Laboratory Experiment 5: Neutralization Titration

Venus Alingod, Jaybee Cabaddu, Criselda Cariño, Kleeve Aidan Malana,

Johndy Malsit, Joemar Subong, Noreen Tannagan, William Teves, Jr.
BSChE I, Cagayan State University – Carig Campus

Abstract
A strong base of known concentration (0.25 N NaOH) was titrated with a
strong acid (0.25 N HCl). By using phenolphthalein as an indicator, the
volume of HCl needed to neutralize the NaOH with known concentration was
60 mL. Afterwards, the neutralized solution was heated to produce the by
product which was the salt.

I. Introduction
Titration of a strong acid with a strong base is the simplest of the four
types of titrations as it involves a strong acid and strong base that completely
dissociate in water, thereby resulting in a strong acid-strong base
neutralization reaction. This titration requires the use of a buret to dispense a
strong base into a container of strong acid, or vice-versa, in order to
determine the equivalence point. The purpose of a strong acid-strong base
titration is to determine the concentration of the acidic solution by titrating it
with a basic solution of known concentration, or vice versa, until neutralization
occurs.
Furthermore, titration is a sensitive analytical method that lets you
determine an unknown concentration of a chemical in solution by introducing
a known concentration of another chemical. Several factors can cause errors
in titration findings, including misreading volumes, mistaken concentration
values or faulty technique. Care must be taken as the solution of the known
concentration is introduced into a specific volume of the unknown through
laboratory glassware such as a burette or pipette. Indicators are used to
determine when a reaction has come to an end.
Misreading the Volume - the accuracy of titration requires precise
measurement of the volume of materials in use. But markings on a burette
can be easily misread. One way to misread the volume is by looking at the
measurement on an angle. From above, it can seem like the volume is lower,
while from below, the apparent volume looks higher. Another source of
measurement error is looking at the wrong spot. A solution forms a concave
curve and the bottom of the curve is used to measure the volume. If the
reading is taken from the higher sections of the curve, the volume
measurement will be in error.
End Point Error - the end point of a titration is when the reaction
between the two solutions has stopped. Indicators, which change color to
indicate when the reaction has stopped, do not change instantly. In the case
of acid-base titration, the indicator may first lighten in color before changing
completely. Also, each individual perceives color slightly differently, which
affects the outcome of the experiment. If the color has changed slightly, too
much of the titrant, which comes from the burette, can be introduced into the
solution, overshooting results.
Concentrations errors - in concentrations directly affect the measurement
accuracy. Errors include using the wrong concentration to begin with, which
can occur from chemical decomposition or evaporation of fluids. The solution
may have been prepared incorrectly or contaminatns could have been
introduced into the solution, such as using dirty equipment. Even the process
of cleaning your equipment, if carried out with the wrong solution, can affect
the concentrations of the solutions to be experimented on.
Using the Equipment Incorrectly - you must follow strict guidelines in
handling and using all equipment during the experiment as the slightest
mistake can create errors in the findings. For example, swirling the solution
can result in loss of solution that will affect results. Errors in filling the burette
can cause air bubbles that affect the flow of the liquid in the burette.
Other Errors - other human or equipment errors can also creep in.
Human error includes using selecting the wrong reagents or using the wrong
amount of indicator. Equipment error typically is in the burette, which can
develop leaks over time. Even a small loss of fluid will affect the results of the
titration.

Objectives of the Experiment

 The experiment aimed to neutralize a base with known concentration
through titration. Specifically, the experiment aimed to attain the following
objectives:
1. Prepare 0.25N NaOH and 0.25N HCl
2. Neutralize the strong base (NaOH) with a strong acid (HCl).
3. Produce the byproduct of the titration of NaOH and HCl which are the
water and salt.

II. Materials
The chemical reagents used in the experiment are:
 0.25N NaOH and 0.25N HCl – these two chemical reagents were used
in the entire Neutralization Titration experiment.
 Phenolphthalein – this indicator was used to determine whether the
base/acid titrated is already at its equivalent point. Phenolphthalein
changes in color from colorless to light pink.
The materials used in the experiment were:
 Buret - a graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, we used it for
delivering known volumes of a liquid in titrations.
 Erlenmeyer Flask- a flask that had a flat bottom with a tapered neck.
This was used to hold the base used in the titration experiment.
 Beaker – was used to aid pouring of the chemical reagents.
 Medicine Dropper – was used to draw small amount of Phenolphthalein
into the chemical reagent before the titration has begun.
 Burner – used to heat the neutralized solution to produce the byproduct
which was the salt.
 Evaporting Dish – it was used to hold the solution on the process of
evaporating the neutralized solution.

III. Procedure
25 NaOH was titrate against the 0.25N HCl until the end
point, indicated by a change in color of the solution, from fuchsia
to a very light pink that faded to colorless.
The volume of the titrating solution used was recorded.
An empty evaporating dish was weighed.
 Neutralized solution was transferred into the evaporating
dish.
The solution was heated to complete the dryness.
The hot evaporating dish with the residue in a dessicator
was left for a moment to cool it off..
The evaporating dish with the residue 10 weighed.
Afterwards, the % salt and % water was calculated.A 50-ml of
0.25N NaOH was measured into an erlenmeyer flask. Then two
drops of phenolphthalein indicator was added to it.
A clean buret was filled with the titrating solution which was
the 0.25N HCl up to the index mark.
0.

