A chemist needs to find the concentration of a solution of barium hydroxide. Barium hydroxide solution is an alkali.
The chemist could find the concentration of the barium hydroxide solution using two different methods.
Method 1
• An excess of sodium sulfate solution is added to 25 cm3 of the barium hydroxide solution. A precipitate of barium sulfate is formed.
• The precipitate of barium sulfate is filtered, dried and weighed.
• The concentration of the barium hydroxide solution is calculated from the mass of
barium sulfate produced.
Method 2
• 25 cm3 of the barium hydroxide solution is titrated with hydrochloric acid of known concentration.
• The concentration of the barium hydroxide solution is calculated from the result of the titration.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods. (5)