PHYSICAL SCIENCES (CHEMISTRY)
GRADE 12 TERM 2 FORMAL EXPERIMENT – PART 1
TITRATION OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE
LEARNER’S NAME : ____________________________________________
SCHOOL : ____________________________________________
GRADE : ____________________________________________
DATE : ____________________________________________
Prior to performing this experiment do a revision of stoichiometric calculations.
Titration is a technique used to determine an unknown concentration of a known substance in a
sample using a standard solution of precise known concentration.
The experiment consists of the following two parts (A and B):
• Preparation of a standard solution of oxalic acid
• Using the prepared standard solution of oxalic acid (H2C2O4) to determine the concentration
of a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) by means of titration.
Part A:
Wash bottle
Aim: To prepare a standard solution of oxalic acid.
Apparatus: Watch glass
• 1 x Watch glass
Funnel
• 1 x Spatula
• 1 x 100 ml Volumetric flask
• 1 x Mass meter
Volumetric
• 1 x Wash bottle filled with water (preferably distilled water) flask
• 1 x funnel Distilled
• Oxalic acid crystals Oxalic acid crystals Water
Diagram 1
Method:
1. Measure and record the mass of the watch glass using the mass meter.
2. Place approximately 1 g of oxalic acid crystals onto the watch glass and measure and
record the mass of both the watch glass and the oxalic acid.
3. Calculate and record the actual mass of the oxalic acid.
4. Transfer the oxalic acid into the volumetric flask and ensure that it is transferred to the flask
by washing it off using a wash bottle and distilled water (see diagram 1)
5. Half fill the volumetric flask with distilled water and then stir or shake the contents of the
Grade 12 Prescribed experiment 2
1
flask until all the crystals have dissolved
6. Add more distilled water and fill up the flask to the volume of 100 ml.
You have prepared a standard solution of oxalic acid which you will be using in part B of
the experiment. You will have to calculate the concentration of this solution.
Part B:
Aim: To determine the concentration of a solution of sodium hydroxide by titrating it against a
standard solution of oxalic acid.
Burette
Clamp
Apparatus:
Sodium hydroxide
• 1 x 25 ml Pipette
• 2 x 125 ml beakers Retort stand
• 1 x 50 ml burette
• 1 x conical flask
Conical flask
• Standard solution of oxalic acid
• Sodium hydroxide solution Oxalic acid and
phenolphthalein
• Phenolphthalein indicator Diagram 2
Method:
1. Clean the burette thoroughly, wash it with distilled water and finally rinse it with sodium
hydroxide solution. (Always rinse the burette with the solution, which is to be taken in it).
Clamp the burette vertically in a burette stand.
2. Fill the burette with sodium hydroxide solution to above the zero mark using a funnel.
3. Remove the air gap, if any, from the nozzle of the burette by running the solution forcefully
from the burette nozzle.
4. Remove the funnel before noting initial reading of the burette. Also while noting the reading,
see that no drop of the liquid is hanging at the nozzle of the burette
5. Note the initial reading by keeping the eye exactly at the same level as the meniscus of the
solution.
6. Pipette out 25 ml of oxalic acid solution in a washed and dried conical flask. Always wash
the pipette with distilled water and rinse with the liquid to be measured before pipetting out
the liquid.
7. Add 1-2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator to the conical flask. Place the flask over the
glazed tile/white paper as shown in the diagram.
Grade 12 Prescribed experiment 2
2
8. Titrate the acid with sodium hydroxide solution till a very faint permanent pink colour is
obtained. In order to ensure thorough mixing of the reactants, swirl the contents of the flask
continuously throughout the titration. If some sodium hydroxide sticks to the sides of the
conical flask, it can be washed into the solution using distilled water from the wash bottle.
Add the sodium hydroxide solution in small amounts initially and then dropwise.
9. Repeat the titration three times and use the average of your readings to calculate the
concentration of the sodium hydroxide.
10. Record your readings in the table below.
Table of results:
Titration Volume of oxalic acid (ml) Burette readings Volume of NaOH used
V = (y – x) ml
Initial Final
reading reading
(x) (y)
Trial
1
2
3
Average
You are now required to work on your own through the next section. No discussions are
allowed. You also need to make use of your experiments exercise book or folio paper.
1. Results and Analysis
1.1 Copy the above table with your readings onto your experiment exercise
book or folio paper. (4)
Grade 12 Prescribed experiment 2
3
1.2 Calculate the actual concentration of oxalic acid solution. Use the guide
given below:
Mass of watch glass and oxalic acid crystals = ……………………………
Mass of watch glass = ……………………………
Mass of oxalic acid =………………………
Number of moles of oxalic acid = …………………
Concentration of the oxalic acid solution =
……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
(4)
1.3 Calculate the concentration of sodium hydroxide……
……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………… (8)
…
…………………………………………………………………………………… …
…
…………………………………………………………………………………… …
…
……………………………………………………………………………………
…
…………………………………………………………………………………... …..
2 Discussion and Conclusion.
……………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………… (2)
[18]
Grade 12 Prescribed experiment 2
4
PHYSICAL SCIENCES (CHEMISTRY)
GRADE 12 TERM 2 FORMAL EXPERIMENT – PART 2
TITRATION OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Answer the following questions:
1 Write down two precautions for this experiment…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… )
2 Why are the burette and the pipette rinsed with the solution with which these are filled?
. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… )
3 Why is it necessary to do a trial run for the titration?................................
. ...................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... (
................................................................................................................................................... 2
................................................................................................................................................... )
4 Which indicator is used in the titration of oxalic acid against sodium hydroxide?
. ;………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… )
5 Why is the equivalent point different to the end point in a titration?
. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………... )
Grade 12 Prescribed experiment 2
5
6 The sodium hydroxide that sticks to the sides of the conical flask, can be washed into the
. solution using distilled water from the wash bottle.
Why does the addition of extra distilled water to the flask not affect the amount of sodium
hydroxide that must be added to react with the oxalic acid?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
................................................................................................................................................... (
................................................................................................................................................... 3
................................................................................................................................................... )
7 What unknown quantity can be calculated at the end of a titration?
. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
………………………………………………………………………………………………………… )
8 In a school laboratory a learner adds 20 cm3 of NaOH solution of concentration 0,5 mol.dm-3
to a 40 cm3 of sulphuric acid solution in a reaction vessel. The balanced chemical equation
of the reaction taking place is as follows:
2NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O
8 Calculate the number of moles of NaOH ………………………………..
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. )
8 Calculate the pH of the Sulphuric acid solution used during the reaction.
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… (
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… )
[
2
5
]
Grade 12 Prescribed experiment 2
6
