Experiment 2

Aim: To determine the molarity and strength of a given solution of dilute Hydrochloric acid by
titrating it against standard solution of Sodium carbonate solution (0.05 M).

Theory:
Hydrochloric acid solution may be titrated against sodium carbonate solution using methyl orange
indicator. When weak base is titrated with a strong acid, solution will be slightly acidic at end point. If
a weak acid is titrated with a strong base the solution is slightly basic because the salt formed will be
hydrolysed to a certain extent.
The chemical reactions involved in this titration are given below.
Na2CO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
or, CO32-(aq) + 2H+(aq) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)
In acid base titrations at the end point the amount of the acid becomes chemically equivalent to the
amount of base present. In case of a strong acid and a strong base titration at the end point of
solution the solution becomes neutral.

Materials Required
Burette, pipette, conical flask, burette stand, funnel, stirrer, White glazed tile, measuring flask,
hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, methyl orange, watch glass

Procedure
(a) Preparation of standard solution of sodium carbonate
Molecular weight of sodium carbonate = 106 g/mol. Amount of sodium carbonate required to prepare
solution of 100ml = 0.53 g. Dissolve 0.53 g of sodium carbonate in distilled water and prepare the
standard solution in 100ml of measuring flask by adding the required amount of water.

(b) Titration of hydrochloric acid and sodium carbonate solution

1. Wash, rinse and fill the burette with given HCl solution. Note the initial reading in the burette.
2. Take10 ml of 0.05 M Na2CO3 solution with the help of a pipette and transfer it into a clean
washed titration flask.
3. Add 2 drops of methyl orange into the titration flask.
4. Add HCl solution to the titration flask till the colour changes to the light red.
5. Note the final reading and find out the volume of HCl solution used to neutralize Na2CO3
solution.
6. Repeat the experiment till you get concordant readings.

Observation Table (**Write on left page of practical file)

Volume of Na2CO3 solution = 10 ml

S.No Initial reading of the Final reading of the Volume of Sodium carbonate solution
burette burette used.

1 a cm3 b cm3 (b-a) cm3

2 b cm3 c cm3 (c-b) cm3

3 c cm3 d cm3 (d-c) cm3

Calculations (**Write on left page of practical file)
According to chemical equation:

Na2CO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

1 mol of Na2CO3 requires 2 moles of HCl
𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝑪𝒍 𝟐
=
𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒅𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑵𝒂𝟐𝑪𝑶𝟑 𝟏
As, number of moles (n)=molarity (M) x volume (V)
𝑀(𝐻𝐶𝑙) 𝑥 𝑉(𝐻𝐶𝑙) 𝟐
So, 𝑀(𝑁𝑎2𝐶𝑂3) 𝑥 𝑉(𝑁𝑎2𝐶𝑂3)=𝟏
𝟐 𝒙 𝑴(𝑵𝒂𝟐𝑪𝑶𝟑)𝒙 𝑽(𝑵𝒂𝟐𝑪𝑶𝟑)
M(HCl)=
𝑽(𝑯𝑪𝒍)

M(HCl) =(2 x 0.05 x 10)/ (**V HCl= burette reading)

Strength of HCl solution= M(HCl) x mol. Wt . of HCl solution
Strength of HCl solution (g/L) = M(HCl) x 36.5
(**Calculate)
Result:
Molarity of given HCl solution is ____M
Strength of given HCl solution is _____g/L

Precautions
1. While weighing do not spill the substance on balance pan.
2. Wash the watch glass carefully so that even a single crystal is not left on the watch glass.
3. Bring the watch glass close to funnel while transferring weighed substance and transfer it gently.
Wash it repeatedly with distilled water.
3. Wash the burette with water after titration is over.
4. Last few drops should be added using pipette to avoid extra addition of distilled water above the
mark on the neck of the measuring flask.

Na2CO3 and methyl orange

(**Draw figure on left page)