SETTING THE STAGE

Lydia and Milena of MYP 5 (very clumsy and not the best chemists in the world)
accidentally diluted sulphuric acid (H2SO4) which had been carefully prepared by the
world-renowned chemists Gabriel and Simon.
Instead of getting rid of this acid, Arjan and Kazuma (also questionable chemists)
suggested that maybe the best solution would be to make a standard solution of 1.0
mol/dm3 KOH in the lab and use this standard solution to titrate and determine the
concentration of the sulphuric acid.
Research Question:
What is the concentration of an unknown solution of H2SO4 as measured by titrating
the acid against 1.0 mol/dm3 KOH and phenolphthalein indicator?

Aim: Plan a lab experiment to first make a 250 cm3 standard solution of 1.0 mol/dm3
KOH and then use this standard solution to determine the concentration of an
unknown solution of H2SO4 using the titration technique
Background Information:
The aim of the experiment is to determine the concentration of an unknown solution
which is H2SO4.
An acid is a substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solutions.
Examples of acids include hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and acetic
acid (CH3COOH).A base, also known as an alkali, is a substance that accepts
hydrogen ions in aqueous solutions. There is no difference between the terms "base"
and "alkali."1 Examples of bases include sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium
hydroxide (KOH).A standard solution is a solution with a known concentration. It is
used as a reference in titration. The standard solution that will be used in this
experiment is potassium hydroxide (KOH). An indicator is a substance that changes
color depending on the acidity of a solution. Phenolphthalein is an example of an
indicator. It is colorless in acidic solutions and pink in basic solutions.A neutralisation
reaction is a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base react to form salt and
water. A well-balanced chemical equation for the neutralization reaction between
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and KOH (potassium hydroxide) is H2SO4 + 2KOH → K2SO4
+ 2H2O.The method that I’ll use to find out the concentration of H2SO4 is Titration.
Titration is a laboratory technique used to determine the concentration of an
unknown solution. It involves adding a known concentration of a solution (called a
titrant) to the unknown solution until a chemical reaction is complete. The point at
which the reaction is complete is indicated by an indicator. The concentration of an
unknown solution can be determined by this technique, the process of titration. The

1
“8 Differences between Alkali and Base-Alkali vs Base,” Master Chemistry, January 16, 2023,
https://themasterchemistry.com/differences-between-alkali-and-base/.
volume of titrant added and the concentration of the titrant can be used to calculate
the concentration of the unknown solution.2

Equipment/Chemical List:

Name of Apparatus/chemical Volume/Mass/size? Quantity

Burette 50 cm3 1

Heatproof mat - 1

Phenolphthalein 10cm3 1 bottle

Pipette 10ml +- 0.02ml 1

Potassium Hydroxide: Koh 14g 1

conical flask 50ml 1

Clamps stands and clamps Lab size 1

Spatula Lab size 1

Volumetric flask 250ml +- 0.15ml 1

0.01g digital scale - 1

Distilled water 250ml 1

Pipette filler 10 +- 0.02ml 1

Sulphuric Acid : H2SO4 50 ml 1

Funnel With a small tip that 1

can fit in the flasks

2
Microlit, “What Is a Burette: What Is a Tiration: Types, Functions, Reading & Uses,” Microlit, April 7,
2022,
https://www.microlit.us/e-burette-product-guide/#:~:text=Burette%20is%20a%20laboratory%20apparat
us,resolution%2C%20and%20accuracy%20of%20dispensing.
Variables:

Independent Unit Apparatus ranges

variable

Dependent Unit Apparatus ranges

variable

Concentration of mol/dm3
KOH

Derived variable Unit Apparatus ranges

The concentration mol/dm3 - -

of H2SO4

Control Variable

Variable How will it impact your How will you control it

results

The volume of acid Using more or less acid will A pipette will be used to
( H2SO4) impact the volume of alkali measure 10 cm3 of acid in
(KOH) needed to neutralize each experiment
it

The concentration Titrating with different Used the same standard

of alkali concentrations of KOH will solution of 1.0 mol/dm3 KOH
impact the moles of H2SO4 made in the lab
needed to neutralise it

The temperature of The temperature needs to I’ll keep the exact same
the solutions during be the same for every try environment to titrate and I’ll
the lab
 because it might impact the use chemicals kept in the
reaction. same containers.

