Acid-Base Titration Lab
Introduction
In chemistry laboratory, it is sometimes necessary to experimentally determine the concentration of an unknown
acid or base solution. A procedure for making this kind of determination is called an acid-base titration. In this laboratory
process, a solution of known concentration, called the standard solution, is carefully added to a solution of unknown
concentration until the mixture becomes neutral. The neutral point of the solution is recognized by an indicator’s color
change. If the unknown solution is acidic, then the standard solution will be basic. The opposite would be true if the
unknown solution was basic.
We know that the mixing of equal amounts of acid and base ions will create neutral water. At the molecular level,
this reaction can be illustrated with the following equation.
H+ + OH- H2O
(acid) (base)
This equation states that one mole of hydrogen ions (acid) will neutralize one mole of hydroxide ions (base). Since we can
exactly measure the moles of the standard solution, we can assume that the moles of the solution of unknown concentration
will be the same at the neutral point. This is called the end-point of the titration. Using the equation MaVa = MbVb, we can use
the experimental data from the titration to find the unknown concentration.
Objective: In this experiment the unknown solution will be HCl(aq) and the standard solution will be the base sodium
hydroxide. You will know the concentration of the base and the volume of the acid and base used. With this information you
can use the titration formula to calculate the concentration of the acid. The diagram below shows the set up.
Swirl the flask continuously until one drop of titrant causes a color change to remain.
A white sheet of paper can be placed under the flask to help you recognize the color change at the end-point.
Pre Lab
1. Define the following words:
Titration- ___________________________________________________________
Endpoint- ___________________________________________________________
Neutralization- _______________________________________________________
2. Write the neutralization reaction for HCl reacting with NaOH.
3. What is the pH of the solution at the end point of the titration?
Procedure
1. Add 10 mL of unknown concentration of HCl to your flask. Record the volume of acid on your data form.
2. Add about 50 mL of DI water to your flask, then add the Phenolpthalein Indicator (1-3 drops).
3. Record on your data form the initial volume of base in the burette.
4. You will now start adding base (0.250M NaOH) from the burette into the flask to neutralize the acid. The flask is
gently swirled as the base is added. A pink color should appear as the base is added, but it will disappear as the
flask is swirled. The end-point of the titration will be reached when 1 drop of base makes the solution turn and
stay pink.
5. Record the final volume of base from the burette that was needed to neutralize the acid.
6. Repeat for 3 Trials.
Data
Standard solution: NaOH concentration 0.25 M
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
volume of HCl
used (Va)
initial NaOH
burette reading
final NaOH
buret reading
volume of
NaOH used (Vb)
Calculations (Show all work and remember your units and significant figures!)
Determine the Molarity (concentration) of HCl using the data you collected and the titration formula. (The concentration of
the NaOH used was 0.250M) Record your answer for each trail.
Percent Error
If the actual concentration of the HCl was 0.333M, what is your percent error?
Post-lab Questions
1. Describe the function of the phenolphthalein in this experiment. How would this experiment be different if you
had forgotten to add the phenolphthalein?
2. State evidence from the lab that the endpoint was reached.
3. It takes 75.0ml of a 2.50M HCl solution to neutralize 55.0ml of a base of unknown concentration. Calculate the
concentration of an unknown basic solution.
4. Environmental studies usually involve an analysis of precipitation and its response to pollution. To quantify the
degree of contamination in natural rain water or snow, titration is used. The process is quick and results are
reliable. Since most titration processes do not require expensive or specialized equipment, the test can be
performed often and in different areas with relatively little effort.
a. A 1000.0 mL sample of lake water is titrated using 0.100 mL of a 0.100 M base solution.
What is the molarity of the acid in the lake water? Show all work.
b. Based on the molarity of the acid calculated above, what is the pH of the lake water?
