix the contents thoroughly by slowly inverting the flask a
number of times.
(b) Titration
1. Fill a second burette with R 3.
2. Pipette 25.0 cm3 of R 2 into the conical flask and add 2–3 drops of phenolphthalein
indicator.
3. Titrate the sodium hydroxide in the flask with R 3 until the solution just turns colourless
4. Repeat sufficient further titrations to obtain accurate results.
5. Record your titration results in a suitable table.
Data analysis
Show your working and appropriate significant figures in all of your calculations.
1. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction in this experiment. Include state
symbols.
2. Determine the volume of R 3 that neutralizes 25.0 cm3 of R 2.
3. Calculate how many moles of R2 have been pipetted into the conical flask.
4. Calculate how many moles of R3 are contained in 250 cm3 of the diluted acid.
5. Calculate the molar concentration of the undiluted acid in R 1.
6. Calculate, correct to 3 significant figures, the relative molecular mass of R 1.
7. Use your answer in question 6 to deduce the formula of the acid R 1.