Instructions for the Titration Practice

Part A: PRACTICING ACID-BASE TITRATIONS: Using ExploreLearning Titration Gizmo

The purpose of this activity is to practice carrying out the titration of an acid with a base using an acid-
base indicator. In addition, you will become more familiar with the following lab equipment for a
titration: a buret, a magnetic stir plate, and a magnetic stir bar.

Note: Although you will be carrying out a virtual lab, the safety precautions for carrying out this
experiment in an actual chemistry lab are still included, so you are aware of the safety precautions
that must be taken to protect your eyes and when handling strong acids and/or bases and the lab
protocols for handling spills of corrosive chemicals on yourself and on the lab bench.

CAUTION: Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, can cause chemical burns and damage eyes on contact.
Any NaOH spilled on skin and clothing must be rinsed immediately with water for at least 10-
15 minutes. Any NaOH spilled on the lab benches must be neutralized immediately with the
HC2H3O2(aq) neutralization solution, the area rinsed with water and wiped clean. Inform your
instructor of any NaOH spills.

HCl(aq) is a strong acid that can cause chemical burns. Any HCl(aq) spilled on skin and
clothing must be rinsed immediately with water for at least 10-15 minutes. Any HCl(aq) spilled
on the lab benches must be neutralized immediately with the NaHCO3(aq) neutralization
solution, the area rinsed with water and wiped clean. Inform your instructor of any strong acid
spills.

WEAR GOGGLES AT ALL TIMES, even when you are washing the glassware to avoid exposing
your eyes to NaOH solution. Wash your hands completely with soap and water before leaving
the lab.

1. Watch the videos posted in the Lab Week 4 Module, so you know how to use the laboratory
equipment for a titration, how to properly record volume using a buret, and how to set up and carry
out a titration.

2. Copy the Data Tables and lab questions on pages 3-4 into your lab notebook.

3. Login to ExploreLearning, then launch the Titration Gizmo by clicking on Launch (at the far right)
under the Labs menu. When the Gizmo loads, you will see a virtual lab bench with a buret and a
flask, which is sitting on a magnetic stir plate. The solution in the flask is being mixed by a
magnetic stir bar.

4. First, set up the lab. For Burette, the solution should be “1.00M NaOH”. If it is not, choose it by
using the pull-down menu for Burette. Next, for Flask make sure the solution chosen is “Mystery
HBr”, and finally choose the Indicator to be “Phenolphthalein”.

5. After the indicator is set to Phenolphthalein, record the initial color of the solution in the flask.

6. Record the initial molar concentration of the NaOH solution and the volume of HBr in the Flask.

CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 1

7. In this Gizmo/applet, the buret valve (or stopcock) has three settings: Off (bottom position), Drop-
by-drop (middle position), or Continuous-stream (top position). The volume of NaOH in the buret
is displayed at the top-left corner (under “Burette:”). This volume will change as the titration
proceeds.

8. Record the initial volume of NaOH in the data table for Trial 1. Begin by adding NaOH in a
continuous stream until you start seeing flashes of pink in the flask, then adjust the flow to be drop
by drop. Keep adding the NaOH drop by drop until the solution stays pink. If you overshoot the
endpoint by allowing more than one drop to flow into the flask when the solution turns pink, record
the final volume. For the next trial, be sure to slowly add the NaOH drop by drop when you get
close to the final volume recorded for Trial 1, so you catch the endpoint within one drop.

9. Record the color of the solution in the flask at the endpoint (or just past the endpoint).

10. Press the Reset button (bottom-left corner of screen). Repeat step 8, recording the data for Trial 2.
Determine the volume of NaOH delivered for each trial.

11. Record in your lab notebook how the color of the solution changes as you approach the endpoint.

12. Press the Reset button. For the next part, change the Burette setting to 0.70M KOH, then change the
Flask setting to “Mystery CH3COOH” and the indicator to “Bromthymol blue”.

13. After the indicator is set to Bromthymol blue, record the initial color of the solution in the flask.
Note that bromthymol blue changes to a dark blue color in basic solution, so you will look for
flashes of blue as you approach the endpoint.

14. Record the color of the solution in the flask at the endpoint (or just past the endpoint).

15. Press the Reset button (bottom-left corner of screen). Repeat step 8, recording the data for Trial 2
for the CH3COOH titrated with KOH using bromthymol blue indicator. Determine the volume of
KOH delivered for each trial.

16. Record in your lab notebook how the color of the solution changes as you approach the endpoint
when the indicator is bromthymol blue.

