American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Environmental Lab

Report # 2
(Acidity)

Names URN: (University Registration Number)

Tamara al-Tawal 1310360

Submitted on: Day.Month.Year (14th of March 2017)

1 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Apparatus and Materials ................................................................................................................ 3
Procedure ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Results and Calculations ................................................................................................................ 4
Graphs and Figures ........................................................................................................................ 5
Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 7
References ...................................................................................................................................... 7

2 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Introduction
Acidity is defined as the ability of water to donate protons, and it also could be the measurement
of the amount of acidity present in water. Now the presence of minerals in water as well as CO2
either from the atmosphere or organic decomposition could cause the acidity of the water. The
acidity of the water could ne represented by the following bi-carbonate system:
CO2 <.............> CO2...........> H2CO3 <.............> H++HCO3-.............>H++CO3-2
During this test we will use pH as a way to determine the acidity of the unknown substance to
be studied, with the help of indicators which are substances that change color at certain pH
values. There are a wide variety of pH indicators that include liquid indicators (phenolphthalein)
and paper strips (litmus paper).
The ones we will be using are methyl orange that changes from orange to yellow at a pH limit
from extremely acidic to a pH of 4.5. Also a second indicator that changes the color of the
solution from non to pink is to be used for pH values higher than 4.5 which is phenolphthalein.
The test will be carried on until base titrant which is NaOH neutralizes the solution, meaning till
it reaches the end point of 8.3pH. As pH values higher than 8.3 means less and less acidity.

Objectives
This test aims to find the acidity of an unknown sample using the method of titration alongside
two different indicators; they are Methyl orange and Phenolphthalein. Moreover, To plot a
graph of pH as a function of the volume of NaOH added and generate a titration curve, and use
to find the total acidity of the solution.

Apparatus and Materials

The materials and tools needed for this experiment:
1. Flask
2. Distilled water
3. pH meter
4. Titration set; stand with clamp and burette
5. Indicators; methyl orange, and phenolphthalein
6. Pipette, and its bulb
7. Standard NaOH solution with a normality of about 0.02N
8. A 100ml of an unknown sample

Procedure
To conduct this experiment here are the steps that should be followed:
1. Clean the apparatus that you are using, like the flask and the electrode pH meter with
distilled water.
2. Add 100ml of the unknown solution to the flask.

3 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

3. Record pH value of this solution at starting point using the meter.

4. Now after checking the pH value decide on the type of indicator to be used: note that if
the pH is < 4.5 then 2-3 drops of methyl orange is added. However, when pH values
reaches 4.5 or a little above add phenolphthalein to the solution.
5. For our sample we found the initial pH value to be 3.6 thus 3 drops of methyl orange
was added.
6. After wards this flask was moved to the titration set up, where a certain volume of
NaOH was added to the burette and the initial volume was recorded.
7. A few drops of NaOH were added gradually to the flask by opening the side valve, and
every time 2-4 drops were added, the pH value was read using the pH meter. Note that it
is important to clean the probe with distilled water between each and every reading to
insure accuracy.
8. Also make sure to read the burette's value of the NaOH volume.
9. After a few trials the indicators color changed from orange to yellow, and at this point
both the pH value was read and the second indicator was added.
10. Step 7 and 8 are repeated now with the solution having phenolphthalein in it. This step is
to followed until the solution changes color to pink. Of course making sure we are
reading pH values every time 2-4 drops of NaOH were added.
11. Tabulate the readings recorded and calculate total acidity.

Results and Calculations

The first values obtained of pHs and Total volumes of NaOH in ml:
Volume read Volume added pH values
35.8 3.6
35.9 0.1 3.601
36.2 0.3 3.65
36.6 0.4 3.7
37.1 0.5 3.9
37.4 0.3 4
38.1 0.7 4.44
38.6 0.5 5.97
39.1 0.5 7
39.5 0.4 8.7
42.3 2.8 10.5

This following table shows the accumulated volume of NaOH used to obtain the corresponding
pH:
Volume NaOH accumulated in ml pH value
0 3.6
0.1 3.601
0.4 3.65
0.8 3.7
1.3 3.9

4 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

1.6 4
2.3 4.44
2.8 5.97
3.3 7
3.7 8.7
6.5 10.5

The values of NaOH found in the second table are accumulation values, meaning that each
value represents the sum of all the volume added from the first table at that specific pH value
along with all the volume added values that precede it.

