Titration

level 2
C1A - GROUP 3

Aims
In level 2, you'll analyse aspirin tablets to find out whether they contain the correct amount of active ingredient (2-
ethanoyloxybenzene carboxylic acid). You'll perform titration experiments to work out the concentration of aspirin in
the tablets.

In each activity you'll be able to collect points. At the end of the level you can restart to improve your skills.

Video 100 Points

Comprehension 100 Points 1 Attempt

Aspirin contains a carboxylic acid group and is a weak acid.

Aspirin molecules partially dissociate in water.

The hydroxide ion of the strong base reacts with the conjugate base of the aspirin molecule.

The end-point of a titration experiment occurs when there is a sudden change in pH.

A suitable indicator compound will change colour near the end-point of the titration.

Aspirin preparation 100 Points

First the tablets were ground into a fine powder with a pestle and mortar.

Next you added water to dissolve the aspirin.

Finally you made the solution up to 250.0 cm3 using a volumetric flask.
Preparing for titration 100 Points 1 Attempt
First you rinsed a pipette with aspirin solution.

Next you used the pipette to transfer exactly 25.00 cm3 of the solution into a beaker.

Burette setup 100 Points 1 Attempt

First you rinsed a burette with distilled water.

Next you rinsed the burette with sodium hydroxide solution.

Then you filled the burette with sodium hydroxide solution.

Then you removed the funnel.

Finally the burette was filled below the tap by running out some solution.

pH meter 100 Points

First you used the pH probe to obtain a plot of pH against volume added from the burette. From the data, you selected
phenolphthalein and bromothymol blue as suitable indicators for the titration experiment.
Titration experiment 100 Points

1st 2nd 3rd

Trial accurate accurate accurate
titration titration titration

Final reading
31.50 27.20 27.95 30.15
(cm3)

Initial reading
11.40 8.45 9.30 11.50
(cm3)

Titre (cm3) 20.10 18.75 18.65 18.65

Mean titre
18.65
(cm3)

The results of the trial and 1st accurate titration were excluded from the average volume calculation.

Mean titre: 18.65 cm3.

Titration analysis 100 Points

Concentration of NaOH solution = 0.1 mol dm-3.

Mean titre (NaOH solution) = 18.65 cm3.

Amount of NaOH = 0.00187 moles.

Molar ratio of NaOH:aspirin = 1:1.

Amount of aspirin = 0.00187 moles.

Mass of aspirin (in titration) = 0.337 g.

Mass of aspirin (per tablet) = 0.337 g.

You correctly determined the amount of 2-ethanoyloxybenzene carboxylic acid in each tablet and compared this with
quality standards.

Review
Things I did well on:

Things I could improve on:

From your titration experiment, what are the potential errors which could lead to inaccurate results?