Final answer:
Titration with a 0.1234 M sodium hydroxide solution to find the unknown concentration of hydrochloric acid. The calculation based on 31.416 mL of the titrant used indicates that the concentration of the hydrochloric acid solution is 0.019385 M.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the concentration of the original hydrochloric acid solution, we must understand the process of titration. In titration, a solution of known concentration (titrant) is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. The point at which the reaction between the titrant and the unknown solution is complete is known as the endpoint, indicated by the phenolphthalein changing color.
The student used 31.416 mL (or 0.031416 liters) of a 0.1234 M sodium hydroxide solution to titrate a 200 mL sample of hydrochloric acid. To find the number of moles of sodium hydroxide used, we multiply its volume by its molarity:
Number of moles of NaOH = 0.031416 liters × 0.1234 mol/liters = 0.003877 mol of NaOH
Since hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) react in a 1:1 molar ratio, the moles of HCl in the unknown solution is also 0.003877 mol. To find the concentration of HCl in the original solution, we divide the moles of HCl by the volume of the sample in liters:
Concentration of HCl = 0.003877 mol / 0.200 liters = 0.019385 M.
The concentration of the original hydrochloric acid solution sample was, therefore, 0.019385 M.