Chemistry 26.

1: Introduction to Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory

2nd Semester AY1819

Name:
Section: Chem 26.1 WFX/WFUV2-1

EXPERIMENT #6
QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF SODA ASH COMPOSITION BY DOUBLE
INDICATOR TRITRATION

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:
1. What are the possible components of soda ash sample? What is the practical importance
of analysis of soda ash samples?
Soda ash is a white, crystalline powder that is used to manufacture glass, soaps and
detergents (1). It may be a mixture of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) (2)
2. What are the advantages of the double indicator method? When is it applicable?
Double indicator method is used to identify complex systems that have two or more
acidic/basic species.
3. Why is a mixture of NaOH and NaHCO3 incompatible?
The mixture of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is
incompatible because sodium bicarbonate is ampiphrotic. This means that this compound
can act both as the acid and as the base. This may result to the production of sodium
carboxide (NaCO). (3)
4. What species are being neutralized under phenolphthalein and methyl orange
indicator?
For the phenolphthalein indicator:
CO32- + H+ → HCO3-
For the methyl orange indicator:
HCO3- + H+ → H2CO3
5. Why is it necessary that boiled distilled water is be used in the preparation of standard
and sample solutions?
Distilled water may contain CO2 that can react with the titrant to form H2CO3. Boiling
the water ensures that most, if not all of the CO2 is removed.
6. What are the basic components of the unknown soda ash sample based on the volume
relationship at the phenolphthalein and methyl orange endpoints?
Based on the volume relationship of the two indicators, the components are sodium
carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).

What are the possible sources of errors and their effect on the calculated parameters?
Rationalize
 Personal error: Inability to perceive color changes in the indicator; affects accuracy.
 Method error: Non-ideal behaviour of samples (immediate orange color after the
addition of methyl orange indicator); affects accuracy.
 Gross error: Spilling of a sample; the need to repeat the solution preparation affects
data precision.
REFERENCES:
1. United Nation Environment Programme Chemicals Branch. Sodium Carbonate.
http://www.chem.unep.ch/irptc/sids/OECDSIDS/Naco.pdf (accessed March 6, 2019).
2. Skoog, D.; West, D.; Holler, F.; Crouch S. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 9th
ed.; Brooks/Cole: California, 2013.
3. Brown, T.; LeMay, H.; Bursten, B.; Murphy, C.; Woodward, P.; Stoltzfus, M.
Chemistry.

APPENDIX (30 pts):