Experiment: Gravimetric Determination of Chloride Ion and Volumetric Titration of HCl
Objective:
- To determine the concentration of chloride ion (Cl-) in a water sample using a gravimetric method.
- To standardize a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution using a volumetric titration with hydrochloric acid (HCl).
- To determine the concentration of HCl in an unknown solution using the standardized NaOH solution.
Materials:
- Water sample
- Silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution
- Barium chloride (BaCl2) solution
- Phenolphthalein indicator
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution of known concentration
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution of unknown concentration
- Analytical balance
- Burette
- Erlenmeyer flask
- Filter paper
- Crucible
- Bunsen burner
Procedure:
Gravimetric Determination of Chloride Ion:
1. Weigh an empty crucible and filter paper. Record the mass.
2. Pipette a known volume of the water sample into an Erlenmeyer flask.
3. Add a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator to the flask.
4. Add AgNO3 solution dropwise until a faint pink color persists.
5. Add BaCl2 solution to precipitate chloride ions as BaCl2.
6. Filter the precipitate through the pre-weighed filter paper.
7. Wash the precipitate with distilled water to remove any excess reagents.
8. Dry the filter paper and crucible in an oven at 105°C for 30 minutes.
9. Cool the crucible and filter paper in a desiccator and weigh them.
10. Calculate the mass of chloride ion in the water sample.
Volumetric Titration of HCl:
1. Pipette a known volume of the unknown HCl solution into an Erlenmeyer flask.
2. Add a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator to the flask.
3. Fill a burette with the standardized NaOH solution.
4. Slowly add the NaOH solution to the HCl solution while swirling the flask.
5. Observe the color change of the indicator.
6. Continue adding NaOH solution until the solution turns a faint pink color that persists for 30 seconds.
7. Record the volume of NaOH solution used.
8. Calculate the concentration of HCl in the unknown solution.
Results:
- Mass of AgCl precipitate: ________ g
- Mass of chloride ion in water sample: ________ g
- Concentration of chloride ion in water sample: ________ mg/L
- Volume of NaOH solution used in titration: ________ mL
- Concentration of HCl in unknown solution: ________ M
Discussion:
The gravimetric method of analysis provided a direct measurement of the mass of chloride ion in the water sample. The precipitate of AgCl was filtered and weighed, allowing the mass of chloride ion to be calculated. The volumetric titration of HCl allowed the concentration of HCl to be determined accurately by using a known concentration of NaOH solution. The experiment demonstrated the principles of gravimetric and volumetric analysis techniques and their application in quantitative chemical analysis.
Significance:
Gravimetric and volumetric analysis are important techniques in chemistry, providing accurate and precise methods for determining the concentration of various analytes in different samples. They find applications in various fields, including environmental monitoring, food analysis, pharmaceutical analysis, and industrial quality control. These techniques enable scientists and analysts to quantitatively determine the composition of substances, monitor chemical processes, and ensure product quality and safety.