Titration Calculations

Introduction

A solution whose concentration is known is called a standard solution. Finding the

concentration of the second solution is called standardizing it.

The mole and solutions

Homogeneous mixtures are solutions. Any solution has two components: the solute
and solvent.
The concentration of a solution is the amount of solute that is dissolved in a fixed
volume of solution. Here are some general descriptions of solutions:
 A dilute solution contains a small quantity of solute dissolved in the solvent
 A concentrated solution contains relatively large quantities of solute dissolved in
the solvent.
The concentration of solutions

There are several ways of expressing concentration:

 Mass concentration
For example mass of solute dissolved in 1 dm3 of solution the unit is g/dm3 or
gdm-3
 Molar concentration or molarity
For example number of moles of solute in 1000cm3 of solution the unit is mol/dm3
or moldm-3

It is important to note that concentration refers to volume of solution, not to the volume
of solvent. All the apparatus used for measuring volume (for example, burette, pipette,
and volumetric flask) measure the volume of the solution

Mass concentration

Mass concentration is the mass of the solute (in grams) dissolved in 1 dm3 of solution.

Mass concentration = mass of solute (g)

volume of solution (dm3)
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Worked Example
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 1. Calculate the concentration in gdm-3 of sodium carbonate Na2CO3 if 25 cm3 of
the solution contains 0.5 g sodium carbonate.
Step 1 - change cm3 to dm3

25 cm3 = 25 dm3 = 0.025 dm3

1000

Step 2 - Calculate concentration

0.5 g
0.025 dm3

= 20 gdm-3
Molar Concentration

Molar concentration is the number of moles of solute dissolved in 1 dm 3 of solution

 Molar concentration (moldm-3) = number of moles of solute (mol)

volume of solution (dm3)

Worked Example

2. Calculate the concentration in moldm-3 of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, if 250 cm3 of

a solution contains 0.050 mole of sodium hydroxide
Step 1 - change cm3 to dm3

250 cm3 = 250 dm3 = 0.25 dm3

1000
Step 2 - Calculate concentration
0.050 mol
0.25 dm3

= 0.20 moldm-3

Rearrangement of the molar concentration equation

We often need to calculate the mass of a substance present in a solution of known
concentration and volume. To do this we:

 Rearrange the molar concentration equation to :

Number of moles = molar concentration (moldm-3) x volume (dm3)
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  Multiply the moles of solute by its molar mass
Mass of solute (g) = number of moles (mol) x molar mass (gmol-1)

Worked Example

3. Calculate the mass of anhydrous copper (II) sulphate in 55 cm3 of a 0.20 moldm-3
solution of copper (II) sulphate.
(Ar values: Cu = 63.5, O = 16.0, S = 32.1)

Step 1 - change cm3 to dm3:

55 cm3 = 55 dm3 = 0.055 dm3

1000

Step 2 - Calculate the number of moles CuSO4

Number of moles = molar concentration (moldm-3) x volume (dm3)

= 0.20 x 0.055 = 0.011 mol CuSO4

Step 3 - Calculate the mass CuSO4

Mass of solute (g) = number of moles (mol) x molar mass (gmol-1)

Molar mass CuSO4 = 63.5 + 32.1 + 4 x 16.0 = 159.6 gmol-1
Mass of CuSO4 = 0.011 x 159.6 = 1.8 g (to 2 significant figures)

Relationship between mass concentration and molar concentration

 The molar concentration can be calculated by dividing the mass concentration by

the molar mass
Molar concentration (moldm-3) = mass concentration (g dm-3)
molar mass (gmol-1)

Worked Example

4. What is the concentration in moldm-3 of a solution of nitric acid containing

2.52gdm-3 HNO3? Ar values: H= 1.0, O= 16.0, N= 14.0
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 Step 1 - Calculate the molar mass of nitric acid

Molar mass HNO3= 1.0 + 14.0 + 3 x 16.0 = 63.0 gmol-1

Step 2 - Calculate molar concentration

Molar concentration (moldm-3) = mass concentration (g dm-3)

molar mass (gmol-1)
2.52g dm-3
63.0 gmol-1
= 0.0400 moldm-3
 The mass concentration can be calculated by multiplying the molar concentration
by the molar mass
Mass concentration of solute (g dm-3) = molar conc. (moldm-3) x molar mass
(gmol-1)

