Data Analysis
Qualitative Data:
The egg shell was a white, finely grounded power. When added to dil. HCl (1M), there was
effervescence or bubbling. The effervescence stopped after a while which indicated the end of
the reaction and the solution appeared cloudy. The solution was also slightly warm to touch. The
egg shell formed extremely minute clumps in the solution. Water was then added, washings were
done and no other change was observed.
Methyl Orange indicator was added to the colorless filtered solution and it remained colorless. It
was then titrated with NaOH with the help of a burette and the solution showed a recurring
pattern of turning colorless to yellow when 12.6-7 𝑐𝑚3 of NaOH was added. No other change
was observed.
Quantitative Data:
Raw Data Table:
Trial No. Initial Volume (𝑐𝑚3 ) Final Volume (𝑐𝑚3 ) Total Volume of NaOH added
(𝑐𝑚3 )
Pilot 0.0 𝑐𝑚3 13.2 𝑐𝑚3 13.2 𝑐𝑚3
1 13.2 𝑐𝑚3 25.8 𝑐𝑚3 12.6 𝑐𝑚3
2 25.8 𝑐𝑚3 38.4 𝑐𝑚3 12.6 𝑐𝑚3
3 0.0 𝑐𝑚3 12.7 𝑐𝑚3 12.7 𝑐𝑚3
4 12.7 𝑐𝑚3 25.3 𝑐𝑚3 12.6 𝑐𝑚3
Processed Data Table
Trial No. Initial Volume Final Volume Total Volume of NaOH added
(±0.05𝑐𝑚3 ) (±0.05𝑐𝑚3 ) (±0.10𝑐𝑚3 )
Pilot 0.0 𝑐𝑚3 13.2 𝑐𝑚3 13.2 𝑐𝑚3
1 13.2 𝑐𝑚3 25.8 𝑐𝑚3 12.6 𝑐𝑚3
2 25.8 𝑐𝑚3 38.4 𝑐𝑚3 12.6 𝑐𝑚3
3 0.0 𝑐𝑚3 12.7 𝑐𝑚3 12.7 𝑐𝑚3
4 12.7 𝑐𝑚3 25.3 𝑐𝑚3 12.6 𝑐𝑚3
Data Analysis
Each titration was done with NaOH in a burette with concentration 0.11M. The HCl in the
solution that reacts with the NaOH is the HCl that remained unreacted. Since this is a process of
‘back-titration’ it involves two steps. The first being the reaction of the hydrochloric acid with
the egg shell containing carbonate and then filtering out the remnants of the shell. The second
step would be to titre the filtered out solution with NaOH to find the volume of unreacted HCl in
the solution and hence, determine the exact quantity of HCl that reacts with the egg shell and
hence determine the percentage composition of calcium carbonate in the egg shell. For this we
first determine the average of the titre values to eventually calculate the moles of NaOH used in
the reaction:
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠
12.6 + 12.6 + 12.6
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
3
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 12.6𝑐𝑚3 ±0.10𝑐𝑚3
Next, we calculate the moles of NaOH used in the reaction:
𝑛(𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻) = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻)𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻)
n(NaOH)= 0.1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑑𝑚−3 x 12.6𝑐𝑚3 ±0.10𝑐𝑚3
Converting 𝑐𝑚3 to 𝑑𝑚3 : multiply by 0.001, therefore: 12.6𝑐𝑚3 = 12.6 x 0.001 = 0.0126𝑑𝑚3
n(NaOH)= 0.1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑑𝑚−3 x 0.0126𝑑𝑚3 ± 0.0001𝑑𝑚3
n(NaOH)= 0.00126 mol. (± 0.0001𝑑𝑚3 )
In the reaction between HCl and NaOH:
HCl (aq.) + NaOH(aq.) → NaCl (aq.) + H2 0(l)
n(HCl) and n(NaOH) are in the ratio 1:1, hence, n(HCl) = n(NaOH)= 0.00126 mol. (±0.0001𝑑𝑚3)
Therefore in
10cm3 [since the titrations were conducted in 10cm3 batches of the filtered solution] →0.00126 mol.
(±0.0001dm3 ) of HCl is present.
In 100𝑐𝑚3 = 10 x 0.00126 = 0.0126 mol. of HCl is present.
This would be the moles of HCl that remained unreacted (with the egg shell).
We can find the moles of HCl that reacted with the egg shell by:
𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = 𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙) x 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙. (𝐻𝐶𝑙)
𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑑𝑚−3 x 0.020 𝑑𝑚3
𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 0.020 𝑚𝑜𝑙.
