FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

ENV 416 PRACTICAL

NAME : .......................................................... DATE : .......................................

EXPERIMENT 3

TITLE : A comparison of end points and equivalence points

OBJECTIVE: To construct the neutralization curves for a strong acid

INTRODUCTION

When the pH is plotted against volume of titrant added in a titration the equivalence point is the
midpoint of the most vertical section. This point may be obtained visually or by an additional graphical
procedure. At this point the number of equivalents of acid equals the number of equivalents of base
present. Note that at the equivalence point pH will not necessarily be pH7. The pH will be characteristic
of the acid-base pair involved.

If a titration is to be done calorimetrically, a pH indicator will be used to signal the equivalence point by
a change of color. If the indicator is well chosen the color change which is called the end point very
nearly coincides with the equivalence point of the titration. The difference between the volume of
titrant at the equivalence point and the end point is called the titration error.

In this lab you will plot two titration curves. The NaOH/HCl titration is one of a strong acid/strong base.
At the equivalent point:

NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H20

The second titration, HCl/Na2CO3 is one which contains two equivalence points:

CO3- + H+ → HCO3-

HCO3- + H+ → H2 CO3-

PROCEDURE:

A. Potentiometric Titration of a Strong Acid and Strong Base

1. Obtain a pH meter, glass electrode and a magnetic stirrer

2. Fill a 50 ml buret with 0.1N HCl

3. Transfer from the dispenser on the side bench, 25.0 ml of 0.1N NaOH into a 200 ml tall form
beaker and add 3 drops of phenolphthalein

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 4. Place the magnet in the beaker, center the beaker on the stirrer and turn it on. Make sure
the magnet rotates smoothly. Arrange the electrodes so that they are just above the
rotating magnet. Arrange the buret above the beaker.

5. Add the titrant and record the change in pH with the increasing volume. Record these values
on your data sheet and plot the titration curve.

B. A Potentiometric Titration of Na2CO3 (weak base) and Strong Acid

1. Transfer 25.0 ml of 0.1N Na 2CO3 solution from the dispenser into 200 ml tall form beaker.
Add 3 drops of methyl orange.

2. Add increments of 0.1N HCl and record your results as above.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Prepare 2 graphs

2. Show the equivalence point and how they were determined graphically.

3. On the appropriate titration curves, locate the corresponding end points.