Applications of Neutralization Titrations
Applications of Neutralization Titrations
Applications of Neutralization Titrations
Applications of Neutralization
Titrations
Applications of Neutralization Titrations
Such substances can often be titrated by nonaqueous solvents, such as methyl and
ethyl alcohol, glacial acetic acid, and methyl isobutyl ketone often make it possible to
titrate such analytes in a solvent other than water.
HCl solutions, Perchloric acid, and sulfuric acid are stable standard solutions.
Restandardization is not required unless evaporation occurs.
Standard solutions of nitric acid are seldom encountered because of their oxidizing
properties
A stock solution with a known HCl concentration can also be prepared by diluting a
quantity of the concentrated reagent with an equal volume of water followed by distillation.
16A-2 The Standardization of Acids
The best method for preparing carbonate-free sodium hydroxide solutions takes
advantage of the very low solubility of sodium carbonate in concentrated solutions of
the base.
Water that is in equilibrium with atmospheric constituents contains only about 1.5
10-5 mol CO2 /L, an amount that has a negligible effect on the strength of most
standard bases.
This process is called sparging and produces a solution that contains the
equilibrium concentration of CO2.
16A-4 The Standardization of Bases
Several primary standards are available for standardizing
bases. Most are weak organic acids that require the use of an
indicator with a basic transition range.
Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate, KHC8H4O4 , KHP, is a nearly
ideal primary standard.
It is a nonhygroscopic crystalline solid with a relatively large
molar mass (204.2 g/mol).
Other Primary Standards for Bases, Benzoic acid has limited
solubility in water, so it is usually dissolved in ethanol prior to
dilution with water and titration.
Potassium hydrogen iodate, KH(IO3)2, is an excellent primary
standard with a high molecular mass per mole of protons. In
contrast to all other primary standards for bases, KH(IO3)2 has
the advantage of being a strong acid, which makes it easy to
choose an indicator.
Table 16-1 lists other elements that can be determined by neutralization methods.
16B-2 The Determination of Inorganic Substances
Various inorganic species can be determined by titration
1. Ammonium salts are determined by conversion to ammonia with a strong base followed
by distillation.
2. Nitrates and nitrites are first reduced to ammonium ion by reaction with an alloy of
50% Cu, 45% Al, and 5% Zn (Devarda’s alloy).
Granules of the alloy are introduced into a strongly alkaline solution of the sample in a
Kjeldahl flask.
3. Carbonate and carbonate mixtures require two titrations with a strong acid:
* one using an alkaline-range indicator, such as phenolphthalein,
* and the other with an acid-range indicator, such as bromocresol green.
The composition of the solution can then be deduced from the relative volumes of acid
needed to titrate equal volumes of the sample
Figure 16-3 Titration curves and indicator transition ranges for the analysis of mixtures
containing hydroxide, carbonate, and hydrogen carbonate ions using a strong-acid
Figure 16-3 Titration curves and indicator transition ranges for the analysis of mixtures
containing hydroxide, carbonate, and hydrogen carbonate ions using a strong-acid titrant.
16B-3 The Determination of Organic Functional Groups
Many carboxylic acids are not soluble in water; the acid can be dissolved in ethanol and
titrated with aqueous base.
Alternatively, the acid can be dissolved in an excess of standard base followed by back-
titration with standard acid.
Neutralization titrations are often used to determine the equivalent masses of purified
organic acids (see Feature 16-3). Equivalent masses serve as an aid in the qualitative
identification of organic acids.
The equivalent mass of an acid or base is the mass of the compound that reacts with or
contains one mole of protons. Thus,
the equivalent mass of KOH) is equal to its molar mass. = 56.11g/mol protons reacted
Cyclic amines with aromatic character, such as pyridine and its derivatives, are usually too
weak for titration in aqueous solutions.
Many saturated cyclic amines tend to resemble aliphatic amines in their acid/base
behavior and can thus be titrated in aqueous media.
Many amines that are too weak to be titrated as bases in water are easily titrated in
nonaqueous solvents.
Ester groups
Esters are commonly determined by saponification with a measured quantity of standard
base:
R1COOR2 + OH- R1COO- + HOR2 The excess base is then titrated with standard acid.
The two most common reagents are acetic anhydride and phthalic anhydride.
The acetic acid is then titrated with a standard solution of alcoholic sodium or
potassium hydroxide.
Carbonyl groups
Many aldehydes and ketones can be determined with a solution of hydroxylamine
hydrochloride. The reaction produces an oxime and the liberated HCl is titrated with a
base.
The liberated HCl is
titrated with a base.