Worked Example 5
What is the mass concentration in g dm-3 of a solution of 0.200 moldm-3
potassium nitrate?
Ar values: K= 39.1, O= 16.0, N= 14.0

Step 1- Calculate the molar mass of nitric acid

Molar mass KNO3= 39.1 + 14.0 + 3 x 16.0 = 101.1 gmol-1

Step 2 – Calculate the mass concentration g dm-3

 The mass concentration is calculated by multiplying the molar concentration by

molar mass
Mass concentration gdm-3= molar concentration moldm-3 x molar mass gmol-1
Mass conc. = 0.200 moldm-3 x 101.1 gmol-1 = 20.2 gdm-3 KNO3 4
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Basic Calculations involving solutions

1. Acid-Base Titration

Problem:

25.0 cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution of unknown concentration was titrated with dilute
sulphuric acid of concentration 0.050 moldm-3. 20.00 cm3 of the acid was required to
neutralize the alkali. Find the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution in moldm-3
and gdm-3

Solution:

Step1- Write a balanced chemical equation

2 NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O

Step 2 - Calculate the number of moles of H2SO4

20.00 dm3 x 0.050 mol = 0.0010 mol H2SO4

1000

Step 3 - How many moles of NaOH reacted with H2SO4 ?

mole ratio = 2 mol NaOH

1 mol H2SO4

No. of moles of NaOH = 2 mol NaOH x 0.0010 mol H2SO4 = 0.0020 mol NaOH
1 mol H2SO4

Step 4 - What is the concentration of NaOH in mol/dm3?

Molar concentration (moldm-3) = number of moles of solute (mol)

Volume of solution (dm3)
25.0 cm3 = 25.0 = 0.0250 dm3
1000

0.0020 mol = 0.080 mol/dm3 NaOH

0.025 dm3
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Step 5 - What is the concentration of NaOH in g/dm3?

Molar concentration (moldm-3) = mass concentration (g dm-3)

molar mass (gmol-1)

Mass concentration (g dm-3) = molar mass (gmol-1) x Molar concentration (moldm-3)

Molar mass NaOH = 23.0 + 16.0 + 1.0 = 40.0 gmol-1
Mass concentration (g dm-3) = 40.0 gmol-1 x 0.080 mol/dm3 = 3.2 g dm-3

2. Redox Titration

Redox titrations are used to calculate the concentrations of oxidizing or reducing

agents. The titration is carried out in a manner similar to acid-base titrations

Problem:

25.0 cm3 of iron (II) sulphate solution of concentration 0.100 moldm-3 was acidified with
an equal volume of dilute H2SO4 (an excess) and then titrated with KMnO4 solution. It
required 20.60 cm3 of KMnO4 solution to reach the endpoint of the titration. Find the
molar concentration of KMnO4 solution.

Solution:

Step 1 - Write a balance chemical equation

MnO4- (aq) + 8 H+ (aq) + 5 Fe 2+ (aq) → Mn2+ (aq) + 5 Fe 3+ (aq) + 4 H2O l)

1mol MnO4- reacted with 5 mol Fe 2+

Step 2 - Calculate the number of mol Fe 2+ (aq)

No. of mol Fe 2+ (aq) = 25.0 dm3 x 0.100 moldm -3 = 2.50 x 10-3 mol Fe 2+
1000

Step 3 - Calculate the number of mol MnO4- (aq)

Mole Ratio = 1 mol MnO4

5 mol Fe 2+
No. of mol MnO4 – (aq) = 1 mol MnO4- x 2.50 x 10-3 mol Fe 2+ = 5.00 x 10 -4 mol MnO4 –
5 mol Fe 2+

Step 4 - Calculate the molar concentration of MnO4 –

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Volume MnO4 – = 20.60 cm 3 = 20.60 = 0.02060 dm3

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 1000
Molar concentration of MnO4 - = 5.00 x 10 -4 mol = 2.43 x 10-2 moldm-3 MnO4 –
0.02060 dm3

3. Using titration to estimate the percentage purity

Problem:

2.50 g of impure sodium hydrogen carbonate was dissolved in pure water and the
volume made up to 250 cm3. 25.0 cm3 of this solution was pipetted into a conical flask,
a few drops of methyl orange added and sulphuric acid of concentration 0.0500moldm -3
was run in from a burette until the solution became orange. 28.30 cm 3 of the acid were
needed. What is th percentage purity of sodium hydrogen carbonate?

