PAST PAPER QUESTIONS WORKSHEET UNIT 2 MODULE 2
UNCERTAINTY IN MEASUREMENTS
TITRIMETRY
1. A laboratory technician analyses water samples for degree of hardness, which is expressed in
parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate. Table 4 gives the results for ten samples.
TABLE 4: DEGREE OF HARDNESS OF WATER SAMPLES
Sample number CaCO3 /ppm
1 250
2 245
3 265
4 300
5 225
6 230
7 248
8 295
9 235
10 220
(a) (i) Calculate the mean and standard deviation of the values.
[Relevant formulae must be shown] [4 marks]
(ii) What does the standard deviation value obtained in (a) (i) above indicate about the variability in the
degree of hardness'? [1 mark]
(iii) The ten samples of water are taken from ten different sites.
How can the reliability of the data obtained from each sample be improved? [1 mark]
(b) Another laboratory technician analyses Sample 1 and obtains a hardness value of 290 ppm.
(i) Compare the TWO results in terms of precision and suggest a reason for the difference. [2 marks]
(ii) What additional information would be required to comment on the accuracy of the results at this site?
[1 mark]
(c) In the practical determination of hardness, 100 cm3 samples of water were measured and titrated with
EDTA using Erichrome black as the indicator.
By reference to apparatus available in the school laboratory, discuss the importance of using appropriate
equipment in the quantitative analysis as described above. [5 marks]
(d) Describe the steps required to determine the accurate volume delivered by a pipette. [6 marks]
Total = 20 marks
JUNE 2005
2. In order to estimate the % of Fe2+ in a compound M, a solution of M is titrated against a standard solution
of potassium permanganate (manganate (VII)). The permanganate is standardised by titration against the
primary standard, ethanedioic acid.
(a) State THREE characteristics of ethanedioic acid that make it a suitable primary standard. [ 3 marks]
(b) In preparing the solution of ethanedioic for titration against the permanganate, two pieces of laboratory
equipment with a high degree of accuracy are required. Name these TWO pieces of equipment. [ 2 marks]
(c) 25.0 cm3 of the aqueous solution of M requires 24.80 cm3 of 0.02 mol dm-3 permanganate for complete
reaction.
The equation for the reaction is: MnO4- + 5Fe2+ + 8H+ 5Fe3+ + Mn2+ + 4H2O
Calculate EACH of the following:
(i) The number of moles MnO4- used [ 1 mark]
(ii) The number of moles Fe2+ in the 25.0 cm3 of aqueous M [ 1 mark]
(iii) The number of moles Fe2+ in 1.0 dm3 of M(aq) [ 1 mark]
(iv) The mass of Fe2+ in 1 dm3 of M (aq) [ 1 mark]
(v) The % Fe2+ in the compound [The mass concentration of M is 40.90 g dm-3] [ 1 mark]
Total 10 marks
June 2006
3. (a) Sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) is sometimes used as a primary standard, yet its
molecular mass is only 84 g/mol.
State THREE reasons why NaHCO3 can be used as a primary standard and ONE reason why
sodium hydroxide (NaOH) may NOT be used. [ 4 marks]
(b) A student standardized a solution of sulphuric acid, using sodium hydrogen carbonate
as the primary standard, and found the concentration of the acid to be 6.00 mol dm-3.
(i) Write the balanced equation for the reaction between sodium hydrogen carbonate and sulphuric acid.
[2 marks]
(ii) Calculate the mass in grams of sodium hydrogen carbonate that the student used to neutralise the acid if
23.00 cm3 of the acid were used from the burette. Show all your working [4 marks]
(c) In order to determine the ethanoic acid content of vinegar, a sample of vinegar was titrated using sodium
hydroxide solution. Outline FIVE experimental steps to be carried out in the determination of the
ethanoic acid content of the vinegar.
[5 marks]
Total = 15 marks June 2008
4. Titration is the method used in volumetric analysis to determine the concentration of a solution.
(a) Define EACH of the following terms:
(i) Equivalence point [ 1 mark]
(ii) End point [ 1 mark]
(b) The concentration of a solution of barium chloride can be determined using sodium carbonate solution,
by the technique of 'back titration'.
Use the example of barium chloride given above to explain the technique of back titration. [2 marks]
(c) 25 cm3 of a solution containing barium chloride is placed in a beaker and the barium ions quantitatively
(completely) precipitated by boiling with an excess of sodium carbonate solution containing 0.005 moles.
After filtration, the remaining sodium carbonate solution needed 0.004 moles of hydrochloric acid for
neutralization.
(i) Write the equation for the precipitation of barium ions. [ 2 marks]
(ii) Calculate the number of moles of Na2CO3 remaining after filtration. [2 marks]
(iii) Deduce the number of moles of BaCl2 which reacted with the sodium carbonate solution. [ 1 mark ]
(iv) Calculate the concentration of barium ions in mol dm-3. [ 1 mark ]
(d) (i) List FOUR steps a student must follow to successfully standardize a solution of potassium
manganate(VII) by titration using an oxalic acid solution. [ 4 marks]
(ii) Identify the indicator in the titration in (d) (i) above. [1 mark]
Total 15 marks
June 2009
5. (a) In a titrimetric analysis, state ONE operation which can affect
(i) accuracy [1 mark]
(ii) precision. [1 mark]
(b) List TWO requirements which a primary standard reagent that is to be used in a titrimetric analysis must
satisfy. [2 marks]
(c) In a thermometric titration, 25 cm3 of 2 mol dm-3 NaOH were used to determine the concentration of
hydrochloric acid.
(i) Using the results in Table 1, plot a graph of temperature (y axis) against volume of acid (x axis).
[4 marks]
TABLE 1: RESULTS OF TITRATION
Volume of Acid (cm3) Temperature (°C)
5.00 30.00
10.00 32.00
15.00 32.50
20.00 33.0
25.00 34.00
30.00 33.5
35.00 33.0
40.00 33.0
45.00 33.0
(ii) Hence, determine the end-point volume of the acid. [1 mark]
(iii) Calculate the concentration of the acid. [2 marks]
(d) Outline the experimental steps for this type of titration. [4 marks]
Total = 15 marks June 2015
