Chemical quantities (AS)
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I am trying (in vain) to discover why oxalic acid is an ideal agent to standardise a solution of sodium hydroxide? I know that KHP (K-hydrogenphthalate) can also be used and that it has a lesser tendency to absorb water from the air... is this the same for oxalic acid? Please help!
Igloo writes
Oxalic acid is an excellent primary standard to determine the concentration of a solution of an alkali. This is because:
a oxalic acid is a solid, and therefore easy to weigh out accurately,
b it is very soluble in water,
c it can be obtained in a very high state of purity.
As you imply, the fact that it is not particularly hygroscopic helps to keep it reliably pure during storage.
“KHP” is another excellent primary standard, though it is not as soluble in water as oxalic acid. However, it is usually preferred to oxalic acid since the latter is very toxic, and therefore has to be handled with extreme care.
We are not qualfied to give safety advice on React so you should not rely on what is said here. Always carry out a risk assessment and check with your teacher before starting any practical work.
Risk assessment
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updated: 28 January 2007
