SCH4U

Name:

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Determination of the Solubility Product Constant for

Calcium Hydroxide
The solution process can be considered as an equilibrium process and as a result,
an equilibrium constant can be assigned. It is given a special designation, Ksp.

In this investigation, you will determine the value of the Ksp for calcium hydroxide.
You will be given a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide with an excess of
crystals on the bottom. The solution will be at room temperature. To calculate the
Ksp value, the concentration of hydroxide ions and calcium ions in the equilibrium
solution are needed. The [OH-] will be found by titrating a sample of the saturated
solution with acid of known concentration.

Pre-lab

1. Write an introduction for this lab, as if you were writing a formal lab report. You
MUST have references and they MUST be written in APA format. [
/5]

2. Make a check-list for this lab. Make sure that each term in the check-list has
only ONE task.
[

/3]

3. Make a chemical safety table for all the chemicals used in this experiment.
Refer to the Esters lab for an example. [
/2]

4. Find the Ksp value for Ca(OH)2 [

Materials

/1]

SCH4U

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Burette

Erlenmeyer flasks

Pipette

Saturated calcium hydroxide solution

Distilled water

Methyl orange indicator

Pipette bulb

0.05 M HCl

Procedure

1. The saturated solution of calcium hydroxide has already been prepared for you.
It has been equilibrating for at least six days
2. Prepare a 50 mL burette for titration. Rinse the clean burette and tip with 5 mL
portions of standardized 0.05 M HCl solution and discard the washing. Repeat
this procedure again.
3. Fill the burette with HCl and record the initial volume
4. Try to keep the undissolved calcium hydroxide so that it remains on the bottom
of the flask. With minimum disturbance, carefully decant the saturated solution
into a second flask. Take approximately 50 mL of saturated solution
5. Record the temperature of the sample taken
6. Rinse the 10 mL pipette with 2 mL of the saturated hydroxide solution and
discard. Pipette 10 mL of the saturated hydroxide solution into another clean
Erlenmeyer flask. Add two drops of methyl orange indicator
7. Titrate with the standard 0.05 M hydrochloric acid solution. Record the volume
needed to just turn the yellow colour to a permanent pink.
8. Repeat the process until the numbers are within 0.2 mL
9. All waste is to be discarded in the container provided for this purpose.

Questions

1. Calculate the moles of acid used in the titration [

/3]

2. From a balanced chemical equation for the titration reaction, determine the

moles of OH- ion used in the reaction [

/2]

3. Calculate the concentration of OH- ions and Ca2+ ions in the saturated solution,
in mol/L
[

/3]

4. Why does the reactant not appear in the equilibrium law for this equilibrium? [
/1]

5. Calculate the value of Ksp for Ca(OH)2 [

/6]

6. 200 mL of 1.500 M CaI2 was added to 100.0 mL of the saturated Ca(OH)2

solution. Calculate the equilibrium concentration of the OH- ion [

/4]

Lab Skills

All equipment was used properly

All chemicals were used and disposed of properly

The lab area was cleaned properly

The results were accurate

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