Max Witt Lab 4

Acid Rain II: Determining the Molarity

Abstract:
The purpose of this experiment was to gain experience in the use of laboratory equipment to accurately measure the molarity of an acidic solution, while building an understanding of the concepts of stoichiometry and acid/base chemistry. The two primary methods used were dilutions and titration. A known volume of an unknown sample was titrated by a dilute solution of NaOH.

Introduction:
This experiment was meant to replicate the method for measuring the concentration of acid in rainwater or stream water. This is accomplished by the controlled mixing of one solution of know concentration (NaOH) with one of unknown concentration. An indicator is used to show when the mixture reaches equilibrium at pH 7. This can also be used to find an extremely accurate pH value, without depending on expensive, delicate, and potentially less accurate instruments. The data will directly show the amount of basic solution required to neutralize a sample of an unknown acid solution. Through calculations, extremely accurate and precise values for the concentration of the unknown solution can be found. The method for converting the volume of known solution added to the unknown to reach equilibrium into the molarity the unknown is as follows:

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Essentially what this formula does, assuming a 1:1 mol ratio between NaOH and the acid, is calculate how many moles of NaOH is required to neutralize the acid in the carefully measured sample. With the accurate number of moles and volume, simple arithmetic allows us to arrive at the concentration.

Methods:
At the core of this experiment is a standard Titration process. First, an accurate dilution of a known stock solution (5M NaOH) is prepared, diluting 5mL from a volumetric pipette to a total of 250 mL with distilled water in a volumetric flask. Between any fluid transfers, the pipette and burette are rinsed with distilled water, then the fluid to be transferred. This prevents contamination and unwanted dilution from occurring. Next, a known volume (5mL) of the unknown solution is transferred to a clean container, and diluted to an approximate volume of 25 mL. The actual volume of the dilution is

Witt

unimportant, as long as the known volume is very accurate. Next, indicator (Thymol Blue) is added. The dilution makes it easier to see and mix the solution as the titrating agent (NaOH) is added. The burette is filled, and the starting volume is recorded. The titrating agent is carefully added while swirling the test solution. Color changes are noted, and as the color approaches the neutral color, the addition of further NaOH is slowed to a drop by drop flow. When the solution either turns green, or after the drop which turns it from yellow to blue is added, the burette is closed, and the final volume recorded. The difference between the initial volume and the final volume in the burette is the amount of NaOH solution added to the acid.

Results:
Table 1 Trial Initial Burette Volume Vi 1.10 mL 0.50 mL 11.00 mL Final Burette Volume Vf 11.52 mL 10.92 mL 21.49 mL Volume added from Burette (Vf-Vi= VKnown) 10.42 mL 10.42 mL 10.49 mL Final Color Blue on last drop Blue on last drop Blue on last drop Average: Molarity (see below for calculation) M .2084 Mol/Liter .2084 Mol/Liter .2098 Mol/Liter .2089 Mol/Liter

1 2 3

Calculation of Molarity ( ) ) ) )

Values of Variables used: Dilution Ratio: 5/250=1/50 MKnown=5 Moles/liter VUnknown = 5.00mL

Sample Calculation

Discussion and Conclusions:

Overall, my results were extremely precise, with my standard deviation being .00066 Mol/Liter. This corresponds to about 0.3% of the mean of my trials. This result indicates a very successful and accurate titration. There were no significant sources of variation. I am confident in my lab practice, and the results support that. The glassware I used is accurate to within a few hundredths of a mL. The main source of error in accuracy for the final molarity of the unknown solution would be the actual molarity of the stock solution. It is an element beyond my control. I am assuming that the stated molarity of 5 mol/liter is correct for the purposes of this experiment. The true molarity of the NaOH stock solution has no effect on the precision, because the same solution is used for each test. Future improvements could consist of doing multiple titrations with different dilutions of the known stock solution, which may or may not improve accuracy. In order to utilize this technique to determine the pH of a stream affected by acid rain, a more dilute solution of stock solution would need to be used. The changes in acidity of a stream would be far smaller, and the added sensitivity of a lower molarity stock solution would be beneficial, if not necessary. In addition, the measurements would need to be done over a period of time, with other values recorded (such as atmospheric CO2, temperature, rainfall, etc) in order to better understand and represent the factors which affect the acidity of the stream.