EXPERIMENT 2 PREPARATION OF

STANDARD VOLUMETRIC
SOLUTIONS
Structure
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Preparation of Standard Volumetric Solutions
2.2.1 Standard Thiocyanate Solution (0.1 N)
2.2.2 Standard Hydrochloric Acid Solution (0.5 N)
2.2.3 Standard Iodine Solution (0.1 M)
2.2.4 Standard Potassium Permanganate Solution (0.05 N)
2.2.5 Standard Silver Nitrate Solution (0.1 N)
2.2.6 Standard Sodium Hydroxide Solution (0.1 N)
2.2.7 Standard Sodium Thiosulphate Solution (0.1 N)
2.2.8 Standard Sulphuric Acid Solution (0.1 N)
2.3 Precautions

2.0 OBJECTIVES
After attending to this experiment, we shall be able to:
• prepare standard solutions.

2.1 INTRODUCTION
A solution of known normality is called a standard solution. Its concentration is
determined by a process known as standardization. If you have a primary standard
(a compound which is very pure, stable, non-hygroscopic, and with a high molecular
weight), you can prepare a standard solution simply by dissolving a known amount
of the compound in a known volume of liquid. If you don’t have such a compound,
you’ll have to standardize your solution against a primary standard.

2.2 PREPARATION OF STANDARD VOLUMETRIC

SOLUTIONS
2.2.1 Standard Thiocyanate Solution (0.1 N)
Reagents
Ferric alum indicator solution – Saturated solution of FeNH4(SO4).12H2O in
water.
Silver nitrate- purified by treating 50 g of AgNO3 in 20 ml boiling water with
5 drops of HNO3. Heat to dissolve and filter.
Procedure
Dissolve about 7.612 g of ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) or 9.718 g of potassium
thiocyanate (KSCN) in water and dilute to 1000 ml. Standardize the solution as
follows: 7
Practical Manual --- Pipette 25 ml of standard 0.1 N silver nitrate solution into a 250 ml conical flask,
Chemical Analysis and
Quality Assurance add 5 ml of nitric acid (1:1) and 2 ml of ferric alum indicator solution. Titrate with
ammonium thiocyanate or potassium thiocyanate solution from a burette. At first, a
white precipitate is produced imparting a milky appearance to the solution, and as
each drop of thiocyanate fills in, it produces a pink colour, which quickly disappears
on shaking. As the end point approaches, the precipitate becomes flocculent and
settles easily. The end point is reached when one drop of the thiocyanate solution
produces a reddish brown colour, which remains after shaking vigorously for 1 min.
Repeat the titration with two other 25 ml portions of silver nitrate solution. Individual
titration should agree within 0.1 ml. Determine the reagent blank. Calculate the
normality of the thiocyanate solution on the basis of normality of standard silver
nitrate solution.
Calculation

Normality of AgNO3 × 25
Normality of thiocyanate = ——————————
Titre Volume (ml)

Note : If purified AgNO3 is taken directly for titration, then accurately weigh 0.7 g
AgNO3 to 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask and add 75 ml of distilled water, 5 ml of HNO3
(1:1) and 2 ml ferric alum solution. Titration proceeds as above.

Wt of AgNO3 × 1000 × %Purity

Normality of thiocyanate = —————————————
Titre Volume (ml) × 169.87 × 100

2.2.2 Standard Hydrochloric Acid Solution (0.5 N)

Reagents
Methyl orange - 0.1% in H2O.
Anhydrous sodium carbonate - Primary standard (NIST certified).
Procedure
Transfer by means of graduated cylinder or a burette 44.5 ml (sp gr 1.18) or 49.1
ml (sp gr 1.16) of concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) into a 1000 ml volumetric
flask containing about 500 ml of water. Cool and dilute to 1000 ml. Standardize the
solution as follows:
Take 0.3 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate into 250 ml conical flask, dilute to 40 ml
with water, and add 3 drops of methyl orange. Titrate the sodium carbonate solution
against the hydrochloric acid solution to be standardized, continue the addition until
the colour due to methyl orange becomes a very faint yellow. Boil the solution and
cool again. Continue the titration by adding the acid drop-wise and carefully until the
colour of the methyl orange becomes orange or faint pink. The titration is repeated
with two other portions of sodium carbonate solution. Individual titration should
agree within 0.1 ml. Calculate the normality of the hydrochloric acid as follows.
Calculation

