Question

For each of the following circumstances, indicate whether the calculated molarity of NaOH would be lower, higher or unaffected. Explain your answer in each case. a. The inside of the pipet used to transfer the standard HCl solution was wet with water.b. you added 40 mL of water to the titration flask rather than 25ml. c. The buret, wet with water, was not rinsed with NaOH solution before filling the buret with NaOH solution. d. Five (5) drops of phenolphthalein were added to the solution to be titrated rather than three (3) drops.

Answer 1

Answer:

a)calculated molarity of NaOH would be lower

b) calculated molarity of NaOH would be lower

c) calculated molarity of NaOH would be lower

d) calculated molarity of NaOH would be unaffected

Explanation:

Let us recall that the reaction of NaOH and HCl is as follows;

NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) ----> NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

Since the reaction is 1:1, when the number of moles of HCl reacting with NaOH is low due to dilution, the calculated molarity of NaOH also becomes less than it's accurate value.

When 40mL of water is added to the titration flask rather than 25ml of water, the acid is more dilute hence less number of moles of acid than necessary reacts with the base thereby yielding a less than accurate value of the molarity of NaOH.

If the burette wet with water is not rinsed with NaOH solution, the concentration of the NaOH in the burette decreases due to dilution with water and a less than accuracy value is calculated for the molarity of NaOH.

If five drops of phenolphthalein is used instead of one or two drops, there is no qualms since enough phenolphthalein may be added to ensure that a sharp end point is obtained.