Note: at the start with pH 3.6 methyl orange was used as an indicator, and at 4.44 of pH
phenolphthalein was used as a second indicator.

Graphs and Figures

Chart Title
12

10.5
10
8.7
8
7
PH vs NaOH volume 5.97 6
PH vs NaOH volume
4.44
4 3.9 3.7 4
3.65
3.601
3.6

0
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

From the graph shown above that shows the amount of accumulated NaOH that is the volume of
NaOH needed to obtain the corresponding pH value, we can use to calculate both the acidity of
the mineral and the CO2 acidity.

Find V1 that corresponds to a pH value of 4.5, that is V1= 2.5ml. Use to find mineral acidity.
Find V2 that corresponds to a pH value of 8.3, that is V2= 3.3ml. Use to find CO2 acidity.

5 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

𝐴∗𝑁∗50000
Total acidity = mineral acidity + CO2 acidity. Knowing that = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 , A= volume of titrant,
N =0.02 normality, and use the volume corresponding to the acidity in question.
2.5∗0.02∗50000 3.3∗0.02∗50000
Thus T. Acidity = = + = 28.3 mg/l as CaCO3.
100 100

Discussion
After conducting the experiment we can understand the following concepts:
 That the higher the acidity of a solution, meaning the lower the pH value of it, then the
more volume of NaOH base that is needed to be used in order to reach the end point of
8.3pH with the titration process.
 As for the indicator which is a solution used that helps to change the color of the solution
at different end points indicating the reach of it. However, as mentioned in the previous
sections different indicators are used for different end point. Know that they can be
either a weak acid or a weak base. Now as for it being a source of uncertainty in our test,
is up for discussion. As normally only 2-4 drops are added to the solution thus not
affecting the volume of the studied material, with it having at least a 100ml volume the
effect will be negligible. Greater concerns will be from adding volume of about 15ml
and above of the indicator.
 However, the problem with indicators rises form the possibility of it not being pure and
having a percentage of some other type of substance in it. Thus, our titration will now
depend on two materials not one; and one of them may have a higher pH changes than
either near or at the end point of the pH level which that indicator can read.
 Also note that if the titration process is solely dependent on the change of the indicators
color to decide if the end pH level wanted was reached or not, errors as well as
inaccuracy is to be expected. Due to the fact that people will use their naked eye to make
this decision and usually have different opinions on whether the color is reached or not.
Furthermore, it is rather difficult to decide at which shade of the color the right pH level
was reached. With that being said, using a pH meter is crucial for higher accuracy
percentages, and this was way we can even not use the indicator to begin with. Note that
if this is the case, make sure to read the pH level every 2-4 drops of the titrant.
 As for the normality of the titrant, it is important that you know the concentration of
your known titrant, you can titrate a very concentrated acid with a less concentrated base
titrant. As long as you know how much of your known titrant you used, you'll be able to
determine the acidity.
𝐴∗𝑁∗50000
 But considering the following equation of acidity 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 , and assuming a fixed valued
of the acidity. Then we can say that the higher the normality of the base used then the
lower the volume of it that is needed. as with fixating all other terms we conclude that A
and N are inversely proportional.
 Other sources of error would be, not calibrating the pH meter, also not cleaning the
probe with distilled water between readings. Moreover, having to many people in the
room will yield in producing more CO2 into the atmosphere hence lower pH values are
to be expected. Misreading the volume on the burette due to the parallax error is a
common one, or even not being consistent with the way the reading are taken, as the
solution will not be leveled due to surface tension, so reading should either be of the

6 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

average or just below where the surface hit. And all readings should follow the same
criteria.
 Not cleaning the used apparatus with distilled water before using, meaning that we may
have two different solutions in the burette or even flask.
 Also one simple mistake that can affect the final reading s and calculations is losing
some of the solution in the burette, resulting in inaccurate volume readings.

Conclusion
To sum up, we have understood the importance of the titration process to evaluate the pH or
acidity of a solution. This test can also help us in identifying unknown solutions. Moreover,
sources of uncertainties were identified as well as relationships between different factors and the
volume of the titrant used were addressed in this lab report.

References
Lab manual paper.
http://www.titrations.info/titration-errors
https://socratic.org/questions/how-does-concentration-affect-titration

7 | www.aum.edu.jo