Question

Potatoes can be peeled commercially by soaking them in a 3M to 6M solution of sodium hydroxide, then removing the skins by spraying them with water. If titration of 12.00 mL of the sodium hydroxide requires 30.6 mL of 1.65 M HCl solution, what is the concentration of NaOH used in potato peeling?

Answer 1

Answer:

4.21 M

Explanation:

Step 1: Write the balanced equation

NaOH + HCl ⇒ NaCl + H₂O

Step 2: Calculate the reacting moles of HCl

30.6 mL of 1.65 M HCl reacted. The reacting moles of HCl are:

$0.0306 L \times \frac{1.65mol}{L} = 0.0505 mol$

Step 3: Calculate the reacting moles of NaOH

The molar ratio of NaOH to HCl is 1:1. The reacting moles of NaOH are 1/1 × 0.0505 mol = 0.0505 mol.

Step 4: Calculate the molar concentration of NaOH

0.0505 moles of NaOH are in 12.00 mL. The molar concentration of NaOH is:

$M = \frac{0.0505 mol}{0.01200L} = 4.21 M$