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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: orgo814 on June 02, 2016, 10:41:16 PM

Title: diluting acid
Post by: orgo814 on June 02, 2016, 10:41:16 PM

I have a question. If the acid you have in lab just says "Hydrochloric Acid" without a concentration noted, how do you dilute it 2.0M HCl. Don't I need to know the initial concentration to do so?

Title: Re: diluting acid
Post by: Burner on June 02, 2016, 11:01:53 PM

Then you may need to carry out titration to find out the concentration of this acid

Title: Re: diluting acid
Post by: Irlanur on June 03, 2016, 03:53:28 AM

depends if you need the exact concentration or just roughly 2 M...

Title: Re: diluting acid
Post by: Arkcon on June 03, 2016, 06:20:53 AM

If you have absolutely no idea, and want a good result, then it can't be done. 

If its a jug, of very concentrated acid, that somehow -- on the label, in the MSDS, your boss's opinion, popular knowledge about your lab -- gives you some idea of the concentration, then you can work with that, with varying possibilities of success.  In ancient times, works like concentrated, dilute, strong, weak actually stood for certain concentrations, that depended on the acid or base.  Most people have stopped doing it that way.

Or you analyze the concentration, or buy a new bottle of the known concentration.