Practical: Making a primary standard solution

Introduction
Primary standard solutions have an accurately known concentration and are stable over a period
in common laboratory conditions. These solutions are the starting point for the volumetric
analysis, so it is important that their concentration is accurate.

Aim
To make a primary standard solution.

Method
1. Rinse the volumetric flask with a small volume of distilled water.
2. Place a clean, dry 150mL beaker on the electronic balance and tare the balance.
3. Accurately measure out, to the nearest 0.001g, about 1.4g of anhydrous sodium carbonate
into the beaker.
4. Add about 80mL of distilled water to the beaker and stir until the sodium carbonate has
completely dissolved.
5. Place the filter funnel into the neck of the volumetric flask.
6. Pour the sodium carbonate solution into the volumetric flask.
7. Pour a small volume of distilled water into the beaker, swirl and pour into the volumetric
flask. Repeat three times.
8. Rinse the filter funnel by pouring some distilled water from the wash bottle into the
volumetric flask.
9. Remove the filter funnel.
10. Fill the volumetric flask with distilled water until the bottom of the meniscus is just
touching the line on the volumetric flask.
11. Place a lid on the volumetric flask, hold the lid in place, invert and swirl the contents of the
flask so that mixing occurs.
12. Label your solution and keep it for use in Investigation 7.3.
Materials
 250mL Volumetric flask with lid
 Electronic balance
 Clean, dry 150mL beaker
 Spatula
 Filter funnel
 Wash bottle filled with distilled water
 Approx. 1.5g anhydrous sodium carbonate
 300mL distilled water
Risk Assessment
Hazard or Risk Potential for harm Control measures needed
Solid sodium carbonate. Can irritate skin and eyes. Wear safety glasses and wash
your hands at the end.
Working with glass beakers. Can smash and injure. Be careful and don’t leave
anything on near the edge of
workspace.
Results
Accurately record the mass of anhydrous sodium carbonate that was measured out.
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Analysis of Results

Calculate the concentration of the sodium carbonate solution. Your answer should be given to four
significant figures.

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Discussion
1. Justify why the beaker and filter funnel were rinsed after use.
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2. Evaluate the accuracy of this technique for preparing a primary standard.

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3. Sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na2CO3 * 10H2O) is readily available, has a higher molar mass and
is cheaper than anhydrous sodium carbonate. Justify why anhydrous sodium carbonate is used as a
primary standard while sodium carbonate decahydrate is not.

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4. Identify three criteria that must be met for a substance to be used as a primary standard.

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5. Describe the purpose of a primary standard.

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6. Explain why sodium hydroxide is not appropriate for use as a primary standard.

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7. Use your knowledge of the nature of hydrochloric acid to explain why it should not be used as a
primary standard.

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8. A student was making the following primary standard: 250mL of a 0.135mol/ L solution of sodium
hydrogen carbonate.

a) Calculate the mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate that must be used to make this solution.

b) Describe the method used to make this primary standard.

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9. A student wanted to measure 90mL of a solution. Suggest what piece (or pieces) of measuring
equipment is/are most appropriate for this task and explain why.

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Conclusion
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