Name: Jessica Moon

Titration of an Unknown Acid Worksheet

Introduction
A solution of NaOH (sodium hydroxide) and KHP (potassium hydrogen phthalate) will be
utilized in order to find the concentration of the unknown acid to determine the accuracy of the
found titration. Titration is a method used to determine the concentration of a molecule
dissolved in a solution when the concentration is unknown. This experiment is an acid-based
titration. The other types of titrations are: redox, precipitate, and complexometric.
Standardization is carefully measuring a primary standard into a solution until it dissolves into
the exact concentration. This needs to be done in order to find the molarity and the
concentration of a secondary standard through titration. The KHP is used for standardization in
order to find the titration of the unknown acid. KHP will indicate a color change (light pink)
which will indicate that the titration is complete.

Materials and Methods (A.K.A. Experimental)

The buret was rinsed with distilled water twice before beginning the experiment, then
rinsed with the NaOH solution. For the three trials, KHP was added into a flask. Then 30mL of
deionized water was added with 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator. The sodium hydroxide
solution was added with a buret while being swirled. As the pink color appeared, the buret
dropped the sodium hydroxide solution, until the solution in the flask was pink. The initial and
final volume of the NaOH was recorded. 100mL of the unknown solution was poured into a
beaker. 25mL of the unknown was transferred into a flask using a volumetric pipette. The
indicator of the solution was added. The concentration was calculated.
Results

Fill in the table below with your data from the standardization procedure. Be sure to include the full
precision available from the instruments (balance and burette). This can be typed or handwritten.
Table 1: Titration Data for NaOH Standardization
Trial # Mass of KHP (g) Vf NaOH (mL) Vi NaOH (mL) Vadded (mL) M NaOH
(mol/L)
1 .423 26.95 7.42 19.48 1.06×10⁻⁴

2 .418 45.81 26.95 18.86 1.09×10⁻⁴

3 .440 36.98 17.09 19.89 1.08×10⁻⁴

Average: 1.076×10⁻⁴

Fill in the table below with your data for the titration of 25.00 mL of the unknown acid.
Table 2: Data for Titration of 25.00 mL of Unknown Acid
Trial # Vf NaOH (mL) Vi NaOH (mL) Vadded (mL) M Acid(mol/L)

1 17.71 1.00 16.71 1.143

2 34.00 17.71 16.29 1.154

3 46.73 29.29 17.44 1.125

Average: 1.141
Sample Calculations
Show a sample calculation for determining NaOH concentration for one of your trials:

1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 1

.423g× 204.22𝑔𝐾𝐻𝑃 × 1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
× 19.48𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
= 1.06×10⁻⁴M NaOH

Show a sample calculation for determining the Unknown acid concentration (1 trial):

1.076×10⁻⁴𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 16.71𝐿 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 1

1𝐿 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
× 1
× 1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 × 0.025𝐿 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = 1.143M acid
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss 2-3 specific sources of error (besides simply saying human error) that can affect both the
accuracy and precision of your results. How can these errors be mitigated?

One major specific source of error was that too much of the NaOH solution was added in two out of
three trials. The solution turned a bright pink. rather than a light colored pink. The accuracy of the
overall titration was poor since it was not close to the true value of the measurement. The precision
however was better than poor since it happened more than once. This error can be mitigated by
concise and careful adding of the NaOH solution. When the pink starts turning darker when NaOH is
added, then the buret can be adjusted to release NaOH at a slower rate, so the experiment can be
controlled better.
Another possible source of error is the mass of KHP. Throughout the trials, the masses of KHP have a
.05g or higher difference. Too little of the mass of KHP means that the end point is reached too early,
and the titration is cut short. This affects the accuracy because it would not be near the true value of
the titration. As for precision, it could skew the results, making the concentration less precise.

2. Assuming the actual concentration of the unknown acid is 0.0782 M, calculate the % error in
|𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒−𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙|
your results. % 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙
×100 Note: the actual concentration given
above is completely made up, your score doesn’t depend on getting a low % error.

|1.141−.0782|
.0782
×100= 1360%

1360%

3. Using your average concentration of the unknown acid, calculate the pH of the sample:
 +
𝑝𝐻 =− 𝑙𝑜𝑔⁡[𝐻 ]

pH=-log[1.141]
-.0573
4. Suppose a sample of a strong acid had a measured pH of 1.21, calculate the concentration of the
acid.

1.21=-log[x]
1.21
10 =x
16.2M

16.2M
5. Another solid acid that can be used as a primary standard is oxalic acid, which usually exists in
the dihydrate form: H2C2O4·2H2O.
2NaOH (aq) + H2C2O4·2H2O (aq) 🡪 Na2C2O4 (aq)+4H2O (l)
If 0.231 g of oxalic acid dihydrate is neutralized by 31.75 mL of NaOH, calculate the molarity of
the NaOH.

.231𝑔 𝑜𝑥𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 1𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

×
90.03𝑔 𝑜𝑥𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑
= .00257 mole oxalic acid
2 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
.00257 mol oxalic acid × 1
= .00514mol NaOH
.00514𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
M= .03175𝐿

.162M NaOH