Why Alkali cannot be filled in the burette for the experiment Neutralisation?

Question

In the Neutralisation experiment, the burette in the experiment is always filled with acid, and the alkali is always filled inthe conical flask below the burette. Why do we want to do so?

Answer 1

At one time it was considered good practice to use acid in the burette as alkali had a tendency to make glass burette taps 'seize up' if it wasn't washed out thoroughly. Nowadays, with plastic taps, this is not of any great importance.
http://www.chemistry-react.org/go/Faq/Faq_3630.html...

Answer 2

Because alkali can react with glass; especially in a long thin cylinder like a burette. It is often difficult to remove a glass stopper from a jar of alkali, for this reason. Cleaning alkali out of a burerrte is not an easy job. Theoretically, it is much easier to prepare an accurate solution of acid of known strength and volume; because alkali can also react with water vapour (it is hygroscopic); and so although you might know the original weight, you cannot be certain of the strength of the solution, hence the alkali is titrated against the acid.

Answer 3

The experiment seemed to be designed that way.

If you want to test neutralization, you can always test it with the same molar conc. of an acid and a base (of the same volume), regardless of their position in the burette... You can place the alkaline element in the burette and drop it on the conical flask containing an acid. What is important is that you observe an acid-base reaction that will eventaully form a salt and water as by-products (this seems to be appropriate with strong acid-strong base reactions)...

Well, hope that helped.

Answer 4

Because the alkali reacts w/ the silica w/c is one of the basic materials presence in the glass w/c will affect the concentration of your standard alkali solution. That's why is not advisable to stored alkali solution in the glass container.

Answer 5

because if fill the burrete with alkali...it will clog the burrette