Question

Potatoes can be peeled commercially by soaking them in a 3-M to 6-M solution of sodium hydroxide, then removing the loosened skins by spraying them with water. Does a sodium hydroxide solution have a suitable concentration if titration of 12.00 mL of the solution requires 30.6 mL of 1.65 M HCI to reach the end point?

Short answer

4.21 M NaOH solution is required

Yes, Potatoes can be peeled commercially by soaking them in 3M to 6M solution of NaOH because 4.21 M value is between 3 M to 6M.

Step-by-step solution

Given Data

M_a V_a = M_b V_b

a = acid = HCl and b = base = NaOH

V_a=Volume of acid = 30.6 mL

M_a=Molarity of acid = 1.65 M

V_b=Volume of base = 12 mL

M_b=Molarity of base = ?

Determine the concentration

\(\begin{aligned}{}{M_a}{V_a} &= {M_b}{V_b}\\1.65M \times 30.6mL& = {M_b} \times 12mL\\{M_b}& = 4.21\end{aligned}\)

Therefore, the required concentration of NaOH=4.21 M

4.21 M is between 3 M to 6 M solution in which potatoes are soaked.