Visualization and Quantification of Sodium Chloride Formed during the Titration of Hydrochloric Acid with Sodium Hydroxide: An Extension to the Learning Outcomes During Acid–Base Titrations

Abstract

Titration is an important experimental skill that every chemistry educator and learner must master. Titration is often the method of choice in the science laboratory courses in secondary and postsecondary schools. During acid−base titration, chemistry learners are always told about salt formation. However, a practical visualization of the salt formed is not actually done. The evasion from the visualization of salt formed in acid−base titrations may prevent students from learning some key concepts of isolation, purification, quantification, and identification of salts. In view of the importance of titrations and salt formation therein, we demonstrate the titration of sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid with special focus on the visualization of the formation, isolation, purification, and identification of sodium chloride formed during the titration. The identification of sodium chloride was done by solubility studies and silver nitrate and flame tests. The approach serves as a unique and effective pedagogical method for understanding acid− base titrations and formation, isolation, purification, quantification, and identification of salts formed during acid−base neutralization reactions.