The stirring or It can affect the rate of I’ll agitate the conical flask
agitation reaction between the two constantly so that the reaction
solutions because the takes place uniformly.
reaction may not occur
uniformly in the container if
it is not agitated correctly.

Method:
Method 1: Make a standard solution of 250cm3 of 1.0 mol/dm3
1. Get the 250 cm3 volumetric flask.

2. Weigh out a known amount of KOH (potassium hydroxide) using the 0.01g
digital scale. To do that, you'll use the spatula to be as precise as possible.

3. The exact mass will depend on the desired concentration of the solution. For
a 1.0 mol/dm3 solution, you need exactly 14g of KOH.

4. Carefully transfer the KOH to the volumetric flask.

5. Add about 250 cm3 of distilled water to the flask.

6. Swirl the flask to dissolve the KOH in the water.

7. And now you have a standard base solution of 250cm3 of 1mol/dm3 KOH

No diagram needed for the method one as it is quite clear and makes and it is only
weighing chemicals to add in distilled water.

Method 2: Titration

1: First of all, set up the experiment as shown in the diagram below. Do not fill
anything yet.
2: Fill up the burette with the base solution until it reaches the mark 0ml on the
readings of the burette. Use the funnel to not spread chemicals everywhere
3: Using the pipette, take 10ml of the acid solution and pour it into the conical flask.

4:Add exactly one drop of the indicator, phenolphthalein, to the acid solution to
indicate the endpoint of the titration.

5:Slowly add the base solution, with the help of a burette, to the acid solution while
stirring constantly.

6:Record the volume of base solution added at regular intervals.

7:Observe the color change of the indicator and stop the titration when the color
changes from colorless to light pink, indicating the endpoint has been reached.

8: Record the final volume of base solution added.

9: Do this 5 times and use the calculations with the formula

moles= concentration * Volume to find the concentration of the unknown solution
H2SO4. 3

Diagram of setup:

3
“Titration Lab Report - about the Lab Tiration - Titration Lab Report Aim to Find the Concentration,”
Studocu, accessed January 28, 2023,
https://www.studocu.com/en-gb/document/university-of-central-lancashire/introduction-to-chemistry/titr
ation-lab-report-about-the-lab-tiration/29518240.
 4

Safety concern:
As H2SO4 is a corrosive acid, you have to avoid any contact with it. So wear
chemical safety goggles, face shield, chemical protective gloves, clothes and boots. 5

Bibliography:

“8 Differences between Alkali and Base-Alkali vs Base.” Master

Chemistry, January 16, 2023.
https://themasterchemistry.com/differences-between-alkali-and-base/.

4
“Draw Lab Diagrams. Simply.,” Chemix, accessed January 28, 2023, https://chemix.org/.
5
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Government of Canada, “Sulfuric Acid : Osh
Answers,” Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, January 27, 2023,
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/sulfuric_acid.html#:~:text=What%20Perso
nal%20Protective%20Equipment%20.
“Draw Lab Diagrams. Simply.” Chemix. Accessed January 28, 2023.
https://chemix.org/.

Government of Canada, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and

Safety. “Sulfuric Acid : Osh Answers.” Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health and Safety, January 27, 2023.
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/sulfuric_acid.
html#:~:text=What%20Personal%20Protective%20Equipment%20(PPE,e.g.
%20gloves%2C%20aprons%2C%20boots.

Microlit. “What Is a Burette: What Is a Tiration: Types, Functions, Reading

& Uses.” Microlit, April 7, 2022.
https://www.microlit.us/e-burette-product-guide/#:~:text=Burette%20is%2
0a%20laboratory%20apparatus,resolution%2C%20and%20accuracy%20of
%20dispensing.

“Titration Lab Report - about the Lab Tiration - Titration Lab Report Aim to
Find the Concentration.” Studocu. Accessed January 28, 2023.
https://www.studocu.com/en-gb/document/university-of-central-lancashir
e/introduction-to-chemistry/titration-lab-report-about-the-lab-tiration/2951
8240.