Kianna Greene

Experiment #10

Date: 18/03/2024

Title:Back Titration: Analysis of a Commercial Antacid

Aim:to assess the effectiveness of a commercial antacid containing magnesium

hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) in neutralizing hydrochloric acid (HCl) using a back titration
method.

Materials:
● 125 mL conical flask
● 50.00 mL of 0.1 M HCl
● 25.00 mL pipet
● 25 ml tablet of milk of magnesia
● Burette
● 0.1 M NaOH
● Phenolphthalein indicator

Procedure:

Analysis of Antacid Tablets:

In pairs:
1. In a 125 mL conical flask, 50.00 mL of 0.1 M HCl was pipetted using a 25.00 mL
pipet.
2. A 25 ml tablet of milk of magnesia was taken.
3. The milk of magnesia was dissolved in the acid in the conical flask and boiled for 2
minutes.
4. 0.1 M NaOH was added to the burette, with the instructor showing how to prepare and
read the burette.
5. After boiling, 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added to the conical flask. An
acidic solution would normally be clear at this point; however, since milk of magnesia
was used, it was a colored solution.
6. Titration was then ready to proceed. NaOH was slowly added from the burette while
constantly swirling the conical flask.
7. Titration continued until the solution remained pink for 30 seconds, which indicated
the end-point of the titration.
8. The final volume of the burette was recorded.
9. This process was repeated for 3 more trials.
Kianna Greene

Observations/Calculations:

Write a balanced equation between the acid and alkali.

HCl + NaOH→ NaCl +H₂O

1. Using the volume of NaOH used, and the .10M NaOH concentration, calculate
the number of moles of NaOH used for each titration of a tablet.

𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 × 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
Moles: 1000

NaOH volume= 31.80ml NaOH concentration=0.1mol/ml3

0.1 𝑥 31.80
1000
= 0.0031 mol / 3.18 × 10 -3 mol

2. Calculate the moles of excess HCl which reacted with the NaOH in the titration.

𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 × 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
Moles: 1000
HCl concentration= 0.1mol/ml3 HCl volume= 100ml

1.10 x 100/1000 = 1 x 10 -3 mol

3. Calculate the total number of moles of HCl you added at the beginning, using the
50.0 mL volume and the .10M HCl concentration.

HCl + NaOH→ NaCl +H₂O

Initial moles of acid= 1x10-2 NaOh moles= 3.18 x 10-3 moles

1x10-2 moles - 3.18 x 10-3 moles

= 6.82×10-3 moles (HCI reacted with analyte)

4. Subtract the moles of excess HCl from the initial number of moles of HCl added
to the tablet to give the number of moles of acid which reacted with the milk of
magnesia.
Kianna Greene

Milk of Magnesia:
1000 mg =1g
1200 mg = 1.2g = 15 m1 of Milk of Magnesia

5. Write a balanced equation between magnesium hydroxide and HCL.

Mg(OH)₂ + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂O

6. Calculate the number of moles of magesium hydroxide that reacted with your
extra acid using your reaction above.

Mg(OH)₂ + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂O

1 : 2
3.41 x 10-3 moles : 6.82×10-3 moles

Since is a 1:2 mole ratio the number of moles of MgOH is 3.41 x 10 -3 (2) = 6.82 x 10 -3
mol

7. Calculate the percentage of magnesium hydroxide in the sample.

Mass of Mg(OH)₂:
Formula for mass= Moles × Molar Mass
Molar Mass= 24 (16+1) 2= 58 g mol Moles= 3.4 x10 -3 moles

3.4x10 -3 mol x 58 g mol = 0.197g

197 mg
What they said was used= 1200mg 18ml
197/1200mg × 100= 16.41%
Kianna Greene

Discussion/Questions:

1. How did your value for the mass of MgOH per tablet compare to the value
of 1200mg given on the label?
The value of 1200 mg (or 18 ml, assuming density is 1 g/ml) provided on the
label compares fairly to the estimated value of 16.41% for the mass of magnesium
hydroxide per tablet. Due to experimental variables, such as insufficient
dissolution of tablets or handling losses, there may be small deviations.
Differences between the computed and labeled values may also be caused by
variations in tablet composition and manufacturing techniques. Nonetheless, the
computed percentage is contained within a respectable range of the stated number,
suggesting that the experiment yielded a fair assessment of the magnesium
hydroxide concentration in the pills.

2. What error in the laboratory could have affected your results.

One potential source of error in the laboratory that could affect the results is
incomplete dissolution of the milk of magnesia tablets. If the tablets are not completely
dissolved in the hydrochloric acid solution, it could lead to inaccuracies in the
determination of the amount of acid neutralized by the antacid. This could result in an
underestimation of the effectiveness of the antacid in neutralizing the acid, affecting the
accuracy of the calculated percentage of magnesium hydroxide present. To minimize this
error, thorough mixing and boiling of the solution should be ensured to facilitate
complete dissolution of the tablets.
Another potential error in the laboratory could stem from evaporation of the
solution during the boiling process. Boiling the solution to dissolve the milk of magnesia
tablets could result in the loss of solvent through evaporation, leading to a higher
concentration of acid in the solution than intended. This could affect the accuracy of the
titration results, as the actual amount of acid present would be higher than expected,
resulting in an overestimation of the effectiveness of the antacid in neutralizing the acid.
To minimize this error, it's important to cover the conical flask during the boiling process
to prevent excessive evaporation and ensure accurate measurement of the acid
concentration. Additionally, maintaining a controlled temperature during the experiment
can help mitigate the effects of evaporation on the results.

