NYB

LAB EXERCISE 1

The Preparation and Use of a Standard Solution

Introduction

A standard solution is a solution which has an accurately known concentration. It can be used to standardize
(determine the concentration of) an unknown solution by titration.

The concentration of an aqueous solution is often expressed as moles of solute per litre of solution
(molarity). To make a standard solution two quantities have to be measured precisely:

1) the mass of solute taken

2) the final volume of solution

The mass of solute taken can be measured precisely on a balance. The final volume of solution can be
measured precisely with a volumetric flask.

In this experiment, a volume of 100 mL of a standard borax (Na2B4O7) solution of known concentration
will be used to standardize a given solution of hydrochloric acid which has a concentration of about 0.01
mol/L. The reaction may be represented by the equation:

Na2B4O7 (aq) + 2 HCl(aq) + 5 H2O() → 4 H3BO3 (aq) + 2 NaCl(aq)

When standard solutions are used regularly in a laboratory, it is common practice to first prepare a more
concentrated “stock” solution. A small portion of this solution can then be diluted to a concentration which
is practical for a given titration. In this procedure, the stock solution is prepared by dissolving about 1.2 g
of borax in a total volume of 100 mL, so that it will have a concentration of about
3 × 10−2 mol/L.

If this solution was used to titrate the acid, a small volume of it would need a large volume of acid for
neutralization. This is impractical and therefore the titrant is prepared by diluting the stock solution by a
factor of ten.

Pre-Lab Questions

1. Determine the precision of the 10 and 25 mL pipettes, the 100 mL volumetric flask, and the 50 mL
burette and express the volumes in the appropriate number of significant digits.
2. In the procedure it is said to add the solution “quantitatively”, what does that mean?
3. If you go over the calibration mark on the volumetric flask, can/should you remove the excess and
continue? Why/why not?
4. Solutions for titrations are usually prepared using volumetric flasks. Why are volumetric flasks
preferred over beakers or Erlenmeyer flasks?
5. What is the difference between end point and equivalence point? What is the relationship between them
(if any)?

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Procedure

Stock solution

Weigh approximately precisely 1.2 g of borax, Na2B4O7 • 10 H2O, and dissolve in water.

Transfer the solution quantitatively to a 100 mL volumetric flask and complete the volume with distilled
water.

Dilute solution (titrant)

Create (a precise volume of) 100 mL of the titrant solution by diluting the stock solution by a factor of 10.

Titration

Titrate 25 mL of the diluted (titrant) borax solution in an Erlenmeyer flask (and a few drops of methyl red
indicator) with the given acid of unknown concentration. Titrate by adding the (analyte) acid from the
burette to the titrant solution in the flask. Record the precise volume at the end-point.

Repeat the titration. The results should not differ by more than 0.10 mL. Otherwise, perform a third trial.

Discard all waste in the provided waste container

Calculate the concentration (mol/L) of each of the two borax solutions you have prepared (stock and titrant),
and determine the unknown concentration of the acid provided.

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 CHEMISTRY NYB

DATA SHEET EXPERIMENT 1: PREPARATION AND USE OF A STANDARD SOLUTION

Student Name: __________________________ Student Name: __________________________

Unknown Code: __________

Mass of borax:

Moles of borax:

Concentration of stock solution:

Concentration of titrant:

Titration data TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Initial burette reading _______ _______ _______

Final burette reading _______ _______ _______

Volume of HCl used _______ _______ _______

Volume of titrant _______ _______ _______
Moles of HCl _______ _______ _______

Concentration of unknown HCl solution _______ _______ _______

Average HCl concentration _______

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Sample Calculation Sheet(s):
In future experiments, you will be expected to prepare a sample calculation sheet before coming to the lab. A sample is given below for this
experiment. The sheet should contain any and all calculations that can be determined without the actual results. It should also contain any
calculations using approximate amounts given in the Procedure of the experiment document. Another set of similar calculations can then be
set up leaving space for the actual experimental values. Please note that the values given in the Experiment document are often approximate;
you should use the proper precision in any actual value you measure. The calculation sheet can be hand-written.

Calculation Sheet for NYB Experiment #1: Preparation of a Standard Solution

Name:

M.M.Borax = 381.371 g/mol

Moles of Borax

1 mol Borax
1.2 g Borax × = 3.1 × 10−3 mol Borax
381.371 g

1 mol Borax
g Borax × = mol Borax
381.371 g

[Stock] Solution

3.1 × 10−3 mol Borax

= 3.1 × 10−2 M Borax
0.1000 L
mol Borax
= M Borax
0.1000 L

[Dilute] Solution

[Dilute] = 1/10 [Stock] = 1/10 (3.1×10−2 M Borax “stock”) = 3.1×10−3 M Borax “dilute”

3.1 × 10−3 moles Borax "dilute"

100.0 mL × = 3.1 × 10−4 moles Borax
1000 mL
1000 mL
3.1 × 10−4 moles Borax × 3.1×10−2 moles Borax "stock" = 10 mL Stock Borax

[Dilute] = 1/10 [Stock] = 1/10 ( M Borax “stock”) = M Borax “dilute”

moles Borax
100.0 mL × = moles Borax
1000 mL
1000 mL
moles Borax × = mL of Stock Borax
moles Borax

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[Acid] Solution

3.1 × 10−3 mol Borax

25.00 mL of Dilute Borax solution × = 7.9 × 10−5 mol Borax
1000 mL
2 mol HCl
7.9 × 10−5 mol Borax × = 1.6 × 10−4 mol HCl
1 mol Borax

1.6 × 10−4 mol HCl

= [HCl]
VHCl

mol Borax
25.00 mL of Dilute Borax solution × = mol Borax
1000 mL
2 mol HCl
mol Borax × = mol HCl
1 mol Borax

mol HCl 1000 mL

× = MHCl
mL HCl 1L

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