Volumetric Analysis: Titration to find the unknown concentration of HCl

Linlin Li

Qualitative Data

Before titration During titration After titration

Qualitative data Adding one drop of The HCl was added We stopped adding HCl
phenolphthalein incrementally to 25cm3 once the Na2CO3
(Observations) indicator instantly of the Na2CO3 solution. solution becomes
turned the Na2CO3 While the acid was completely colorless.
solution from colorless being added, we This indicates that the
to bright pink swirled the beaker with solution is neutralized.
the Na2CO3 solution,
and the bright pink of
solution gradually fades
to colorless

Quantitative Data

Table 1
Deionized water 250 cm3 ± 0.20 cm3

Sodium carbonate solid 1.3 g ± 0.01g

Table 2 Standardizing hydrochloric acid with with phenolphthalein indicator

Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Run 4

Final volume 20.20 ± 0.05 cm3 19.60 ± 0.05 cm3 19.30 ± 0.05 cm3 36.30 ± 0.05 cm3
(cm3)

Initial volume 2.00 ± 0.05 cm3 2.00 ± 0.05 cm3 2.00 ± 0.05 cm3 19.30 ± 0.05 cm3
(cm3)

Titre (cm3) 18.20 ± 0.05 cm3 17.60 ± 0.05 cm3 17.30 ± 0.05 cm3 17.00 ± 0.05 cm3

Mean titre (cm3) 17.53 ± 0.05 cm3

Calculation of mols of solution Na2CO3

(Mass of solid Na2CO3 g) / (volume of standard solution Na2CO3 cm3) x (1 mol Na2CO3) / (Na2CO3 molar
mass g) = Na2CO3 mols/cm3
1.3g ± 0.01g Na2CO3 / 250 cm3 ± 0.20 cm3 x 1 mol Na2CO3 / 105.991g Na2CO3 = 4.9 x 10-5 ± 0.03
mols/cm3
(Na2CO3 mols/cm3) x (volume of solution Na2CO3 used)
= (4.9 x 10-5 ± 0.03 mols/cm3) x ( 25 ± 0.06 cm3)
= 0.0012 ± 0.0001 mols of solution Na2CO3

Calculation of concentration of HCl

Balanced equation of reaction between sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid

Na2CO3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + NaHCO3(aq)

Moles of HCl = moles of Na2CO3

Moles of HCl = 0.0012 mols ± 0.0001
v = average titre
v = 17.53 ± 0.05 cm3

C = n/v
= (0.0012 ± 0.0001 mols) / 17.53 ± 0.05 cm3
= 6.99 x 10-5 ± 3.24 x 10-6 mols/cm3
= 0.07 ± 3.24 x 10-6 mols/dm3 (2 d.p.)

Percentage error = (0.075 - 0.070) / 0.075 = 0.067 ± 0.04 = (6.7 ± 4)%

Conclusion
A titration process with sodium carbonate Na2CO3 was used to find the unknown concentration of
hydrochloric acid HCl. We determined the concentration of hydrochloric acid through the volume
required to neutralize a known amount of standard solution Na2CO3, and compared obtained data with the
theoretical value of 0.075 mol/dm3. A 250 cm3 Na2CO3 solution was created, consisting of 1.3g of sodium
carbonate solid. After adding the phenolphthalein indicator into 25 cm3 of the Na2CO3 solution, HCl
solution was mixed incrementally until the color of the Na2CO3 solution changed from bright pink back to
colorless. This titration process was repeated in four trials, and the average titre of HCl solution used was
calculated to be 17.53 ± 0.05 cm3. Following this, we obtained the moles of HCl solution by calculating
the moles in the 25 cm3 of Na2CO3 solution, because of the mole ratio between the two compounds in the
balanced chemical equation
Na2CO3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + NaHCO3(aq)
is 1:1. With both the moles and volume, the equation
concentration = moles/volume
was used to determine the concentration of HCl solution, 6.99 x 10-5 ± 3.24 x 10-6 moles/cm3, which once
converted into moles/dm3 yielded a result of 0.07 ± 3.24 x 10-6 mols/dm3. Using the formula for
percentage error,

%error = (theoretical value - experimental value / theoretical value) x 100

A value of (6.7 ± 4)% is obtained compared to the 0.075 mol/dm3 theoretical value.
One of the reasons of this error is likely in the calculations of average titre of HCl. Throughout the four
trials in the table titled “Volumetric Analysis 2”, we can see that the volume recorded is in decreasing
order, suggesting an increasing accuracy. Therefore, the most accurate value obtained regarding the
volume of HCl required to neutralize standard solution Na2CO3 is in the fourth trial, 17.00 ± 0.05 cm3.
However, averaging all four trials will result in a value larger than this, as it takes into account the prior
trials and increases potential errors when using this average to calculate HCl concentration. Another
source of error may be the volume lost when transferring both the HCl and the Na2CO3 solution from the
original containers into other beakers. For the Na2CO3 solution, some liquid remained on the walls of the
beaker and pipette when pouring out from the volumetric flask and when measuring the 25 cm3 volume.
For the HCl, the same thing occurred but when transferring it from the funnel to the burette. Additionally,
in some trials the funnel was not removed from the opening of the burette when adding the HCl into the
pink Na2CO3 solution. Drops of excess may have dropped into the burette and interfered with an accurate
reading of the final volume.