Therefore,
0.020 − 0.0126 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒) = 𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂
3
0.0074 mol.= 𝑛(𝐻𝐶𝑙)𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
In the reaction between HCl and CaCO3
CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq.)→ CaCl2 (aq.)+ CO2 (g)+ H2 O (l)
1
mol. CaCO3 = mol. HCl
2
1
n(CaCO3 )= 2 x 0.0074
n(CaCO3 )= 0.0037 mol.
Therefore, in this reaction 0.0037 moles of Calcium Carbonate (present in the egg shell) reacts
with 0.0074 moles of HCl and the rest of the HCl added remains unreacted in the solution and is
titrated with NaOH.
𝑚 {𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠}
𝑛(𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 ) =
𝑀𝑟 {𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 }
𝑚
0.0037 mol. = 40+12.01+15.99 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙−1
𝑚
0.0037 mol. = 40+12.01+3 x 15.99 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙−1
𝑚
0.0037 mol. = 99.98 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙−1
0.0037 mol. x 99.98 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 = m
0.37g (approx.) = m(𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 )
Therefore the percentage composition of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 in the eggshell used can be given by:
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
% 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = x 100
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑔𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑
0.37𝑔
% 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = x 100
0.6 𝑔
% 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 0.61666 x 100
% 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
= 61.67% (𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥. ) of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 was present in the egg shell that was used.
Calculations of Uncertainties with Error Propagation:
1. Uncertainty in Mol. HCl initially added:
- Vol. HCl used= 20𝑐𝑚3
- Uncertainty of measuring cylinder = ±0.05𝑐𝑚3
0.05
Therefore % uncertainty in the volume can be given by= x 100 = 0.25%
20
Since moles of HCl depend on the volume, the uncertainty in moles of HCl is also 0.25%.
2. Uncertainty in moles of NaOH used in titration:
- Titre value = 12.6𝑐𝑚3
- Uncertainty of a burette= ±0.05𝑐𝑚3
0.05
x 100 = 0.40%
12.6
3. Uncertainty in the moles of HCl that remained unreacted with the 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 and hence
reacted with NaOH:
- Uncertainty in pipette volume (used to make 10𝑐𝑚3 aliquots) is ±0.04𝑐𝑚3
0.04
x 100 = 0.40%
10
- Uncertainty in moles of NaOH used in titration = 0.40% {from 2}
- Total relative uncertainty for excess HCl= 0.40%+0.40%= 0.80%
4. Uncertainty in the moles of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
- The moles of HCl added had an uncertainty of 0.25%.
- The moles of excess HCl (titrated) had a total relative uncertainty of 0.80%.
Uncertainty in the moles of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3is the combined uncertainty of these two:
Uncertainty in moles of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 0.25%+ 0.80%= 1.05%
5. Uncertainty in the mass of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
Since it was calculated using the number of moles and the molar mass, and the molar
mass has no uncertainty, the relative uncertainty in the mass of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 is the same as the
relative uncertainty in the moles of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 1.05%
6. Uncertainty in the percentage composition of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
- The relative uncertainty in the mass of CaCO₃ is 1.05%, and since there’s no
significant uncertainty in the eggshell mass, the total relative uncertainty in the
percentage composition will be the same as the relative uncertainty in the mass of
CaCO₃
- The total absolute uncertainty can be calculated by:
1.05
x 61.67 = 0.647 ≈ 0.65%
100
Thus the final result with the uncertainty would be:
61.67% ± 0.65%
Conclusion
Back titration was used in this experiment to ascertain the percentage composition of calcium
carbonate (𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3) in an eggshell. An excess of hydrochloric acid (HCl) was used to react a
known quantity of eggshell, and the unreacted HCl was then titrated with sodium hydroxide
(NaOH). The quantity of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 in the eggshell was determined based on the titration findings.
The percentage of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 in the eggshell was found to be 61.72%, with an associated uncertainty
of ± 0.65%. This uncertainty arises from the precision of the volumetric measurements used
throughout the experiment, including the measuring cylinder, pipette, and burette. Additionally,
random errors during the titration process, such as endpoint detection, may have contributed to
the observed uncertainty.
The experiment could be made more accurate by improving the precision of volumetric
measurements and ensuring complete reaction of the eggshell with HCl could reduce the
uncertainty and yield results closer to the theoretical value of percentage composition of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
in eggshells. However still, it successfully demonstrates the process of back titration to calculate
the composition of 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 in the sample of egg shell provided and such a procedure can be
followed with other samples such as limestone rock or seashells.
