Mole Concept

Questions & Answers

1) If you had used H2SO4 instead of HCL, what would happen to the amount of
alkali that you need to neutralise the acid?
a) The amount of alkali that you need to neutralize the acid would be
doubled. This is because while 1 mole of HCL only dissociates to produce
1 H+ ion when dissolved in water, 1 mole H2SO4 dissociates to produce
2H+ ions./ HCL is monobasic while H2SO4 is dibasic. Hence, double the
amount of alkali and OH- ions would be required to neutralize the H2SO4
acid.
2) If you double the amount of alkali (e.g., NaOH) used/ pipetted into the conical
flask, what would happen to the Titration Results?
a) HCL + NaOH -> NaCl + H2O
b) 2HCL + 2NaOH -> 2NaCl + 2H2O (Don’t Cancel out the Common Mol
Ratio of 2 to Prove a Point!)
c) The amount of acid (e.g., HCL) needed to neutralise the alkali will also be
doubled. One mole of HCL is required to neutralise one mole of NaOH
(View Part a). Thus, in order to neutralise double the amount of alkali (i.e.,
two moles of NaOH), you would need two moles of HCL (View Part b),
which is basically double the original amount of HCL acid you would need.

ALWAYS MENTION: For the same number of moles, ...OR For the same
concentration of HX (monobasic) and H2SO4 (dibasic)...
Acids & Bases
General Titration Practical
● Rinse the Burette with the solution you are filling it up with, and the Pipette with
the solution you are filling it up with (Though you should NEVER rinse the conical
flask with a Chemical)
● Read the Meniscus at Eye Level
● Ensure that there are NO air bubbles at the tips of the burette and pipette
● When they say that ‘X was titrated with Y’...
○ X is in the Conical Flask (From the Pipette)
○ Y is in the Burette
● How to Present Your Data?
Titration Number 1 (Rough) 2 3

Final Reading/
cm^3 (Do NOT
Write Final
Volume!)

Initial Reading/
cm^3 (Do NOT
Write Final
Volume!)

Volume of P used/
cm^3

Best Titration
Results (✓)

OR Like:
Complete Example:
#1:
Titration Number 1 (Rough) 2 3

Final Reading/ 23.80 (ALWAYS 48.50 22.60

cm^3 (Do NOT Record Burette
Write Final Readings to 2 DP,
Volume!) even the 0 write
as 0.00!)

Initial Reading/ 0.00 25.00 0.00

cm^3 (Do NOT
Write Final
Volume!)

Volume of P used/ 23.80 23.50 23.60

cm^3

Best Titration ✓ ✓
Results (✓)
*Best 2 Titration Results should not be more than 0.20cm^3 apart! (e.g.23.50 and
23.60 is acceptable, but 23.50 and 23.80 is not!)

#2 (May be Part of Another Question; so don’t write first (Refer to the 1st Example)):
(23.50cm^3 + 23.60cm^3)/2 = 23.55cm^3
Using these results (these results refer to the 2 best titration results, the ones that
you ticked in your titration table), the average volume of P (substance in the
burette) required was 23.55cm^3.
#3:
Volume of Q (substance in the conical flask) used was 25.0cm^3. (for pipette/
conical flask, record to 1dp i.e., 25.0cm^3!)
● ALWAYS Check the Given Units (If you have to fill in any blanks!); examples of
such Units are the Units underlined in the above extract.

Pointers for this:

● Record Titration Readings in a Table
● Include Correct Units + Do not write the units in the tables, only in the left hand
side (see pink highlighted portion in the 1st results table).
● For Burette Readings (Readings in the Table), values must be to 2 decimal
places, the last decimal being a 0 or 5. (i.e., XX.X0 or XX.X5 e.g., 47.05cm^3)
○ For Pipette Readings, usually it is to 1 dp (i.e.25.0cm^3).
● Include Correct Units
● Titres Calculated Correctly
● Record AT LEAST 3 Readings
● Ticks at least 2 Consistent Readings for Calculation. / At Least 2 Titre Values are
within 0.20cm^3 (using uncorrected titres).
● For the Average Titre (of Consistent Readings) within 0.20cm^3 AND For the
Average Titre (of Consistent Readings) within 0.30cm^3

