General Chemistry Practical 2: Hess Law

Part 1: Preparation and standardization of the required solutions

Standardization of a 2 M Sodium Hydroxide( NaOH) solution using the primary standard
potassium hydrogen phthalate(C​8​H​5​KO​4)​( this standard as well as the procedure may
change; Dr James will send an email and state which standard will be used and the
procedure may have to be adjusted accordingly)
Obtain an amount of C​8​H​5​KO​4 that
​ is sufficient to react with 3x 20 mL aliquots of 2 M NaOH
solution plus a little extra in a clean and dry beaker and dry the C​8​H​5​KO​4 at
​ 105 C for a half an
hour. Afterwards, let it cool in a dessicator.​( The amount of C​8​H​5​KO​4 needed
​ needs to be
determined PRIOR to entering the lab)
Obtain an amount of NaOH salt sufficient to create 1 L of a 2 M NaOH solution and dissolve this
in a beaker to 80 % of the final volume. Let the solution cool to room temperature, then
quantitatively transfer it to a 1 L volumetric flask and dilute the solution to the mark.​( The
amount of NaOH needed needs to be determined PRIOR to entering the lab)
Carry out a blank titration of just water, pH indicator and the NaOH solution.
Obtain an amount of C​8​H​5​KO​4 needed
​ to react with 20 mL 2 M NaOH solution in a clean and
dry conical flask. Add enough water to completely dissolve the C​8​H​5​KO​4​, followed by a few
drops of a suitable pH indicator. Titrate the solution against the NaOH solution. Carry this
titration out in triplicate and determine the concentration of the NaOH solution.
*The procedure was modified from that found in the 8​th​ edition of Quantitative Chemical
Analysis by Daniel C. Harris

Standardization of a 2 M Hydrochloric acid( HCl) solution using the previously

standardized NaOH solution.
Obtain an amount of concentrated HCl solution sufficient to create a 2 M HCl solution and dilute
it to 80 % of the final volume. Let the solution cool to room temperature, then quantitatively
transfer it into a 1 L volumetric flask and dilute the solution to the mark.​( The amount of
concentrated HCl needed needs to be determined PRIOR to entering the lab)
Carry out a blank titration of just water, pH indicator and the NaOH solution.
Obtain a 20 mL aliquot of the HCl solution in a conical flask, followed by a few drops of a
suitable pH indicator and titrate the solution against the standardized NaOH solution. Carry this
titration out in triplicate and determine the concentration of the HCl solution.

Standardization of a 2 M Ammonium Chloride( NH​4​Cl) solution using the previously

standardized NaOH solution
Obtain an amount of NH​4​Cl salt sufficient to create 1 L of a 2 M NH​4​Cl solution and dissolve
this in a beaker to 80 % of the final volume. Let the solution cool to room temperature, then
quantitatively transfer it into a 1 L volumetric flask and dilute the solution to the mark.​( The
amount of NH​4​Cl salt needed needs to be determined PRIOR to entering the lab)
Carry out a blank titration of just water, pH indicator and the NaOH solution.
Obtain a 20 mL aliquot of the NH​4​Cl solution in a conical flask, followed by a few drops of a
suitable pH indicator and titrate the solution against the standardized NaOH solution. Carry this
titration out in triplicate and determine the concentration of the NH​4​Cl solution.

Standardization of 2 M aqueous Ammonia( NH​3(aq)​) using the previously standardized HCl

and NaOH solutions
Obtain an amount of concentrated aqueous ammonia sufficient to create 1 L of a 2 M NH​3(aq)
solution and dissolve this in a beaker to 80 % of the final volume. Let the solution cool to room
temperature, then quantitatively transfer it into a 1 L volumetric flask and dilute the solution to
the mark.​( The amount of concentrated NH​3(aq) ​ needed needs to be determined PRIOR to
entering the lab)
Carry out a blank titration of just water, methyl red pH indicator and the NaOH solution.
Obtain a 20 mL aliquot of the NH​4​Cl solution in a conical flask, followed by an excess of the
standardized HCl solution and a few drops of methyl red. Titrate the excess HCl solution against
the standardized NaOH solution. Carry this procedure out in triplicate and determine the
concentration of the NH​3(aq) solution.
​
*The procedure was adapted from
https://airgasspecialtyproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Appendix_B_-_Analytical_Met
hods.pdf

Part 2: Hess Law

Follow the procedure in the general chemistry lab handout given by Dr James