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Chemistry 14BL

Vinegar A Study of a Weak Acid and its Buffer

The procedure for this assignment is found on pages 44-46 of your lab manual. A
handout will be provided to replace the final paragraph on page 45 and the buffer
preparation component of week 2 of the assignment.
The study questions, and the guidelines for the notebook preparation, and notebook report
for both weeks of the assignment are given in this document.
Due Dates:
Laboratory Preparation Week 1 (Individual)
Laboratory Preparation Week 2 (Individual)
Laboratory Report Week 1 (Individual)
Laboratory Report Week 2 (Group)

Feb 17 - 20
Feb 24 - 27
March 3 - 6
March 3 - 6

Laboratory Preparation (Week 1)

Study Questions
On separate lined paper, complete the following questions. Staple these to the copy of
your prelab notebook work and turn them in at the start of the lab period.
1. The printed label on a bottle of commercial vinegar states that the acetic acid
concentration is 5%.
(a) If the manufacturer had reported two significant figures in the concentration, what
range of values would round to 5.0 %?
(b) Calculate the concentration in molarity of the upper and lower values from (a).
The molecular weight of acetic acid is 60.05 g/mol. How many digits can you
report in your answers?
(c) What assumption did you make to calculate the concentrations in part (b)?
(d) What is the percentage difference in the concentrations you calculated in part (b)?
Explain what value you chose for the denominator in this calculation?
2. Acetic acid is a monoprotic weak acid with a pKa of 4.74. (Ka = 1.8 x 10-5)
(a) What is the pH of 10 mL of a 5.0% solution?
(b) What is the pH of the solution if you now add 30 ml of water to solution (a)?
3. How will the equivalence point volume differ if you titrate the two solutions in
question 2? Explain your answer.

Technique Preparation
(I) On-line Technique Video and Resources
Go to the following Web site and click on the appropriate title to download the video.
http://www.oid.ucla.edu/edtech/impcastvideos Select course related and then the titles
below.
Use of a Buret
http://ccle.ucla.edu
Calibration of the Sartorius pH Meter
IMPORTANT: You should review the concepts of acid-base chemistry from 14A for this
experiment. A problem set addressing acid-base chemistry is posted on the course
website.
(II) Read section II.6, pages 10-11 in your lab manual on the theory behind the pH meter
and print the instructions on the use of the pH meter posted in the Assignments tab of the
course website. (Take this set of instructions to lab with you.).
Notebook Preparation*
Prepare your lab notebook for the experimental work involved in determining the
concentration of a commercial vinegar product. Specifically, prior to your lab section
meeting, your notebook should include the following sections of the report:
Introduction: Include the goals of the both parts of the assignment as well as the
experimental techniques you will use to attain those goals.
Procedure References: Appropriately reference all primary and supplemental printed
materials and any digital sites that you will use for the assignment.
Flow Chart: Prepare a flow chart of the assignment procedure for Week 1 including
sufficient detail that you can use it as a checklist during the assignment to monitor your
progress at each step along the way. In preparing your flowchart place an asterisk beside
each chemical for which you provide safety information in the next section of the report.
MSDS Information: In tabular format provide the following information for NaOH
(0.5M) and CH3COOH (5% by weight/volume, which you will work with in the
assignment:
**
Every page of your notebook must include the title of the assignment, your name and section, and the
date that the work was done, or the report written.

Always select the MSDS site that gives you information closest to the concentration or grade of the
chemical you will be working with in the assignment.

product name
chemical formula
formula weight
melting point; boiling point and density
health hazard data (summarize in your own words
spill and disposal procedures (summarize in your own words
Note: Start a NEW page in your notebook for the remainder of the prelab assignment.
The previous material will be turned in at the beginning of the period; these pages will be
turned in at the end of the lab period.
Data Tables: Set up (1) a data table to show the calculation of the dilution that you make
from the storeroom standard stock solution (leave a space to record the actual
concentration provided) and (2) a table to record your first set of titration data. (In lab
you will prepare other titration data tables as needed.) For each titration table set up a
column for pH and another for volume of titrant. Allow space at the top of the table to
record the volume of the pipetted aliquot of acetic acid and the precise concentration
(with error) of the standard NaOH you prepared in (1).
In-class Work Week 1
Complete the dilution table and the titration data tables.
Post-Lab Report for Week 1
Your notebook report will include:
Data
- An orderly record of your data (printouts of data tables from EXCEL are
acceptable)
- Your data table should include all the raw data, which was turned in on the day the
work was done, as well as all the calculated values for the derivative graphs
- Each data table should have a title
- Label all data entries clearly
Graphs (If you did 3 trials, you will have a total of 9 graphs)
For each trial, you need a full titration graph, a titration graph of just the equivalence
point region and a first-derivative graph of just the equivalence point region. The latter
two graphs should have scales that allow you to interpolate the equivalence point to the
precision of the data (that is you need to be able to read the x-axis on these graphs to
0.02 mL)
Your graphs should have
- correct scales which will require you to use all of the page
- labeled axes with units
- appropriate titles
- an indication on the expanded graphs of the equivalence point volume for EACH
trial.
- an indication on the full titration graph of the pKa (vinegar). This corresponds to the
pH when half the volume of titrant required to reach the equivalence point has been
added.
Data Analysis

