2/23/2020 IB Chemistry: Acid-base titrations

Acid-base titrations
A traditional acid-base titration

Information & rationale

Before giving this experiment I usually get the students to do a simple acid base titration to introduce
them to the correct technique of titration. The experiment is usually to determine the concentration of a
solution of sodium hydroxide (about 0.1 mol dm-3) using 0.100 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid. Students
learn about the importance of rinsing out the equipment etc. beforehand and obtaining precise and
accurate results. I also introduce the ideas of uncertainty and how they can use the uncertainty written
on the apparatus to work out the total percentage uncertainty. I will then ask them what other
assumptions they have made and hopefully one of them will come up with ‘trusting’ the technician who
has made up the concentration of the sodium hydroxide to be exactly 0.100 mol dm-3. In theory a simple
acid base titration is all that is necessary to cover the mandatory laboratory components stated in
Topic 1.3 Reacting masses and volumes. "Use of the experimental method of titration to calculate the
concentration of a solution by reference to a standard solution." and also in Topics 8 & 18, where (in
Topic 8.2) it states "Candidates should have experience of acid-base titrations with different indicators".
However I think it is better to also do an experiment where they have to prepare the standard solution.
Hence this one on oxalic acid which also is more challenging for them to do the calculations afterwards.
To help them do this I provide questions to guide them through the process. It also neatly brings in
environmental issues for them to consider.

Teacher’s notes for this experiment

Explain to your students that oxalic acid is poisonous. If rhubarb
(which contains oxalic acid) was discovered today would it be a
banned foodstuff?

This experiment builds on the simple NaOH(aq)/HC(aq)l titration

above by having the students make up their own standard solution
using a volumetric flask. This, together with the balance, increases
the uncertainties associated with the apparatus. They should
calculate the overall uncertainty in their answer. This introduces an
interesting point. They need to determine the molar mass of the
oxalic acid by titration then compare it with the calculated molar
mass (90.04 + 18x) g mol−1 to find the value of x (which is 2). If they
calculate their total uncertainty based on their value of x it will
probably be very large. What they should be doing is calculating the uncertainty associated with the
value they determine for the molar mass of the oxalic acid.

I have left the details of how to calculate the final answer and also the discussion questions on the
practical sheet to download and hand out to students. This is because it is usually done early in the
course and is a good practical to train them about propagating uncertainties.

I have written this experiment so that it has an environmental aspect to address Green chemistry by
asking them to audit it. Traditional titrations use large quantities of chemicals. What is surprising to the
students is that the most expensive chemical they use is not the oxalic acid or the sodium hydroxide but
the distilled water. A class of 16 students will use about 6 dm3 of distilled water. After discussing this I

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2/23/2020 IB Chemistry: Acid-base titrations

give them the green acid-base practical and future experiments in the programme are planned with
much smaller quantities of chemicals.

For those that like 'recipe' practicals here is Gordon Ramsey showing how to make making rhubarb
crumble.

How to Make Rhubarb Crumble - …

making rhubarb crumble

   Student worksheet
A TRADITIONAL ACID - ALKALI TITRATION

Neutralisation occurs between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in aqueous solution:

H3O+(aq) + OH-(aq) ⇌ 2H2O(l)

( or H+(aq) + OH-(aq) ⇌ H2O(l) )

A suitable indicator is used which changes colour at the 'end point' of the reaction when the pH of the
solution corresponds to the presence of the appropriate salt and water only. In this experiment you will
use the traditional method of titration to determine the number of moles of water of crystallisation in solid
crystals of ethane-1,2-dioic acid (oxalic acid) which has the formula (COOH)2.xH2O. This traditional
method makes use of volumetric flasks, pipettes and burettes and relies heavily on accurate readings of
relatively large volumes.

ENVIRONMENTAL CARE: Although oxalic acid is quite poisonous it is a natural product (it occurs in the
leaves of rhubarb) so dilute solutions of it should not affect the environment unduly and can be disposed
of down the sink. At the end of this experiment you will carry out an environmental audit.

SAFETY: You must use a pipette filler and not your mouth whenever you use a pipette. Remember
oxalic acid is poisonous.

PROCEDURE: Weigh out accurately about 1.5 g of crystals of oxalic acid. Dissolve it in distilled water
and make up the total volume to 250 cm3 in a volumetric flask. Pipette 25.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm-3
sodium hydroxide solution into a conical flask, add two drops of phenolphthalein and run oxalic acid
solution from a burette into the flask, swirling continuously, until the indicator just loses its colour. Repeat
the procedure to get two accurate results (within 0.10 cm3 ).

CALCULATION
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2/23/2020 IB Chemistry: Acid-base titrations

1. Write an equation for the reaction. (Remember oxalic acid is a diprotic acid, i.e. one mole of acid
reacts with two moles of sodium hydroxide)

2. What amount (in mol) of NaOH is present in 25.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm-3 sodium hydroxide solution?

3. What amount (in mol) of oxalic acid was present in the average volume required to react exactly with
the sodium hydroxide solution?

4. What amount (in mol) of oxalic acid was present in your 250 cm3 volumetric flask?

5. What is the mass of one mole of oxalic acid?

6. How many molecules of water of crystallisation are present in one mole?

DISCUSSION

1. Estimate the degree of uncertainty in your readings using the balance, the volumetric flask, the pipette
and the burette. How accurately can you quote your answer?

2. Compare your answer with the correct answer and work out the percentage error.

3. Suggest any other reasons for possible error.

4. Audit your experiment both financially and environmentally. Work out the total amounts of all reactants
(ignore the few drops of phenolphthalein) and the total cost. What is thrown away during the experiment?
Scale up your values for the whole class.

This worksheet can also be downloaded from:

Acid-base titration

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