17. Use the volume of NaOH used to titrate the HBr to calculate the molar concentration of the HBr
solution for trials 1 and 2, then calculate the percent difference using the formula below:

| x1 - x 2 | where x1 and x2 are the two

% difference = ´ 100% calculated molarities based
average of x1 and x 2
on experimental measurements
Record your calculations in your lab notebook.

18. Record your results in the Results Table for HBr. Repeat step 17 using the volume of KOH used to
titrate the acetic acid, CH3COOH.

CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 2

Part B: PRACTICING ACID-BASE TITRATIONS: Using BeyondLabz

Download the BeyondLabz – Installation Guide (under Lab Week 5 in the Modules section in Canvas),
and follow the instructions for downloading, installing, and using the Seattle Central student license to
access the BeyondLabz Virtual ChemLab on your Mac, PC, or Chromebook computer. If you are not
able to install the app/program on your computer or tablet, follow the instructions for Remote Access to
the Computer Labs at Seattle Central and using the BeyondLabz through Seattle Central’s LabStats (two
additional files available under Lab Week 5 in the Modules section)

1. Open the BeyondLabz Virtual ChemLab. On the bottom-left corner of the screen, you will see
Worksheets and a list of topics. Open Acid-Base Chemistry, then choose Acid-Base Practice. (Note:
If you are using the LabStats Remote Access to use BeyondLabz, do NOT download the Virtual
ChemLab module, which does not load properly in the remote desktop. You must download the
Worksheets once by following the instructions in “Instructions for using BeyondLabz on Labstats”.)

2. The Virtual ChemLab will open with the solutions and the lab already prepared for you to practice.
On the top-left is the Buret Zoom View window, along with the pH Meter, Conductivity Meter, and
Plot windows. Close these last three windows since we will not be using them for this lab. (You will
learn more about using a pH meter to prepare an acid-base titration curve in CHEM 162.)

3. The Virtual ChemLab will open with two flasks, one containing hydrochloric acid, HCl(aq), and the
other containing a NaOH solution. The buret has already been filled with the NaOH solution (the
titrant), and the beaker on the stir plate contains 25.0 mL of HCl diluted with some DI water, along
with a few drops of bromocresol green indicator.

4. Click on the Indicator Chart at the top right corner of the Virtual ChemLab to zoom in on the chart
and see how bromocresol green’s color changes with the pH of a solution. Note how the color of the
bromocresol green indicator will change as NaOH (the titrant) is added from the buret to the beaker.

5. Record the molarity and volume of the HCl used and the molarity of the NaOH solution in your data
table. Also, record the initial color of HCl with the bromocresol green indicator.

6. The buret valve (or stopcock) can be controlled by clicking on the red bar. In the horizontal position
(perpendicular to the length of the buret), it is closed. In the vertical position (parallel to the length of
the buret), it is completely open, so the titrant flows out continuously. There are three additional
settings between vertical and horizontal, where the flow varies from a slower stream, trickling, and
drop by drop. Note that you can open the buret by clicking on the left or right side of the buret valve.
During this practice, play with the valve at various positions to become familiar with controlling the
flow of titrant from the buret to the beaker.

7. Click on the Indicator Chart at the top right corner of the Virtual ChemLab to zoom in on the chart
and see how bromocresol green’s color changes with the pH of a solution. Note how the color of the
bromocresol green indicator will change as NaOH (the titrant) is added from the buret to the beaker.

8. Record the molarity and volume of the HCl used and the molarity of the NaOH solution in your data
table. Also, record the initial color of HCl with the bromocresol green indicator.

CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 3

9. Note that unlike the ExploreLearning Titration Gizmo, there will be no flashes of the “base color”
for the indicator before the endpoint in the Virtual ChemLab. Instead, the indicator will change color
suddenly based on pH as shown on the Indicator Chart. For this lab, you will be looking for the
intermediate color between the “acid color” and the “base color”. Ideally, you want to catch the
intermediate color within one drop. If the solution in the beaker changes to the “base color”, then
you have overshot the endpoint (added more than one drop at the endpoint). The reason you are
practicing is because you are likely to overshoot the endpoint for the first trial.

10. Given the molarity of the NaOH, the molarity of the HCl, and the volume of HCl added to the
beaker, show the calculation for the volume of NaOH needed to neutralize the HCl in the beaker to
reach the endpoint using the following equation:

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

11. Record the initial volume of NaOH in the buret for Trial 1. Open the stopcock to add NaOH from
the buret to the beaker in a continuous stream until you are within 1-2 mL of the estimated volume
of NaOH to add. Then add the titrant drop by drop to catch the endpoint within one drop. Record
the final volume of NaOH and the color of the solution at the endpoint. Calculate the volume of
NaOH delivered.

