When a solution of NaOH and Na2CO3 is titrated against standard HCl, t...
Due to the common ion effect, the dissociation of Na2CO3 is suppressed by NaOH. After neutralisation of NaOH, Na2CO3 starts to react and forms NaHCO3. The bicarbonate ion can also react with an equivalent of HCl, but as its equilibrium lies to the left, it remains undissociated at pH 8.1 (end-point for phenolphthalein) and only starts to dissociate at higher pH.
When a solution of NaOH and Na2CO3 is titrated against standard HCl, t...
Titration of NaOH and Na2CO3 with HCl
The titration of a mixture of NaOH and Na2CO3 with HCl involves the following reactions:
NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O
Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
The first reaction is the neutralization of NaOH with HCl, while the second reaction is the neutralization of Na2CO3 with HCl and the production of CO2 gas.
End point of phenolphthalein
Phenolphthalein is a commonly used indicator in acid-base titrations. It changes color from colorless to pink as the pH of the solution increases from acidic to basic. The end point of phenolphthalein is reached when the solution becomes pink, indicating that all the NaOH and Na2CO3 have reacted with the HCl.
Reaction that leads to end point with phenolphthalein
The end point of phenolphthalein is obtained after the reaction:
Na2CO3 + HCl → NaCl + NaHCO3
This reaction involves the neutralization of Na2CO3 with HCl to form NaCl and NaHCO3. This is the reaction that causes the solution to turn pink and indicates the end point of the titration.
Explanation of correct answer
Option B is the correct answer because it shows the reaction that leads to the end point with phenolphthalein:
Na2CO3 + HCl → NaCl + NaHCO3
Option A is incorrect because it only shows the reaction between NaOH and HCl, which does not involve Na2CO3.
Option C is incorrect because it shows the reaction between NaHCO3 and HCl, which occurs after the end point with phenolphthalein has been reached.
Option D is incorrect because it shows the reaction between Na2CO3 and 2HCl, which is not balanced and does not involve the formation of NaHCO3.