Chem 12 Name: ____________________

Date: _____________ Partner: ___________________

Lab 4B: Bronsted-Lowry Acid-Base Equilibria (formerly Lab 13B)

Question: How can we determine, by experiment, the relative strength of several weak acids?

Background: -A stronger weak acid releases more H+

-A stronger weak acid (if concentrations are equal) should have a lower pH
-To rank acids, we will need to have indicators to show us the pH range.

PART 1: Learn how the indicators behave

An indicator is a weak acid/conjugate base system, where the two components have different
colours. We can generalize the reaction as:

HIn1  H+1 + In-1

What could we add that would shift this equilibrium to the left? __________________________

What could we add that would shift this equilibrium to the right? _________________________

Set up an experiment to determine the colour of HIn and of In- for each of the 5 indicators:

if we add… HIn1/In1- HIn2/In2- HIn3/In3- HIn4/In4- HIn5/In5-

Given your data, what can you conclude about the colour of:

HIn1: _________________ In1-: ________________

Analyzing weak acid solutions

Call the weak acid “HA”, and its conjugate base “A -”. Write a reaction for HA acting as an acid.

Write a reaction that combines a general acid HA/A - with a general indicator HIn/In-. Remember,
every acid needs to react with a base…
Next, combine each indicator with each acid. Record your observations in the table:

HIn1/In1- HIn2/In2- HIn3/In3- HIn4/In4- HIn5/In5-

HA1/A1-

HA2/A2-

HA3/A3-

HA4/A4-

HA5/A5-

HA6/A6-

Write a reaction for the combination of HA1/A1- with HIn1/In1-.

Then, use your data from part 1 to label the colours of the indicator’s acid and base forms.

When you combined HA1/A1- with HIn1/In1-, what colour was the mixture? In the reaction you
wrote above, which side of the reaction is being favoured? How do you know?

Based on this, which substance (HIn1 or HA1) is the stronger acid? (remember – a strong acid
gives up its H+ easily). Explain your reasoning!
Repeat this reasoning to decide which (HIn or HA) is the stronger acid in each combination.
Record in the table in the format HIn > HA, HIn < HA, or HIn = HA.

HIn1/In1- HIn2/In2- HIn3/In3- HIn4/In4- HIn5/In5-

HA1/A1-

HA2/A2-

HA3/A3-

HA4/A4-

HA5/A5-

HA6/A6-

Can you determine which is the strongest HA acid, of the 6 you used? How do you know?
Put these 6 acids in order of descending strength, and explain your reasoning.

Can you determine which is the strongest HIn of the 5 you used? Put the 5 indicators in order of
descending strength.

Merge your 2 lists (using data to compare) to make a list of these 11 substances, ordered from
highest to lowest acid strength.