12. To prepare for trial 2, turn off the stir plate by clicking on the Stir Plate Switch on the front right of
the stir plate. Move the beaker from the stir plate to the lighted position to the left of the stir plate.
Refill the buret by dragging the NaOH flask to the buret, making sure the cursor sits on the buret.
Keep adding the NaOH until the initial volume is between 0 and 5 mL.

13. Open the beaker drawer, and move a beaker to the lighted position to the right of the stir plate.

14. Next, click on the HCl flask and move it to the graduated cylinders at the far right of the lab bench.
When your cursor is on the second graduated cylinder (the 25 mL graduated cylinder),
release/unclick the mouse button, and the HCl flask will fill to the 25 mL mark on the graduated
cylinder, then return to its position at the front of the lab bench. Now drag the 25 mL graduated
cylinder to the empty beaker and release it, so it transfers all of the solution to the beaker.

15. Next, put the beaker on the stir plate, and add the bromocresol green indicator. Click on the
bromocresol green container until a dropper appears, then drag the dropper to the beaker on the stir
plate, and slowly lower it into the beaker until it pops up. The solution in the beaker should change
to the “acid color” for bromocresol green. (Note that you can only add indicator when the beaker is
on the stir plate.) Turn on the stir plate by clicking on the Stir Plate Switch.

16. Repeat step 9 for Trial 2.

17. Use your volume of NaOH delivered to calculate the molar concentration of the HCl solution for
trials 1 and 2, then calculate the percent difference. (See step 17 in the previous part.) The percent
difference between two trials should be less than 2.0%. If the percent difference is greater than
2.0%, carry out another trial until two trials agree within 2.0%.

18. Move the cursor to the red disposal container to the right of the lab bench until it says “Cleanup Lab
Bench”, then click to clear the lab bench.
CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 4
CHEM 161: Titration Practice Name: ___________________________

A. Determining the Concentration of Hydrobromic Acid (HBr)

1a. Color of the HBR solution in the flask with

phenolphthalein before any NaOH solution is added: ___________________
LAB REPORT
1b. Molarity of NaOH: _______________ Volume of HBr: __________________

Table I. Titration of HBr Trial 1 Trial 2

Initial Volume of NaOH in Buret

Final Volume of NaOH in Buret

Volume of NaOH delivered

1c. Color of the HBR solution in the flask

with phenolphthalein at the endpoint: ______________________

1d. Describe how the color of the solution changes as you approach the endpoint.

B. Determining the Concentration of Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)

2a. Color of the CH3COOH solution in the flask with

Bromthymol blue before any KOH solution is added: ___________________

2b. Molarity of KOH: _____________ Volume of CH3COOH: _______________

Table II. Titration of CH3COOH Trial 1 Trial 2

Initial Volume of KOH in Buret

Final Volume of KOH in Buret

Volume of KOH delivered

2c. Color of the CH3COOH solution in the

flask with Bromthymol blue at the endpoint: ______________________

CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 5

 2d. Describe how the color of the solution changes as you approach the endpoint.

Results Table for the Titration of Hydrobromic Acid (HBr)

Trial 1 Trial 2
Molarity of HBr
Average Molarity of HBr
Percent Difference

Show your calculations in your lab notebook.

Results Table for the Titration of Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)

Trial 1 Trial 2
Molarity of CH3COOH
Average Molarity of CH3COOH
Percent Difference

Show your calculations in your lab notebook.

Post-Lab Question:
Note that the Titration Gizmo/app provides volume readings to 1 decimal place, which
is less than that indicated for the burets used in the Jove “Introduction to Titration”
video. Thus, the smallest markings on the buret used the Titration Gizmo/app must be
every how many milliliters? Write in complete sentences to explain your answer.

CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 6

 A. Titration Practice

1a. Color of the HCl solution in the flask

with bromocresol green (before NaOH added): ___________________

1b. Molarity of HCl: ______________ and Volume of HCl: ______________

1c. Molarity of NaOH: ______________________

Show the calculation for the volume of NaOH needed to neutralize the volume of
HCl used to reach the endpoint.

Table I. Practice Titration of HCl Trial 1 Trial 2

Initial Volume of NaOH in Buret

Final Volume of NaOH in Buret

Volume of NaOH delivered

Color of solution at the endpoint

Table II. Results of HCl Titration Trial 1 Trial 2

Molarity of HCl
Average Molarity of HCl
Percent Difference

Show the calculations for percent difference below:

CHEM 161 Titration Practice Sp2020 page 7