CHEM 1102: Experiment 03 Alexya Rosas

08/30/19 Page 1 of 6

Standardizing a Solution of Sodium Hydroxide

Abstract
The purpose of this lab is to determine the exact concentration of NaOH by standardizing the
molarity of NaOH solution by titrating a sample of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHC8H4O4,
KHP) with the NaOH. This is done by preparing 0.435g of NaOH solution in distilled water. The
lab required three trials. The first trial measured 0.510g of KHP and had an end point of 22.10 ml
of NaOH; having a 0.113M NaOH. The second trial measured 0.514g of KHP and had an
endpoint at 24.25 mL of NaOH; having a 0.104M NaOH. The third trial measured 0.511g of
KHP and an endpoint of 24.81 mL of NaOH; having a 0.101 M NaOH.
Introduction
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) absorbs water from the air making it a hygroscopic compound. The
excess water prevents the exact mass and concentration of sodium hydroxide to be measured. In
order to determine the exact concentration of sodium hydroxide it must be standardize by the
titration of a solid acid that is not hygroscopic. Potassium hydrogen phthalate, KHC8H4O4 (KHP),
is a non-hygroscopic compound that is soluble in water and has a high purity. Therefore, you can
determine the exact number of moles of KHP directly from its mass. The KHP can then determine
the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution.
When KHP and NaOH is reacted, it’s considered a neutralization reaction. In a neutralization
reaction an acid and a base react to yield water and a salt. When a solution is neutralized, it means
that the salts and generated water is formed from equal concentration of acid and base.
𝐾𝐻𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐾𝑁𝑎𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)
In a titration, you use a solution of known concentration to find the concentration of another
solution.Titration is one type of analytical procedure often used in standardization. Standardization
is the process of determining the exact molar concentration of a solution by accurately measuring
mL of base to neutralize a known amount of acid. The point at which the reaction is complete is
referred to as the endpoint. The endpoint occurs when all the acid has been neutralized and contains
excess base. A chemical substance known as an indicator is used to indicate the endpoint. The
indicator used in this experiment is phenolphthalein. Phenolphthalein, is colorless in acidic
solution and pink in basic solution. If equivalent amounts of acid or base are used so that neither
reactant is present in excess, the solution is said to be at the equivalence point.
Stoichiometric calculations are used to determine the concentration of NaOH. First calculate the
number of grams needed in NaOH solution.
1𝐿 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑔 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑚𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
1000 𝑚𝑙 1𝐿 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
The second calculation is to number of grams of KHP needed to make KHP solution from the
molarity and volume of NaOH.
𝐾𝐻𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐾𝑁𝑎𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)
CHEM 1102: Experiment 03 Alexya Rosas
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1𝐿 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃

𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐾𝐻𝑃
1000 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
Then to determine the experimental concentration of NaOH, take the grams of KHP measured and
calculate the number of moles of NaOH using stoichiometry.
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
Since concentration is the molarity of a substance, calculate the molarity of NaOH by using the
moles of NaOH divided by the volume of NaOH experimentally found at the end point of the
titration.
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑀 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 =
𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

Materials Chemicals
250 mL Erlenmeyer flask Magnetic Stirrer
Solid sodium hydroxide, NaOH
Weighing Dish Stirring bar
Solid potassium hydrogen phthalate
Balance Wash bottle
Phenolphthalein
50mL burette Ring Stand
Pipet pump Utility clamp
Burette clamp 250 mL beaker
100 mL graduated cylinder

Chemical Physical Data Safety Disposal

Sodium M.W: 40.00 g/mol Causes severe skin burns and Dispose in
Hydroxide Form: pellets eye damage. Harmful to aquatic liquid
NaOH Color: white life. Material is extremely aqueous
pH:13.0 - 14 destructive to the tissue of the solution
Melting point:318 °C mucous membranes and upper waste
Boiling point:1,390 °C respiratory tract. Wear container.
Density 2.1300 g/cm3 protective gear: goggles, lab
coat, gloves.
If in eyes: Rinse cautiously
with water for several minutes.