Solution:

Step 1 – Write a balanced chemical equation

2NaHCO3 (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + 2 CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (l)

Step 2 – Calculate the number of moles of H2SO4

No. of mol H2SO4 = 28.30 dm3 x 0.0500 moldm-3 = 1.42 x 10 -3 mol H2SO4
1000

Step 3 – Calculate the number of moles of NaHCO3

(a) Using the balanced chemical equation determine the mole ratio

Mole ratio = 2 mol NaHCO3

1 mol H2SO4
(b) Deduce the no. of mol of NaHCO3

No. of mol NaHCO3 = 2 mol NaHCO3 x 1.42 x 10 -3 mol H2SO4

1 mol H2SO4
= 2.84 x 10 -3 mol NaHCO3 (in 25.0 cm3 of NaHCO3)

Step 4 – Calculate the total number of moles of NaHCO3

Notice that all the impure sodium hydrogen carbonate was originally dissolved in 250
cm3 of water and that the experiment used a 25.0 cm 3 sample of that
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No. of moles of NaHCO3 in total (250 cm3) = 250 cm3 x 2.84 x10-3 mol
 25 cm3
= 0.0284 mol NaHCO3

Step 5 – Calculate the total mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate in the original
sample

Molar mass NaHCO3 = 23.0 + 1.0 + 12.0 + 16.0 x 3 = 84.0 gmol-1

Mass of NaHCO3 = 84.0 gmol-1 x 0.0284 mol = 2.39 g NaHCO3

Step 6 – Calculate the percentage purity of sodium hydrogen carbonate

The calculated mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate is 2.39 g, whereas the amount
dissolved was actually 2.50g.

The percentage purity = 2.39 g x 100 % = 95.6%

2.50

4. Using titration to determine the water of crystallization

Problem:
Sodium carbonate crystals contain water of crystallization. The formula of the crystals is
Na2CO3.nH2O, where ‘n’ is a whole number. 2.86 g of sodium carbonate crystals were
dissolved in pure water and the solution made up to 250 cm 3. A 25.0 cm3 sample of this
solution was pipetted into a conical flask and some methyl orange added as indicator.
0.100 moldm-3 hydrochloric acid was added from a burette until the indicator turned
orange. 20.0 cm3 of the acid was required. Calculate ‘n’ in the formula above.

Solution:

Step 1 – Write a balanced chemical equation

Na2CO3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq) → 2NaCl (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Step 2 – Calculate the number of moles of HCl

No. of mol HCl = 20.00 dm3 x 0.100 moldm-3 = 2.00 x 10 -3 mol HCl
1000

Step 3 – Calculate the number of moles of Na2CO3

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(a) Using the balanced chemical equation determine the mole ratio
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 Mole ratio = 1 mol Na2CO3
2 mol HCl
(b) Deduce the no. of mol of Na2CO3

No. of mol Na2CO3= 1 mol Na2CO3 x 2.00 x 10 -3 mol HCl

2 mol HCl
= 1.00 x 10 -3 mol Na2CO3 (in 25.0 cm3 of Na2CO3)

Step 4 – Calculate the total number of moles of Na2CO3

Notice that all the sodium carbonate was originally dissolved in 250 cm 3 of water and
that the experiment used a 25.0 cm3 sample of that

No. of moles of NaHCO3 in total (250 cm3) = 250 cm3 x 1.00 x10-3 mol
25 cm3
= 0.0100 mol Na2CO3
Step 5 – Calculate the total mass of sodium carbonate in the original sample

