Zaire Graham Chemistry Unit 1 (Lab 1)

PRACTICAL #1
DATE: _____________________________________________

Title - Acid-Carbonate Titration

Aim - To standardize a hydrochloric acid solution using a solution of sodium carbonate

Apparatus and Materials - burette, pipette, balance, conical flask, beakers, volumetric flask,
weighing bottle, hydrochloric acid (aq), methyl orange indicator, sodium carbonate, distilled
water, white tile, filter funnel

Method

1. 1.31g of Na2CO3 was weighed out.

2. Na2CO3 was added to a 250 cm3 volumetric flask up to the mark.

3. 25 cm3 of the HCl solution was pipetted into a conical flask and three drops of methyl
orange was added to the solution.

4. It was then titrated with Na2CO3 solution.

5. Titration was repeated until volumes obtained are within 0.1cm3 of each other

Results:

Initial Final Total Volume

Volume/cm3 Volume/cm3 Used/cm3

Rough Titration 2.1 32.3 30.2

Titration 1 0 30.1 30.1

Titration 2 5.6 35.7 30.1

Titration 3 4.8 35 30.2

Average volume of Na2CO3 = (30.2 + 30.1 + 30.1 + 30.2)/4

= 120.6/4
= 30.2 cm3
Calculations

1. Mass Concentration = Mass of Substance/Volume

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Zaire Graham Chemistry Unit 1 (Lab 1)

= 1.31 g/.25dm3

= 5.24 g/dm3

Mol of Substance = Mass/Molar Mass

= 1.31 g/106 g/mol

=.012 mol

Molar Concentration = Mol of Substance/Volume

= 0.012 mol/.250 dm3

= 0.048 mol/dm3

2. Number of Moles = Molar concentration*Volume

=.048 mol/dm3*.0302

=.00145 mol

3. 2HCl(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) 2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

4. Mol ratio of HCl:Na2CO3 is 2:1. Therefore if the number of mol of Na2CO3 in the reaction
is 0.00145 mol, then the amount of mol of HCl in the reaction is 2*0.00145 =.0029 mol

Hence, using this we can find the molarity of HCl

Molarity = Number of mol/volume

= 0.0029/.025

= 0.116 mol/dm3

5. A primary standard is a reagent which is a very pure, representative of the number of

moles the substance contains and is easily weighed. Three properties of a good primary
standard are high level of purity, low reactivity (very stable) and non-toxicity.

6. A secondary standard is a standard that is prepared in the laboratory for a specific

analysis. It is usually standardized against a primary standard.

Sources of Errors

Misreading of volumes

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Zaire Graham Chemistry Unit 1 (Lab 1)

Mistaken concentration

Limitations

Pipette was not washed with distilled water between measuring the titrate and the analyte.

Existence of air lock in the burette’s stopcock.

Precautions

Remove air bubble that is present in the nozzle of the burette before taking initial reading.

Keep your eye level with the liquid surface while taking the burette reading or while reading the
pipette or measuring flask.

Conclusions

The volume of a solution of Na2CO3 needed to standardize 25 cm3 of a 0.0029 mol HCl solution
is 30.2 cm3.