Potassium M.W: 204.22 g/mol May be harmful if swallowed, Dispose in

hydrogen Form: solid inhaled, and absorbed through liquid
phthalate Color: white pH: 4 skin. aqueous
KHC8H4O4 Melting point range: 295 May cause skin and eye solution
(KHP) - 300 °C irritation. Wear protective gear: container.
Density: 1.640 g/cm3 goggles, lab coat, gloves.
Water solubility: soluble
CHEM 1102: Experiment 03 Alexya Rosas
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Phenolphthalein M.W: 318.32 g/mol Suspected of causing genetic Contact a

C20H14O4 Form: crystalline defects. May cause cancer. licensed
(pHpH) Color: white Suspected of damaging fertility professional
Melting point/range: 261 or the unborn child. Wear waste
- 263 °C protective gear: goggles, lab disposal
coat, gloves. If exposed: seek service to
medical attention immediately. dispose of
this material.
Table #1: Chemical Safety and Disposal

Procedure
Before lab procedure, obtained safety wear materials such as googles, lab coat, and gloves.
Obtained a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask and 100 mL graduated cylinder and measured 100 mL of
distilled water in the graduated cylinder. Poured the 100 mL of distilled water in the Erlenmeyer
flask. Measured 0.435g NaOH on the balance and placed the NaOH inside the flask of distilled
water. Swirled the flask until the solid NaOH completely dissolved. Obtained a 250 mL beaker
and used the same 100 mL graduated cylinder to measure 50 mL of distilled water. Poured the 50
mL of distilled water in the 250 mL beaker. In the first trial, measured 0.510g of KHP on the
balance and poured the KHP in the beaker filled with distilled water. Obtained a magnetic stirrer
and stirring bar. Placed the beaker with KHP solution on top of the magnetic stirrer and added the
stirring bar in the solution. Mixed the solution until the solid KHP completely dissolved. After the
KHP dissolved, added three drops of phenolphthalein. Swirled the beaker to mix the
phenolphthalein into the solution. Obtained a 50 mL buret and rinsed the buret with distilled water
three times. With a 5.0 mL pipet, rinsed the buret with 5 mL portion of NaOH solution through
the tip of the buret and disposed the used NaOH solution in a 250 mL waste beaker. Obtained and
set up ring stand and buret clamp. Used a funnel and filled the buret with 50.0 mL of NaOH
solution. Placed the beaker filled with KHP solution under the buret and slowly drained the NaOH
out the buret drop by drop. While titrating the KHP solution, allowed the magnetic stirrer to run
so the KHP is constantly being mixed. Continued adding NaOH solution in the KHP solution until
the KHP solution turned a faint pink and waited for 30 seconds. The solution remained a light pink
which indicated the end point of the titration. The amount of NaOH solution used to neutralize the
KHP was 22.10 mL. Repeated the titration two more times. The second trial measured 0.514g
KHP and had an end point of 24.25 mL. The third trial measured 0.511g KHP and had an end point
of 25.00 mL. After the trial, cleaned up the lab station and disposed the NaOH and KHP solution
in the liquid aqueous waste container in the fume hood.
Data
Trial 1 Trail 2 Trail 3
Mass of KHP 0.510 g 0.514 g 0.511g
Final NaOH Buret Reading 22.10 mL 24.25 mL 36.62mL
Initial NaOH Buret Reading 0.00 mL 0.00mL 11.81mL
Volume of NaOH used (End Point) 22.10 mL 24.25 mL 24.81mL
Table #2: Standardization of NaOH with KHP
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Data Analysis
• Moles of KHP used to neutralize the NaOH solution.
Trail 1: 0.00250 moles of KHP
Trail 2: 0.00252 moles of KHP
Trial 3: 0.00250 moles of KHP
Calculation on Appendix C.
• Molarity of NaOH solution.
Trial 1: 0.113M NaOH
Trail 2: 0.104M NaOH
Trail 2: 0.101M NaOH
Calculation on Appendix D.
• Comparison of experimental molarity of NaOH with the theoretical 0.10M.
The first trial had a 0.113M concentration and was the most far off the theoretical
value of 0.10M with a 13% error. The second trial is closer to 0.10M than the first with a
0.104M concentration and 4.0% error. The third trail gave the best results with a 0.101M
concentration and 1.0% error to the goal of 0.10M.
Analysis/ Discussion/ Conclusion
The purpose of this lab is to determine the concentration of NaOH solution by titration it with a
standard solution of known concentration. The standard solution used for this lab was
KHP. During the titration, the stoichiometric ratios between NaOH and KHP are met and the
endpoint is reached when the acid turned from colorless to light pink. The end point tells the
volume needed of the unknown concentration, NaOH. Once the volume of NaOH is found, with
stoichiometric ratios the number of moles of KHP is used to find the concentration of NaOH. This
lab consisted with three different trials. The first trial measured 0.510g of KHP and had an end
point of 22.10 ml of NaOH; having a 0.113M NaOH. With the experimental value of 0.113M and
the theoretical value of 0.10M the percent error calculated is 13%. The first trial had the most
amount of error and this is due to putting excess NaOH causing the end point volume to be higher
than it should be. In the second trial measured 0.514g of KHP and had an endpoint at 24.25 mL of
NaOH; having a 0.104M NaOH. With the experimental value of 0.104M and the theoretical value
of 0.10M the percent error is 4.0%. The second trail was closer towards the goal of 0.1M however,
there is a small amount of error. A source of error during this trail could have been incorrectly
measuring an accurate amount of solid KHP, this would have caused the calculation yield more
moles of NaOH than what actually is. In the third trial measured 0.511g of KHP and an endpoint
of 24.81 mL of NaOH; having a 0.101 M NaOH. The third trial is the most accurate and precise
result out of all the three with only a 1.0% error. The small amount of error could have been from
the equipment since, the lab was done two times with the same materials before the third trail there
could have been excess KHP remaining in the beaker causing to affect the concentration of KHP.
Another source of error could be from the excess base when the titration has reached the endpoint.
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Since the indicator only reacts with excess base, a small error is introduced in the titration. As the
data shows an increase in precision and accuracy within each trial. Therefore, its highly
recommend to perform the experiment until there’s a constant concentration of NaOH with each
trial to make sure the concentration of NaOH is correct. From this lab, it can also be concluded
that with the technique of titrations the molarity of a solution of unknown concentration can be
calculated by finding the end point with another solution with known molar quantity.
Appendix
Appendix A: Calculation of grams need to make NaOH of solution.
1𝐿 0.10 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 40.00𝑔 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
100 𝑚𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 = 0.4𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
1000 𝑚𝑙 1𝐿 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻

Appendix B: Calculation of number of grams need to make KHP solution.

𝐾𝐻𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐾𝑁𝑎𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)
1𝐿 0.10 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 204.23𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃
25 𝑚𝐿 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 = 0.51𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐾𝐻𝑃
1000𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃

Appendix C: Calculation of moles of KHP used to neutralize NaOH.

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 1: 0.510𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 = 0.002497185 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐾𝐻𝑃
204.23 𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 2: 0.514𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 = 0.00251677 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐾𝐻𝑃
204.23𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 3: 0.511𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 = 0.002502081 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐾𝐻𝑃
204.23𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃

Appendix D: Calculation of the molarity of NaOH.

𝐾𝐻𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐾𝑁𝑎𝐶8 𝐻4 𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)
Trial 1:
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
0.510𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 𝑥 = 0.002497185 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
204.23 𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
0.002497185 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
= 0.113𝑀 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
0.0221𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
CHEM 1102: Experiment 03 Alexya Rosas
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Trial 2:
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
0.514𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 𝑥 = 0.00251677 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
204.23 𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
0.00251677 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
= 0.104𝑀 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
0.02425 𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Trial 3:
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
0.511𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 𝑥 𝑥 = 0.002502081 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
204.23 𝑔 𝐾𝐻𝑃 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐻𝑃
0.002502081 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
= 0.101𝑀 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
0.02481 𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Appendix E: Calculation of percent error of NaOH solution

Trial 1:
0.113𝑀 − 0.10𝑀
( ) 𝑥100 = 13% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
0.10𝑀
Trial 2:
0.104𝑀 − 0.10𝑀
( ) 𝑥100 = 4.0% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
0.10𝑀
Trial 3:
0.101𝑀 − 0.10𝑀
( ) 𝑥100 = 1.0% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
0.10𝑀
Citations/ Bibliography
Department of Chemistry. 2019. Standardizing a Solution of Sodium Hydroxide.: Experiment 3.
CHEM 1101 Laboratory Handout. Texas. University of the Incarnate Word.
Silberberg, Martin S., and Patricia G. Amateis. Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and
Change. McGraw-Hill Create, 2018.