IV. Results and Discussions

Table 1. Concentration of prepared HCl solution to be standardized

Volume of concentrated HCl 10.4 mL
Concentration of concentrated HCl 12 N
Volume of diluted HCl 500 mL
Concentration of diluted HCl 0.25 N

Table 2. Concentration of prepared NaOH solution to be standardized

Mass of NaOH 10 g
Volume of solution 1000mL
Concentration of solution 0.25 N

Tables 1 and 2 show that prepared HCl and NaOH solutions has a
concentration of 0.25 N. The true concentration of the prepared solutions
might not be exactly 0.25 N. This is due to the fact that no reagent is 100
percent pure. Systematic errors may also be the reasons like, the analytical
balance used was not calibrated and of limited accuracy of ±0.1 g, the
volumetric flasks and pipet were not calibrated, the effect of temperature was
not taken into account, some of the reagents were not fully transferred to the
volumetric flasks, parallax in reading the meniscus, NaOH is hygroscopic,
absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere during the preparation and transfer of
liquids. Hence, these solutions were subjected to standardization.

Table 3. Concentration of NaOH determined through standardization with 0.5

g KHP
Titrations
1st 2nd 3rd
Moles of KHP 2.448 × 10-3 2.448 × 10-3 2.448 × 10-3
Volume of NaOH added (mL) 11.68 11.12 10.60
Standardized concentration 0.2096 0.2202 0.2310
NaOH (N)
Confidence interval of the
0.2203 ± 0.07 N
standard concentration of NaOH
Percent error (%) 11.88 %

Equivalence Point
(9.8 mL, pH 9.006)

Figure 1. Theoretical Titration Curve of 0.5 g KHP with 0.25 N NaOH

 Equivalence Point
(11.13 mL, pH 9.006)

Figure 2. Actual Titration Curve of 0.5 g KHP with 0.2203 N NaOH

The table above shows the results obtained in the titration of the
prepared NaOH against the KHP. The amount of titrant used has a mean of
11.13 mL which yield a concentration of 0.2203 ± 0.07 N which is 11.88%
away from the desired concentration of 0.25 N. Based on the theoretical
titration curve in Figure 1, the amount of NaOH titrant should be 9.8 mL to
achieve the desired concentration. The error can be attributed to many
factors like impurity of the reagent, contamination, over titration, uncalibrated
and low accuracy analytical balance, uncalibrated the volumetric flasks and
pipet, the effect of temperature was not taken into account, some of the
reagents were not fully transferred to the volumetric flasks, personal error in
reading volumes and volumetric transfers, hygroscopic nature of NaOH and
reaction to atmospheric CO2, and the method of storage of the solution.
According to Bell-Young (2017), basic solutions can react with carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere and react with glass. Thus, they are better stored in
plastic or polyethylene bottles. To minimize these sources of errors, use more
trials and compare to check if there is over titration, clean and calibrated
equipment and glassware must be used, weighing bottles with covers must be
used to minimize the absorption of moisture of NaOH from the atmosphere,
the solution must be boiled, consider the effect of temperature in computing
the concentration of solution, extra care must be done in volumetric transfers
and reading of volumes, and store the solution in a plastic container.
Though the identified concentration is a tad discrepant with the desired
concentration, the results are near to each other with a standard error of 0.07
N. Hence, it can be considered that the results are acceptable.

V. Conclusion
This experiment aimed to prepare HCl and NaOH solution and
standardize the NaOH solution. The theoretical concentrations of the
prepared solutions are 0.25 N. Through standardization with KHP, the actual
concentration of the prepared NaOH solution was 0.2203 N.

Answers to questions
1. A solution of HCl was standardized against 1.35 g of pure Na 2CO3. As
indicated by the methyl orange, 0.15 N of HCl was prepared. Calculate
the volume of the acid solution.

2. In standardizing a solution of H2SO4, 42.8 mL of acid was determined to

be equivalent to 1.215 g CaCO3. What is the normality of the acid?
 3. Forty-point-five milliliters (40.5 mL) of a 0.35 N NaOH was used to
standardize against potassium acid phthalate (KHC 4H4O6). Calculate the
weight of the acid solute, KHC4H4O6.
NaOH (aq) + KHC4H4O6 (aq) → KNaC4H4O6 (aq) + H2O(l)

References:

Bell-Young, L. (2017). Why are chemicals stored in plastics? Retrieved May

20, 2019, from https://www.reagent.co.uk/plastic-containers-storing-
chemicals/.
Harris, D. (2010). Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 8 th Ed. New York: W. H.
Freeman and Company. ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-1815-3.

Llapitan, C. P. (2019). Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Manual.

Skoog, D. A., West, D. M., Holler, F. J. & Crouch, S. R. (2014). Fundamentals

of Analytical Chemistry, 9th Ed. CA, USA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage
Learning. ISBN-13: 978-0-495-55828-6.
 Appendices
Appendix A: Sample Calculation in Standardization of NaOH
Solving for the Moles of NaOH:
Given: wt KHP = 0.5 g; FW KHP = 204.2283 g/mol
Solution:

mol NaOH = 0.5g KHP ×

= 2.448×10-3 mol NaOH

Solving for the Concentration of Standardized NaOH:

Given: mol NaOH= 2.448×10-3 mol; volume of titrant = 11.12 ml
Solution:

MNaOH=

= .2202 M NaOH

Appendix B: Excel Data in Constructing Titration Curves