TITRATION IN PRACTICE

Introduction
Titration is one of the most widely used techniques in analytical chemistry, and enables us
to find the concentration of an unknown solution by using a solution whose concentration we
do know.
To perform a titration, we accurately measure one of our solutions into a conical flask, and
slowly the second solution to it from a burette. When the end point of the reaction is
reached, we record the volume added. It is important to do several runs of a titration: the
first one is the rough one, you should then do enough accurate runs to get two consecutive
trials that agree to within 0.1 cm3. Your observations should be recorded in a table like this:
Run

Initial Volume
(cm3)

Final Volume
(cm3)

Titre (cm3)

Rough
Accurate 1
Accurate 2

The word titre means the amount of solution added in a titration.

A nice shortcut to solving the mathematics of titrations is to use the following equation:

C 1 V 1 C2 V 2
=
n1
n2
Where:
C = concentration in mol dm-3
V = volume (any units so long as they are the same)
n = coefficient (amount) of the reactant in the balanced equation
1 = the reactant with unknown concentration
2 = the reactant with known concentration
This rearranges to the following, which lets you calculate the unknown concentration, C 1:

C1 =

n1C2V 2
n2V 1

In this experiment you will be expected to perform an acid-base titration using the
standardized solution of sodium hydroxide.

Materials and Equipment

Burette
Clamp-stand and burette clamp
White tile
10 cm3 bulb-pippete (graduated pipette
OK)
Pipette filler
100 cm3 conical flask

NaOH solution (0.25-0.75 M)

Unknown sulphuric acid solution
Phenolpthalein indicator
Distilled water

Performing a Titration

TREAT ALL SOLUTIONS AS HARMFUL AND IN CASE OF SKIN CONTACT RINSE

THE AFFECTED AREA IMMEDIATELY
ACID-BASE TITRATION
1. Securely attach a burette to a clamp-stand, and place a white tile on the base to help
with identifying colour changes.
2. Run approximately 10 cm3 of your unknown sulphuric acid solution through the burette to
rinse it out, and dispose down the sink.
3. Making sure the tap is closed, fill the burette with the unknown sulphuric acid solution,
until slightly above the zero mark, and then adjust the volume until it reads exactly 0.00.
4. Using either a bulb-pipette, or a graduated pipette, add exactly 10.0 cm 3 of your
standardized sodium hydroxide solution to a conical flask, along with a good squirt of
phenolphthalein indicator.
5. Perform your rough titration.
a. Run the solution into the conical flask at a steady rate (about 0.5 cm 3) every 3-4
seconds
b. Swirl the conical flask in a continuous circular motion (dont shake it as this causes
splashes to form on the side making it less accurate)
c. Close the tap as soon as the pink colour of phenolphthalein disappears, and note
the final volume in the table, and calculate the titre.
d. Pour your waste into the sink, and rinse the conical flask with distilled water.
6. Perform your accurate titrations:
a. If you used less than 25 cm 3 it is not necessary to re-fill the burette, simply adjust
the volume to the nearest whole cm3 and record this in the table.
b. Run your solution into the flask rapidly until you are within 2 cm 3 and then stop.
c. Carefully open the tap, until you have about 1 drop every couple of seconds and
continue with great care.
d. When it looks like the reaction is very nearly at the end point, stop. Very carefully
add one drop at a time, swirling after each one. Done correctly, you should see the
colour change happen over 1-2 drops.
e. Note the final volume and calculate the titre.
f. Pour your waste into the sink, and rinse the conical flask with distilled water.
g. Repeat until you have two consecutive titres with 0.1 cm 3 or you have done five
accurate titrations.

Analysis
Acid-Base Titration
The equation for the acid-base reaction is as follows:
2 NaOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) Na2SO4(aq) + 2 H2O(l)
1. Calculate the average titre; this should be the average of your two closest runs
(excluding the rough).
2. Use the equations in the introduction to determine the concentration of sulphuric acid
used.
3. The actual concentration of sulphuric acid provided was 0.100 molar. Calculate the
percentage error in your result (this is just the difference between yours and the actual
concentration, divided by the actual concentration and converted to %)
4. What do you think are the main sources of error in the experiment, and which was most
significant?
5. What could you do to reduce these sources of error?