Kristen Livingston

Chem 322L 01M

TA: Danielle Westerman
Experiment 3 Pre-Lab

1. The purpose of this experiment is to standardize sodium hydroxide with pure potassium
hydrogen phthalate and to determine the acidity of an impure potassium hydrogen
phthalate sample through titration with standardized sodium hydroxide. The
determination of a titration endpoint can be found visually or graphically. Visually, when
an indicator changes color, the endpoint is determined. The first derivative or second
derivative graph of a pH curve, which is recorded using a pH meter, can also be used to
determine the endpoint. Finally, a Gran plot can be used to estimate the end point of the
titration. Visual determinations are not as reliable since eyes can only tell a color change
in the range of 1 pH from the actual pH. A pH curve gives a more accurate reading
of the pH change in the solution, and so first and second derivative graphs of pH curve
can provide a more accurate endpoint estimation. A Gran plot shows a straight line of
titrant volume versus analyte volume and hydronium concentration from the start of the
2.

titration until the endpoint, also giving a more accurate, calculated endpoint value.
C8 H 5 O 4 K + NaOH NaC 8 H 4 O 4 K + H 2 O
C8 H 5 O 4 K

(KHP): 204.22 g/mol

NaOH: 39.997 g/mol

3. Phenolphthalein is the indicator used in this experiment. When the titration endpoint is
reached, the indicator turns from clear to pink, usually in the pH range of 8 to 9.6.
4. Calculate % KHP in unknown

.10 mol NaOH

1 mol KHP 204. 22 g KHP
1
0.0345 L NaOH

100 =70.46 KHP( w/w

1L
1 mol NaOH
1 mol KHP
1.0 g sample KHP
5. The purpose of a Gran plot is to linearize titration data in order to estimate the endpoint

of a titration. The equation is for a Gran plot is

+
H 3 O
. The x-axis on a Gran plot is the

titrant volume (in liters), and the y-axis is the hydronium ion concentration multiplied by
the volume (in liters) of analyte. The endpoint of the titration is found as the x-intercept.
6. Volume of NaOH needed
1 mol KHP
.10 L 1 mol NaOH
1L
1000 mL
3.005 g KHP

=26.54 mL NaOH
204. 22 g KHP .50 L 1mol KHP .1109 mol NaOH
1L
7.
Name

Structure

Appearance

Potassium
Hydrogen
Phthalate (KHP)

C8H5O4K

White or
colorless solid

Sodium
Hydroxide

NaOH

Phenolphthalein

C20H14O4

White waxy
crystal solid,
clear liquid

Molecular
Weight
204.22
g/mol

Boiling
Point
Decomposes
at 300C

39.997
g/mol

1388C

Safety/Hazards
May cause eye,
skin, and
respiratory
irritation
Highly
corrosive,
causes chemical
burns,
exothermic
dissolution,
Suspected of
causing cancer,
slight irritation
of eyes and skin

White crystal
318.33
>450C
solid, clear
g/mol
liquid, turns
pink in basic
solutions
8. A sodium hydroxide solution is prepared. The sodium hydroxide solution is then

standardized by titrating it into a pure KHP standard solution. Three unknown samples
are weighed and placed into three separate flasks and dissolved in water. A couple of
drops of phenolphthalein are added, then the solution is titrated with standardized NaOH.
The % KHP in the unknown is calculated. A weighed sample of KHP is placed in a flask

and dissolved with water. A pH meter/electrode is calibrated in a buffer solution. 100 mL

of the KHP solution is placed in a beaker with a stirring bar and the pH electrode. 1 drop
of phenolphthalein is added to the solution, and the NaOH is used to titrate the KHP
solution, until endpoint is reached. Actual volume of titrant added is recorded in a chart.
This titration is repeated twice. Data analysis, such as constructing a pH curve and Gran
plot, is then performed using Microsoft Excel.
References
Chemistry 322L Experiment 3 Laboratory Handout. University of South Carolina.
Material Safety Data Sheet, Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate, 2008, Fisher Scientific.
http://www.ch.ntu.edu.tw/~genchem99/msds/exp15/KHP.pdf (accessed October 6, 2016).
Phenolphthalein, ACS, Safety Data Sheet, 2015, LabChem.
http://www.labchem.com/tools/msds/msds/LC18198.pdf (accessed October 6, 2016).
Sodium Hydroxide, 2016, Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide (accessed
October 6, 2016).