Methyl Orange Indicator

Most Acids (pH 1-3): Red in Colour
pH 4 is where the colour change occurs
pH 5-7: Yellow in Colour
Alkali (pH 8-14): Yellow in Colour

● Always write the Balanced Equation (with state symbols if necessary) of the
Titration Reaction before embarking on any Mole Concept/ Acids and Bases
Questions!
○ When answering Mole Concept Questions (e.g., find the concentration of
the unknown solution), leave all your answers to 3 sf! (even 0.1 mol/dm^3,
in order to leave it to 3sf, write it as 0.100mol/dm^3)

Possible Questions:
1) Why is it necessary to repeat the titrations? [2]
a) To ensure that the results obtained are consistent and accurate [1].
b) To eliminate any error (specifically, random errors; not systematic errors
aka set-up errors!) when performing the experiment [1].
2) How would the volume of P used change if the conical flask was rinsed with Q
 before titration? Explain your answer. [2]
a) Volume of P (H2SO4) will increase [1].
b) Since rinsing the conical flask with Q (NaOH) will cause the volume of Q
(NaOH) used for the titration to be more than 25.0cm^3 (due to the
residual solution Q that is suck at the side of the conical flask).
3) A student titrated solution P with 25.0cm^3 of 0.100mol/dm^3 aqueous
potassium hydroxide (KOH) instead of aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Describe the effect this would have on the calculated concentration of P.
Explain your answer. [3]
a) The volume of acid P (H2SO4) used will be the same. [1]
b) The concentration of P (H2SO4) calculated will be the same as the
concentration of P calculated using sodium hydroxide [1].
c) Prove your Point using Chemical Equations [1]:
i) H2SO4 + 2NaOH -> Na2SO4 + 2H2O and H2SO4 + 2KOH ->
K2SO4 +2H2O
ii) The molar ratio of H2SO4 to NaOH and H2SO4 to KOH is the
same, 1:2. [Therefore, the calculated concentration P would stay
the same even if he were to use potassium hydroxide instead of
aqueous sodium hydroxide as the titrant -> the solution in the
burette].
4) If dilute sulfuric acid was replaced by a monobasic acid HX of the same
concentration during the titration, what would be the expected volume of HX
required to completely neutralize 25.0cm^3 of 0.100mol/dm^3 Q? Explain your
answer.
a) Volume of HX required to completely neutralize 25.0cm^3 of
0.100mol/dm^3 = Volume of P (H2SO4) used x2. E.g., 23.55 x 2 =
47.10cm^3 [1].
b) HX is monobasic while H2 is dibasic [1].

i)
ii) For the same concentration of H2SO4 and HX, HX has a lower
concentration of H+ ions available for reaction with NaOH.
Hence, the volume of HX required to neutralise 25.0cm^3 of
NaOH completely will be twice the volume of P (H2SO4) used.

Another Set of Possible Questions:

1) A student repeated the titration experiment but accidentally used the potassium
manganate (VII) solution from the bench. The concentration of potassium
manganate (VII) solution from the bench is 0.01 mol/dm^3 instead of 0.02
mol/dm^3. Describe and explain the effect this would have on the volume of Q
needed for the complete reaction with 25.0cm^3 of P.
a) Volume of Q would be double the expected volume = 2(24.50cm^3)=
49.00cm^3 (once again, since this is/ originated from a burette reading,
leave it to 2 decimal places!).
b) For the same number of moles, halving the concentration requires 2x
the volume (n=cv)

c)
(Always use Chemical Equations to Prove!)
Key points

● Units in the header ONLY (Initial and final burette reading / cm3)
● 2 decimal places for burette reading
● Put a tick against the columns with reading within 0.05 cm3
● Show working of calculation of the average volume

Practical 7 Marking Scheme

● Correct heading with units = 1 mark

● Titre values expressed to 2 dp = 1 mark
● Has 2 values that are within 0.10 cm3 = 1 mark
● Accurate reading 1 = max 4 marks*
● Accurate reading 1 = max 4 marks
 ● Calculation of average shown = 1 mark
● TOTAL = 12 marks

NOTE: Burette reading: 2 decimal places, Pipette reading: 1 decimal place