Molar mass Na2CO3= 2 x 23.0 + 12.0 + 3 x 16.0 = 106.0 gmol-1

Mass of Na2CO3 = 106.0 gmol-1 x 0.0100 mol = 1.06 g Na2CO3

Step 6 – Calculate the mass of water in the crystals

Mass of water = 2.86 g – 1.06 g = 1.80g

Step 7 – Calculate the number of moles of water

No. of mol water = 1.80 g = 0.100 mol H2O

18.0 g mol-1

Step 8 - Deduce the value of ‘n’

If 0.0100 mol of Na2CO3 combines with 0.100 mol H2O

Then 1 mol of Na2CO3 combines 10 mol H2O

The formula is therefore Na2CO3 . 10 H2O

5. Back Titration

A back titration is a reverse titration.

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Back titrations are useful when:

  the reaction is very slow
 the substance to be titrated is in an insoluble solid, e.g. calcium carbonate
 one of the reactants is volatile e.g. ammonia
 the end point of the titration is difficult to observe
For example you want to find the percentage of calcium carbonate in a sample of
limestone.
First a known mass of limestone is dissolved in some acid of known volume and
concentration. The acid is in excess. A titration is then done to find out how much acid
is left over. From that you can work out how much acid has been used up by the
limestone, and hence back to the amount of calcium carbonate in the limestone.
All back titrations work in this way- you use an excess of something and then do a
titration to find out how much is left over.

Problem:

1.25 g of crushed limestone was added to 50.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid
(an excess). The mixture was left until all bubbling stopped and was then made up
carefully to 250 cm3 with pure water. A 25.0cm3 sample of this was pipetted into conical
flask and some methyl orange indicator was added. Sodium hydroxide solution of
concentration 0.100 mol dm-3 was added from a burette. 30.00 cm3 were needed to
reach the end-point of the indicator. Calculate the percentage of calcium carbonate in
the limestone.

Solution:

Step 1 – Write a balanced chemical equations

NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

CaCO3 (aq) + 2 HCl → CaCl2 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Step 2 – Calculate the number of moles of NaOH

No. of mol NaOH = 30.00 dm3 x 0.100 moldm-3 = 3.00 x 10 -3 mol NaOH
1000

Step 3 – Calculate the number of moles of HCl

(a) Using the balanced chemical equation determine the mole ratio
10

Mole ratio = 1 mol HCl

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1mol NaCl
(b) Deduce the no. of mol of HCl

No. of mol Na2CO3= 1 mol HCl x 3.00 x 10 -3 mol NaCl

1mol NaCl
= 3.00 x 10 -3 mol HCl (in 25.0 cm3 of HCl)

Step 4 – Calculate the total number of moles of HCl in 250 cm3

This was a 25.0 cm 3 sample from the whole 250 cm3 of the reaction mixture

No. of moles of HClin total (250 cm3) = 250 cm3 x 1.00 x10-3 mol
25 cm3
= 0.0300 mol HCl

Step 5 – Calculate the number of mole of HCl originally in 50.0 cm3

We started off with 50.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm-3 HCl

Therefore no. of moles of HCl originally = 50.0 dm3 x 1.00 moldm-3 = 0.0500 mol HCl
1000

Step 6 – Calculate the number of moles of HCl used up by calcium carbonate

We started with 0.0500 moles of HCl and ended up with 0.0300 moles. The missing
HCl was used up by the calcium carbonate in the limestone.

No. of moles of HCl used up = 0.0500 – 0.0300 = 0.0200 mol HCl

Step 7 - Calculate the number of moles of the CaCO3 that reacted with HCl

Now we need to equation for the acid-carbonate reaction:

CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) → CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

Mole ratio = 1 mol CaCO3

2 mol HCl

No. of mol CaCO3 = 1 mol CaCO3 x 0.0200 mol HCl = 0.0100 mol CaCO3
2 mol HCl
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Step 8 - Calculate percentage of calcium carbonate in limestone

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Molar mass CaCO3 = 40.1 + 12.0 + 3 x 16.0 = 100.1 gmol-1

Mass of CaCO3 in limestone = 0.0100 mol x 100.1gmol--1 = 1.00g

Original Mass of CaCO3 = 1.25g

% CaCO3 in limestone = 1.00 g x 100% = 80.0%

1.25 g

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