Wt of Na2CO3 × 1000 × %Purity

Normality of HCl = —————————————
Titre Volume (ml) × 53.0 × 100
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2.2.3 Standard Iodine Solution (0.1 M) Preparation of Standard
Volumetric Solutions
Reagents
Arsenious oxide - NIST certified (Dry at 105°C for 1 h immediately before use).
Resublimated iodine - AR grade
Arsenious oxide solution (0.025M) : Accurately weigh 4.95 g of As2O3. Dissolve
in 50 ml of 1M NaOH in a flask by heating on steam bath. Add same amount of
0.5M H2SO4. Cool, quantitatively transfer mixture to 1 litre volumetric flask and
dilute to volume. Solution must be neutral to litmus.
Sodium bicarbonate-AR grade.
Starch solution - 0.2% solution in water.
Procedure
Transfer 12.7 g of resublimed iodine to a 250 ml beaker containing 20 g of iodate
free potassium iodide and 50 ml of water. Stir until all iodine is dissolved and dilute
with water to 1000 ml. Preserve in an amber-colour glass stoppered bottle in a cool
place. Standardize the solution as follows:
Transfer accurately 50 ml of As2O3 solution to Erlenmeyer flask. Acidify slightly with
H2SO4 (1:10), neutralize with solid NaHCO3 and add 2 g excess. Titrate with I2
solution using 2.5 ml starch solution as indicator. Saturate solution with CO2 at the
end of titration by adding 1 ml of H2SO4 (1:10) just before end point is reached.
Calculation

Molarity of As2O3 × 50
Molarity of I2 solution = —————————
Titre Volume (ml)

Note: The strength of iodine solution deteriorates on keeping. It shall always be

standardized before use.

2.2.4 Standard Potassium Permanganate Solution (0.05 N)

Reagents
Disodium oxalate - NIST certified (105°C for 1 h).
Dilute sulphuric acid - (10% in water).
Potassium permanganate - AR grade.
Procedure
Carefully dissolve 3.2 g of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in water and dilute to
1000 ml. Boil solution for 1 h. Allow to stand for 2-3 days in an amber-coloured
glass stoppered bottle. Filter off any manganese hydroxide through glass wool.
Store in amber coloured glass stoppered bottle. Standardize the solution as follows:
Weigh 0.3 g of dried sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) into 250 ml conical flask and
dissolve in 40 ml water by slow stirring. Add 50 ml of 10% H2SO4 solution to it.
Add 20 ml of KMnO4 solution from a burette while shaking till the solution is
decolourized and then heat to 55-60°C. At this temperature, complete the titration,
by adding KMnO4 solution until faint pink colour persists for 30 sec. Repeat the 9
Practical Manual --- titration two more times. Run a blank determination using 50 ml of 10 per cent
Chemical Analysis and
Quality Assurance
sulphuric acid. Calculate the normality of potassium permanganate based on the
quantity of standard sodium oxalate taken.
Calculation
Amount of Na2C2O4 (g) × 1000 × %Purity
Normality of KMnO4 = ————————————————
Titre Volume (ml) × 133.999 × 100

2.2.5 Standard Silver Nitrate Solution (0.1 N)

Reagents
Sodium chloride - NIST certified (Dried at 110°C for 2h).
Potassium chromate solution (5% solution in water).
Silver nitrate - AR grade.
Procedure
Dissolve 16.9873 g of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in water and dilute to 1000 ml. All
apparatus should be thoroughly washed with absolutely chloride free distilled water
before use. Store in amber coloured glass-stoppered bottle. Standardize the solution
as follows:
Accurately weigh 0.3 g dried sodium chloride (NaCl) into a 250 ml conical flask
resting on a white porcelain tile and add 40 ml of water. Add 1 ml of potassium
chromate indicator solution and titrate against silver nitrate solution until first
precipitable pale-red brown persists after vigorous shaking. Determine the indicator
blank correction by adding 1 ml of the indicator to a volume of water equal to the
final volume in the titration and then silver nitrate solution until the colour of the blank
matches that of the solution titrated. The indicator blank correction should not
amount to more than 0.03 to 0.1 ml of silver nitrate. Repeat the titration two more
times. Calculate the normality of silver nitrate solution on the basis of quantity of
Na2CO3 taken for titration.
Calculation
Amount of NaCl (g) × 1000 × %Purity
Normality of AgNO3 = ———————————————
Titre Volume (ml) × 58.45 × 100

