Acid-base equilibria
Read our general notes on Risk Assessment
Why is methyl orange used in a limewater titration instead of phenolphthalein?
Igloo writes
Assuming that you are titrating the limewater with a strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid, either methyl orange or phenolphthalein can be used as an indicator here. Perhaps your teacher is trying to give you some experience of working with other indicators apart from phenolphthalein. If you had a free choice in the matter, then phenolphthalein is the better option since most of us find the end-point easier to detect.
Always carry out a risk assessment and check with your teacher before starting any practical work.
Risk assessment
Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is said on this website.
For further guidance see our tutorial on Risk Assessment.
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updated: 13 December 2006
