Question

In the total alkalinity titration, if the molarity of your HCl was actually greater than what you determined it to be, would your error for total alkalinity be positive or negative?  

Answer 1

If in total alkalinity titration the actual strength of HCl is greater than that determined by calculation then the error in alkalinity would be negative. As according to our calculation the solution has a particular alkalinity depending on the strength of HCl , but the actual strength of HCl is more so the alkalinity of the solution must have been greater as the volume of HCl used remains the same. So the calculated value of alkalinity is lesser than the actual value hence gives negative error.