2.2.6 Standard Sodium Hydroxide Solution (0.1 N)

Reagents
Carbon dioxide free water - Boil water for 20 min and cool with soda lime
protection.
Sodium hydroxide - AR grade
Potassium hydrogen phthalate - NIST certified (Dried at 120°C for 2h). Cool in
desiccator containing H2SO4.
Procedure
Dissolve 4 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in l00 ml of boiled and carbon-dioxide
free water in an Erlenmeyer flask and dilute to 1000 ml with water. Store in a
10 polyethylene bottle. Standardize this solution as follows:
Accurately weigh 0.3 g enough dried potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHC8H4O4) Preparation of Standard
into 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask and add 50 ml cool CO2 free H2O. Titrate to pH 8.6 Volumetric Solutions
against NaOH solution using phenolphthalein as indicator or by pH meter. Repeat
the titration two more times. Calculate the normality of sodium hydroxide solution on
the basis of standard potassium hydrogen phthalate.
Calculation

g of KHC8H4O4 × 1000 × %Purity

Normality of NaOH = ——————————————
Titre Volume (ml) × 204.229 × 100

2.2.7 Standard Sodium Thiosulphate Solution (0.1 N)

Reagents
Potassium dichromate - NIST certified (Dried at 100°C for 2h)
Potassium iodide - AR grade
Conc. HCl
Sodium thiosulphate - A grade
Starch solution (0.5%): Mix 0.5 g of soluble starch with about 15 ml of water and
pour into 100 ml of hot water. Boil for 1-2 min.
Procedure
Weigh 25 g of sodium thiosulphate crystals (Na2S2O3.5H2O), dissolve in water and
dilute 1000 ml. Standardize the solution as follows:
Weigh accurately 0.125 g of ground potassium dichromate into a 250 ml conical
flask and 25 ml of distilled water. Add 2 g of potassium iodide and 8 ml of
concentrated hydrochloric acid. Mix thoroughly and titrate with sodium thiosulphate,
swirling the liquid constantly until the brown colour changes to yellowish green. Add
2 ml of starch solution and continue the titration until the colour changes sharply from
blue to light green. Repeat the titration two more times. Calculate the normality of
sodium thiosulphate solution on the basis of normality of potassium dichromate.
Calculation

g of K2Cr2O7 × 1000 × %Purity

Normality of Na2S2O3 solution = —————————————
Titre Volume (ml) × 49.03 × 100

2.2.8 Standard Sulphuric Acid Solution (0.1 N)

Reagents
Standard NaOH solution (0.1N)
Phenolphthalein indicator solution: Dissolve 1 g in 100 ml ethanol.
Procedure
Transfer 3 ml of sulphuric acid (sp gr l.84) into a 1000 ml volumetric flask containing
about 500 ml of water. When cold, dilute to 1000 ml. Standardize the solution as
follows:
11
Practical Manual --- Transfer 25 ml of standard 0.1N sodium hydroxide solution into 250 ml conical
Chemical Analysis and
Quality Assurance
flask. Titrate with sulphuric acid solution using phenolphthalein indicator. Repeat the
titration with two more 25 ml portions of sodium hydroxide solution. The various
titration should agree within 0.1 ml. Calculate the normality of sulphuric acid solution
on the basis of standard sodium hydroxide solution.
Calculation

Normality of NaOH × 25
Normality of H2SO4 = ——————————
Titre Volume (ml)

2.3 PRECAUTIONS
• Use amber-coloured bottle for the storage of standard solutions.
• Calibrated analytical balance and calibrated volumetric glassware should be
used.
• Observe standard volumetric solution for any precipitation at the time of use.
• Pure analytical reagent grade chemicals should be used.
• The standard volumetric solutions should not be stored for a longer period of
time.
• The strength of the solutions should be checked before use.

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