Practical investigations
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On this site it says to standardise a solution of NaOH we should use hydrogenphthalate. However, this is not used in my school and I cannot find a substitute for this. Could you recommend another acid?
A primary standard has to be available pure, stable in air, readily soluble in water and have a relatively large relative formula mass. At this level there is nothing to beat potassium hydrogenphtalate as an acid to use as a standard for titration with an alkali.
Alternatively you could use anhydrous sodium carbonate as a primary standard. Use it to standardise some hydrochloric acid by titration and then, in turn, use that to standardise your alkali.
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: 07 March 2005
