Experiment 3: Standardization of NaOH
INTRRODUCTION
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base commonly used in titration to determine the
concentration of acidic solutions. However, Yun et al. (2017) argued that due to its hygroscopic nature,
NaOH absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, which makes its concentration
unstable over time. Therefore, standardization is necessary to determine its exact concentration using a
primary standard. Wang (2022) defined standardization as the process of determining the precise
molarity of a solution by reacting it with a known amount of a primary standard. In this experiment,
potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP), a monoprotic acid with high purity and stability, is used as the
primary standard to standardize the NaOH solution.
The main objective of this experiment is to standardize NaOH, determine its exact
concentration, and evaluate the precision of the calculated molarity. By performing titration with KHP,
the exact concentration of NaOH is obtained through a neutralization reaction where one mole of KHP
reacts with one mole of NaOH.
During titration, phenolphthalein, a pH indicator, is used to detect the endpoint by exhibiting a
faint pink color at the equivalence point (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2025). According to
Skoog et al. (2017), the endpoint corresponds to the neutralization of all the KHP present in the solution,
ensuring accurate determination of NaOH concentration. The experiment involves two key steps: (1)
preparation of 0.1 M NaOH and (2) its standardization using KHP through titration until a faint pink color
appears, indicating the endpoint.
Upon completion of the titration, data analysis is performed to calculate the exact molarity of
NaOH. The precision of the results is assessed by calculating the average molarity, standard deviation,
variance, and coefficient of variance. These statistical parameters provide insights into the consistency
and reliability of the titration process. Furthermore, absolute and relative errors are computed to
quantify the deviation of the experimentally determined NaOH concentration from the expected
theoretical value, ensuring a thorough evaluation of the method’s accuracy (Preparation of Standard
Solution and Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide, 2022).
Objective: At the end of the experiment the student will be able to:
1. Discuss how to standardize NaOH,
2. Determine the exact concentration of the NaOH solution, and
3. Evaluate the precision of the calculated NaOH concentration.
Methodology
The materials and apparatuses required for the Standardization of NaOH were gathered
and meticulously cleaned to prevent contamination. The experiment began with the preparation
of 0.1 M NaOH. Initially, approximately 1.00 L of distilled water was boiled and covered with a
watch glass to prevent atmospheric carbon dioxide from dissolving into the solution as it cooled.
Simultaneously, 4.00 g of NaOH was accurately weighed in a 250-mL beaker. Distilled water
was then gradually added to the beaker while stirring continuously to ensure complete
dissolution of the NaOH solids. Once fully dissolved, the solution was transferred to a 1.00-L
volumetric flask. To ensure no residue remained, the beaker was rinsed with distilled water, and
the rinsings were added to the flask. The flask was subsequently filled up to the 1.00-L mark
with distilled water. The solution was thoroughly mixed and securely stored in a reagent bottle
Following this, the standardization of 0.1 M NaOH against potassium hydrogen
phthalate (KHP) was performed. Three clean and dry 250-mL Erlenmeyer flasks were obtained
and appropriately labeled as T1, T2, and T3. Triplicate samples of KHP, each weighing between
0.2 to 0.3 g, were accurately weighed and carefully transferred into the labeled flasks. The mass
of KHP in each flask was recorded to ensure precision. Each KHP sample was then dissolved in
approximately 25 mL of distilled water, followed by the addition of 2 to 3 drops of
phenolphthalein as an indicator to signal the endpoint.
Subsequently, the buret was filled with the prepared NaOH solution, and the initial buret
reading was recorded. The KHP solution was titrated with NaOH until a permanent faint pink
color persisted, indicating that neutralization had occurred. The final buret reading was then
recorded. This titration process was repeated for the remaining two samples to ensure consistent
and accurate results.
