Question

If the tip of the syringe, "The Titrator", was not filled with NaOH before the initial volume reading was recorded, would the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar of that trial be greater than or less than the actual concentration? Please explain your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

The concentration of acetic acid in vinegar of that trial would be greater than the actual concentration.

Explanation:

"The titrator" contains the base solution (NaOH) with which the soution of vinegar (acetic acid) is being titrated.

Under the assumption that the tip of the syringe was not filled before the initial volume reading was recorded, part of the volume of the base that you release will be retained in the tip of the syringe, and, consequently, the actual volume of base added to the acetic acid will be less than what you will calculate by the difference of readings.

So,  in your calculations you will use a larger volume of the base than what was actually used, yielding a fake larger number of moles of base than the actual amount added.

So, as at the neutralization point the number of equivalents of the base equals the number of acid equivalents, you will be reporting a greater number of acid equivalents, which in turn will result in a greater concentration than the actual one. This means that the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar of that trial would be greater than the actual concentration.