IGCSE Chemistry

Chemistry Calculations D

26 Titration Calculations
Measuring the concentration of a solution
Concentration of a solution can be measured in two ways:
grams per cubic decimetre (litre)

- gdm-3

Concentration = mass of substance (g)

Volume of solution (dm3)
mols per cubic decimetre (litre)

- moldm-3

Concentration = moles of substance (g)

Volume of solution (dm3)

C=n
v
(1) Find the concentrations of the following in grams per cubic decimetre
a) A solution containing 2.1 grams of NaHCO3 in 2 litres

b) A solution containing 5 grams of K2CO3 in 5000 cm3

c) A solution containing 120 grams of H2CO3 in 250 cm3

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d) A solution containing 2.5 Kilograms of Na2S2O3 in 1000000 cm3

e) A solution containing 2 tonnes of HCl gas dissolved in 2000 litres of water

(2) Convert the above concentrations to mols per cubic decimetre

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Calculations from equations involving solutions

(1) Ca(HCO3)2 decomposes when heated to form calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide
and water. The equation for this reaction is as follows:
Ca(HCO3)2 (aq)

CaCO3 (s) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Calculate the mass of calcium carbonate which could be formed when 100dm3 of
0.002 moldm-3 Ca(HCO3)2 decomposes.

(2) Lime scale (CaCO3) can be removed from electric kettles by reacting it with
dilute ethanoic acid. The equation for this reaction is as follows:
CaCO3 (s) + 2CH3COOH (aq)

(CH3COO)2Ca (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

What mass of lime scale can be removed by 50cm3 of a solution containing

2moldm-3 of ethanoic acid? (RAMs: C = 12; O = 16; Ca = 40)

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Calculations from titrations

Titrations are done to find the concentration of a given solution using another
solution with known concentration and volume.
(1) List the equipment used when carrying out a titration.

(2) Explain how a titration is carried out.

A solution of the alkali is measured into a conical flask using a pipette. The acid is
run in from the burette swirling the flask constantly. Towards the end, the acid
is run in a drop at a time until the indicator just changes colour.
Note : When the titration is repeated, the average of the concordant results
are taken. Not all results are used to calculate the average. Concordant
results are the results that differ by 0.10 cm3
-

Calculations

a) Calculate the concentration of HCl when 23.5cm3 of dilute HCl is required to

neutralise 25.0 cm3 of 0.100 moldm-3 Sodium Hydroxide.

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b) 25cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution of unknown concentration was titrated

with dilute sulphuric acid of concentration 0.050 moldm-3. 20.0 cm3 of the
acid was required to neutralise the alkali. Find the concentration of the
sodium hydroxide.

c) Washing soda crystals have the formula Na2CO3.n H2O.

28.6 g of washing soda crystals were dissolved in pure water. More pure
water was added to make the total volume of the solution up to 1000 cm3. A
25.0 cm3 sample of this solution was neutralised by 40.0 cm3 of
0.125 moldm-3 hydrochloric acid using methyl orange as indicator.
Na2CO3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq)

2NaCl (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

(RAMs: H = 1; C = 12; O = 16; Na = 23)

I.

Calculate the concentration of the sodium carbonate solution in moles of

sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) per cubic decimetre.

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II.

Calculate the mass of Na2CO3 and mass of water in the washing soda
crystals, and use those results to find a value for n in the formula
Na2CO3.n H2O

d) Calculate the volume of 0.100 moldm-3 sodium hydrogen carbonate solution

needed to neutralise 20.0 cm3 of 0.125 moldm-3 hydrochloric acid.
NaHCO3 (aq) + HCl (aq)

NaCl (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

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e) A student was making up a solution of sodium hydroxide by dissolving 8.0 g

of sodium hydroxide in water. Unfortunately, the beaker broke and the
solution spilled onto the bench. All he had in hand to neutralise it was some
0.50 moldm-3 Sulphuric acid. What is the minimum volume of acid that he
would have to use?
2NaOH (aq) + H2SO4 (aq)

Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l)

(RAMs: H = 1; O = 16; Na = 23)

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