3. Some commercial antacids are colored. How might this be a problem in

our analysis?
During a titration, the endpoint is typically detected by a color change indicator.
In this case, a phenolphthalein indicator is used, which changes color from colorless to
pink as the solution shifts from acidic to basic. However, if the antacid solution itself is
colored, it can interfere with the observation of this color change, making it difficult to
accurately determine the endpoint of the titration. Imagine the antacid solution has a light
pink color due to its inherent properties or additives. As the titrant (NaOH) is added drop
by drop, it may initially be challenging to discern the subtle color change from the
phenolphthalein indicator against the background color of the solution. The presence of
the antacid's color could mask or distort the indicator's color change, leading to ambiguity
in identifying the endpoint accurately.
Kianna Greene

As a result, the titration might be prematurely stopped or continued past the actual
endpoint, leading to errors in determining the exact amount of NaOH required to
neutralize the excess acid. This, in turn, affects the precision and reliability of the results
obtained from the titration.

4. Some antacids contain a different active ingredient. If our antacid contained

an Al (OH)3, then what mass of Al(OH)3 would have to be present to neutralize the
same amount of HCl as 1200 mg of MgOH? What can you say about the relative
neutralizing power of each of these compounds?

The Mass of Mg(OH)₂ neutralized = 1200 mg

Mass of Al(OH)₃ required to neutralize the same amount of HCl

Relative molar masses:

Mg(OH)₂: 58 g/mol

Relative molar mass of Al(OH)₃ = (1 × Al) + (3 × O) + (3 × H)

= (1 × 26.98) + (3 × 16.00) + (3 × 1.00)

= 26.98 + 48.00 + 3.03 = 78.01 g/mol

Moles of Mg(OH)₂ neutralized = (1200 mg) / (58 g/mol) = 20.6 mol

Moles of HCl neutralized = Moles of Mg(OH)₂ neutralized and is a 1:2 reaction

Mass of Al(OH)₃ = Moles of HCl neutralized × Molar mass of Al(OH)₃

= (3.448 mol) × (78 g/mol)

=1613.79 g

Mass of Al(OH)₃ required =1613.79 g

Mass of Mg(OH)₂ used = 1200 mg

Kianna Greene

Therefore, compared to Mg(OH)₂, a substantially larger mass of Al(OH)₃ is needed to

neutralize the same quantity of HCl, suggesting that Mg(OH)₂ has a higher neutralizing

power per unit mass.

Limitations/Sources of error/Precautions:

Limitations:
● Complete dissolution of the milk of magnesia tablets might be challenging,
affecting the accuracy of the titration results.
● Variability in tablet composition and storage conditions could lead to inconsistent
neutralization reactions.
● Precise endpoint determination may be hindered by the presence of colored
additives in the antacid, potentially causing errors in the titration process.

Precautions:
● Ensure thorough mixing and boiling of the solution to facilitate complete
dissolution of the tablets.
● Store tablets in optimal conditions and use tablets within their expiration date to
maintain consistency in the experiment.
● Dilute colored antacid solutions if necessary to improve visibility of the titration
endpoint and minimize interference from color additives.

Sources of Error:
● Evaporation during boiling could result in concentration variations, impacting the
accuracy of acid neutralization.
● Inaccurate measurement of reagents, such as misreading burette volumes, may
introduce systematic errors.
● Human judgment in detecting the titration endpoint, particularly in colored
solutions, could lead to subjective interpretations and errors in endpoint
determination.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the experiment aimed to assess the effectiveness of a commercial
antacid containing magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) in neutralizing hydrochloric acid
(HCl). By conducting back titration and subsequent calculations, it was determined that
the antacid tablets contained approximately 16.41% magnesium hydroxide. This value,
though slightly lower than the labeled amount of 1200 mg, falls within an acceptable
range considering potential experimental variations. Limitations such as incomplete
Kianna Greene

dissolution of tablets and potential errors from solution evaporation were noted,
emphasizing the importance of careful experimental procedures. Additionally, the
presence of color in some antacids and the relative neutralizing power of different active
ingredients, exemplified by the comparison between Mg(OH)2 and Al(OH)3, were
discussed as factors influencing the accuracy of the analysis. Despite these
considerations, the experiment provided valuable insights into the composition and
efficacy of the antacid tablets in neutralizing stomach acid, contributing to our
understanding of acid-base reactions and pharmaceutical formulations.