FAKULTY OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

RT10303

CHEMISTRY FOR AGRICULTURE

DR. LUM MOK SAM

PRACTICAL 2

Standardization of Acid and Base Solutions

Prepared by:

NOOR AMYRAH ALINA BT. MOHD AMERUL ‘ASRI BR20110034

Title : Standardization of Acid and Base Solutions

Objective: To determine the exact concentration (molarity) of a solution.

Introduction:

Acids and alkalis can be found all around us. Some are useful and are found in food and in
our bodies.

Acids form acidic solutions in water. Acids are sources of hydrogen ions,

H+. For example, hydrochloric acid produces hydrogen ions:
HCl(aq) → H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
Acidic solutions have pH values less than 7.

Alkalis
Alkalis form alkaline solutions in water. Alkalis are sources of hydroxide ions,
OH-. For example, sodium hydroxide produces hydroxide ions:
NaOH(aq) → Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)
Alkaline solutions have pH values greater than 7.

Acids react with metals, bases and carbonates to produce salts. Neutralisation is the reaction
between an acid and a base. Indicators are used to determine whether a solution is acidic or
alkaline.A standard solution is a solution in which the concentration is accurately known.
Standardization is the process of determining the exact concentration (molarity) of a
solution. Titration is one type of analytical procedure often used in standardization. In a
titration, an exact volume of one substance is reacted with a known amount of another
substance.

The point at which the reaction is complete in a titration is referred to as the endpoint. A
chemical substance known as an indicator is used to indicate (signal) the endpoint. The
indicator used in this experiment is phenolphthalein. Phenolphthalein, an organic
compound, is a colorless in acidic solution and pink in basic solution.

Standardization is the process of determining the exact concentration (molarity) of a

solution. Titration is one type of analytical procedure often used in standardization. In a titration, an
exact volume of one substance is reacted with a known amount of another substance.
Preparation of Standard Solution

Apparatus

1. Analytical balance
2. Water glass
3. Beaker 500 ml
4. Glass rod
5. Volumetric flask
6. Funnel
7. Pipette
8. Distilled water
9. Camel hair brush

Chemicals : Oxalic acid crystals

Procedure:

Firstly, up to 4 decimal places amount of oxalic acid crystals needed was weighed on analytical
balance. Secondly, carefully transferred it into the beaker. Then, distilled water was added little less
than required for final volume and stirred with a glass rod to dissolve it. Next, the solution was
transferred into a clean volumetric flask through a clean funnel. The beaker was washed three to four
times and all washing was transferred through the funnel into a volumetric flask until level reaches
the required graduation mark. After that, the funnel was removed. The flask was closed with a
stopper and thoroughly shaken it to make the solution homogenous. Held the neck of the flask with
one hand and keeping the stopper pressed with the thumb, the flask was inverted and shaken it again
thorough mixing. Again placed it upright. Lastly, the process was repeated three to four times in the
same manner. The standard solution of oxalic acid used in the laboratory was ready.

Preparation of Standard Solution of NaOH

Principle : Initially a NaOH solution with slightly higher concentration than decinormal is prepared, and its
exact concentration is determined by tritration with satndard decinormal oxalic acid and its solution
diluted to the exact needed strength.

Apparatus :

1. Physical balance
2. Watch glass
3. Beaker 500ml
4. Empty reagent bottle
5. Burette
6. Measuring cylinder 500 ml
7. Distilled water
8. Volumetric flask 500 ml capacity
9. Conical flask 250 ml capacity
10. Pipette
11. Funnel
12. Glass rod

Reagents :
i. Phenolphthalein Indicator Solution : 0.5 g of phenolphthalein in 50 ml of alchohol was dissolved
and with distilled water diluted it while shaking to 100 ml.
ii. Standard oxalic acid solution - 0.1 N.

Procedure :
Firstly, 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator was added and pipette out 25 ml 0.1 N oxalic acid
solution into a clean conical flask. Initial reading of alkali level in the burette was noted. Next, the
sodium hydroxide solution was allowed to flow down into the conical flask slowly till a pale pink
colour (which persists for a minute) was obtained. Then, the reading of the end point was noted. After
that, the titration was repeated by addition of alkali slowly and continuously till the colour changes to
pink was reached. The alkali was added drop by drop, mixing the contents well to complete the
titration as explained earlier. Lastly the titration was repeated till two observation were same.

Results

Volume of 0.1 N Titration number Burette reading of alkali

oxalic acid
pipetted (mL)
Initial Final mL used
25 1 0 20.1 20.1
25 2 25.1 44.5 19.4
25 3 23.2 42.0 18.8

Calculation
1. Mean of volume of alkali
20.1+19.4+18.8= 58.3

2. Normality of NaOH

3. Standardization of NaOH

It means that 387.6 ml of the 0.129N solution of NaOH should be measured accurately into 500 ml of
volumetric flask with the help of a burette and the solution be diluted to the graduation mark (500 ml)
with distilled water and shaken thoroughly to get exactly 0.1 N solution of NaOH.

4. Percentage error of standardization

Discussion

The degree of ionisation refers to the strength of an acid or a base. A strong acid is said to completely
ionize in water whereas a weak acid is said to only ionise partially. As there are different degrees of
ionization of acids, there are also different levels of weakness for which there is a simple quantitative
way to express.

Titration is a technique to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. A solution of known

concentration (titrant) is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution (titrand or
analyte).

In the experiment, the first pH reading was low because the mixture only contains acid solution. After
adding NaOH, slowly the pH reading start to increase. The more we added the NaOH, the more the pH
reading increase. Then, we stopped adding the NaOH at point of 19.43mL. When the result finally
shows the change colour of the acid. Which from a colourless acid into a pink colour mixture.
Therefore this shows that, all the acid was used to react to NaOH in the conical flask until the pH
reading increase into an alkaline target at the point of 12-14.

Conclusion
In conlcusion, the actual concentration of NaOH prepared was 0.1 N but the experiment was not
accurate. Thus, the prepared NaOH used was 0.129 N which the result may lead to percentage
error. The value was not accurate.

References

 D.C. Haris, Quantitive Chemical Analysis (7th ed., W.H. Freeman, NY, 2007) pp. 121-124, 221-
218
 Skoong. D.A; West, D.M. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry; Holt, Rinehart and
Winston : New York, 1963; pp 341-351