Date: 12/08/2020

Title: Back Titration

Observation:
Mae indicated that her headache goes faster when using brand c aspirin than brand d and e plan
and design an experiment to validate Mae's observation.

Hypothesis: The mass of acetylsalicylic acid in Brand C asprin is higher than that of the mass of
acetylsalicylic acid in Brand D and Brand E.

Aim: To determine if the mass of acetylsalicylic acid in Brand C asprin is higher than that of
Brand D and E.

Apparatus:

1. Electronic scale
2. Pipette
3. 0.2 moldm-3 Sodium hydroxide
4. Conical flask
5. Bunsen burner
6. Phenolphthalein
7. Burette
8. 0.1 moldm-3 HCl
9. Tripod stand

Diagram:
Method:

1. Using an electronic scale to measure the mass of one asprin from each type of asprin until
you get each approximately the same mass.
2. Pipette 25cm3 of 0.2 moldm-3 of sodium hydroxide into a conical flask and add the brand
C asprin into it.
3. Warm the conical flask using a Bunsen burner and stir gently until all the asprin is
dissolved.
4. After the contents of the conical flask is cooled, add 3 drops of phenolphthalein and stir
gently.
5. Rinse and fill a burette with HCl (aq) of 0.1 moldm-3, recording the amount filled and
attaching it to a retort stand.
6. Titrate the contents of the conical flask with the HCl until the contents become colorless.
This is the endpoint.
7. Repeat steps 2-6 with asprin D and E.

Variables:
Constant:

 The volume of NaOH used

 The mass of asprin used

Manipulating:

 The brand of asprin used in the neutralization reaction

Responding:

 The amount of HCl used to neutralize the asprin solution

Results: TABLE SHOWING THE VOLUME OF NaOH USED TO NEUTRALIZE EACH

BRAND OF ASPRIN.

BRAND C BRAND D BRAND E

Final volume of NaOH/cm3

Initial volume of NaOH/cm3

Volume of NaOH used/cm3

Treatment of results:
Using the data obtained, calculate the mass of acetylsalicylic acid in each asprin.

Expected results:
It is expected that Brand C asprin will contain a higher mass of acetylsalicylic acid than Brand D
and Brand E. This is because the more acetylsalicylic acid the asprin contains the better it would
work.

Sources of error:

1. Human error in determining the end point of the titration.

2. The tablet may contain impurities that may affect the reaction

Precautions:

1. Read the measuring cylinder and burette at eye level to avoid parallax error.
2. Add the HCl slowly while swirling gently.