Concentration
- From the equivalence point volumes from the titration graphs, the volume of acetic
acid titrated, and the concentration of your diluted NaOH standard solution, calculate
the concentration of the unknown vinegar solution for each trial.(Remember to
subtract the initial buret reading from the equivalence point volume determined from
your graph if your initial buret reading is not 0.00 mL)
- Calculate the average concentration from your trials
pKa
- Using the values for the pKas marked on the full titration curves, determine the
average pKa from your set of titrations. Make sure you label the pKa clearly on each
of the full titration graphs.
Error Analysis
- Calculate the relative average deviation for the concentration of your vinegar solution
- Calculate the % inherent error for ONE of your vinegar titrations
- Calculate the % difference between your molar calculated concentration of the
vinegar solution with the manufacturers stated concentration of 0.83 M.
- Calculate the average deviation for your pKa. Report this as an absolute error
Conclusion
- Summarize your results of the concentration and its relative error and the pKa and its
absolute error.
- Compare your percent relative average deviation with the percent inherent error.
- How does the difference between your average concentration and the manufacturers
stated concentration compare with your calculated percent relative deviation and
calculated inherent error?

Laboratory Preparation (Week 2)

Study Questions
On separate lined paper, complete the following questions. Staple these to the copy of
your prelab notebook work and turn them in at the start of the lab period.
1. Calculate the pH of a buffer solution prepared by mixing 20 mL of 5.0% acetic acid
with 20 mL of 0.50 M NaOH. (pKa for acetic acid = 4.74; Ka for acetic acid = 1.8 x
10-5)
2. Calculate the pH of a buffer solution prepared by mixing 20 mL of 5.0% acetic acid
with 20 mL of 0.50 M NaOH and 100 mL of water.
3. Calculate the equivalence point volume for the titration of 10 mL of 5.0% acetic acid
with 0.50 M NaOH
4. Calculate the equivalence point volume for the titration of 10 mL of 5.0% acetic acid
and with 0.50 M NaOH and 100 mL of water.
5. Calculate the volume of 0.20 M NaOH required to bring the pH of 20 mL of 5%
acetic acid to 4.74, the pKa of acetic acid.
Notebook Preparation for this continuing assignment should include:
Flow Chart: A brief flow chart summary of the key procedures of Week 2 of the
assignment
MSDS Information: In tabular format provide the following information for HCl (0.5M),
which you will work with in the assignment:
product name
chemical formula
formula weight
melting point; boiling point and density
health hazard data (summarize in your own words
spill and disposal procedures (summarize in your own words
Note: Select the MSDS site that gives you information closest to the concentration or
grade listed above for HCl.
Data Tables: On a new page set up (1) a data table to indicate who your partners are for
this part of the assignment, who is responsible for preparing the buffer solution, who is
responsible for each of the four sets of buffer titrations. Then set up (2) a table for
titration data similar to the ones you prepared for Week 1. Include a place in the table
heading to indicate the specific buffer titration conditions that you will perform as well as
the concentration of the titrant.
Note: Be sure to obtain an Excel copy of the data from each of your partner(s) It is
important that each person has a complete set of data at the time the report is
submitted. At the end of the lab period in Week 2, each person will submit a copy

Always select the MSDS site that gives you information closest to the concentration or grade of the
chemical you will be working with in the assignment.

of the data he or she acquired. Thus, the TA will have an original copy of all of
your groups work.
Post-Lab Report for Week 2
THIS IS A GROUP REPORT. ONLY ONE REPORT IS SUBMITTED FOR THE
GROUP.
The post-lab report will include:
Experimenters/Authors
- Write the names of your group members and their responsibility in the experiment
and in writing this post-lab report
Data (printouts of data tables from EXCEL are acceptable)
- Organize data into tables and label each data table clearly with title. Your data table
should include all the raw data as well as all the calculated values for the derivative
graphs.
Graphs (Use EXCEL to plot the titration graphs) There should be one full graph and
one full derivative graph for each set of aliquots
- Prepare a full titration graph AND a first derivative graph for the combined buffer
titrations for the two sets of 5-ml aliquots of vinegar with HCl and NaOH.
- Prepare a full titration graph AND a first derivative graph for the combined buffer
titrations for the two sets of 10-ml aliquots of vinegar with HCl and NaOH.
Your graphs should have:
- correct scales and full use of graph paper
- labeled axes with units
- appropriate titles and labels
Analysis
- Determine the points on the combined buffer graphs that correspond to the limits of
the buffer region. Using the value for the pKa determined from week 1 and the pH of
the solution at those points of the titration, calculate the ratio of [OAc-]/[HOAc] at
these points. (This is the range of pH values in which the Henderson-Hasselbach
equation is valid.)
Discussion and Conclusion
- Compare the combined titration curves for the data obtained in Week 2 with the full
titration curve obtained from data acquired in Week 1. How are they similar or
different?
- Summarize all the results