The strengths and limitations of a back titration experiment in determining the number of moles
of HCl neutralized by an antacid
Strengths of a back titration experiment in this investigation was that I was able to determine the
number of moles of 1.0M HCl that was neutralized by the various antacids. This could not have
been done directly as some of the antacids are not fully soluble in distilled water. Back titration
was used to determine the amount of acid not neutralized by the antacid. The number of moles of
HCl neutralized by the antacid was calculated by subtracting the number of moles of NaOH
required for back-titration from the number of moles of HCl added to the 1g of antacid.
Limitations of a back titration experiment in this investigation. The end point of the process does
not necessarily equal the equivalence point precisely, which lead to inaccurate results. There was
more 0.1M NaOH added for the colour or the indicator to turn light pink.
The accuracy of the apparatus used to measure reactants (HCl, antacids, and NaOH), such as
pipettes and burettes, also added to the limitation in the titration.
Reading equipment error was also a limitation in the titration experiment, for example
misreading volumes due to meniscus.