EXPERIMN,NT6

PURPOSE

The purposeof lhis experinrentis to srudythe propertiesof acidiclbasic

substances
usingindicatorsanda pH meter.

IN'TRODUCTIOT{

Acidsandbasesundergocomplete or incomplete
ianizationwhendissolved in
waterandarecalledstrongacids,strcngbases, weakacidsor weakbases. The
experimental determinationof the pH of a solutioncommonlyper{ormed
eitherby the use of indicatorsor.pH meter.The acid or basedissociation
{ionizatian equilibrium) sotlst&nt, Ka or Kb can be detennined
A'sampleaf weakacid (HA) is dissalvedin waterandthen
experiftentally.
divided inio two equal-volumeportions.Whenons porlion is titratedwith a
sodiumhydroxidesolutian.all HA mofecules presentconverted intoA'ions:

OH+HA -+ H: O + A "

Ka: lH.l[A]/tHAl = lH*l - lg-PFr

fhe numberaf A- ion producedis equalta the numb., ot'*ol** of HA in the

original half-portior, and is also cqual to the number of moles of t{A in thc
unused portion of weak acid. The value of Ka can bc determined by
measuringthe pH sf a half-neutralizedsarnpleof the acid.

When the acid-b*setitration is carriedout. lhe end pcint of the titration can be
determinedwhen the indicator rhangcs colour. The change of pH can be
measuredusing a pH rneter.
 CHEMICALS
EXPLOfrINO

CHEMICALS AND APPARATUS

$amplesr:lutionA Tecttubec
SampleeolutianB C*nical flask
Unknorvnacidsclutisn Beaker
Indicattrs {thym*l blue, bromophe'*alblue, Pipet{25 mli
methylorsngeandphenclphthalein) Buret
pH mefer

FRCCHDURE

A pI{ usiltg indicatot

1. Plaeeaboutl-? mL of samplesolutionin s,malltesttubes*nd add I

* 2 dropsof onsof the indicotorsgivenin Table6' I '
-.
2. Reeordthecolourof the solutionafteraddingthe indicatorfu Table
6.1.
3, Repeat*tepsl-2 for stherindicat*r$'
4. Repeat$eps'l-3 for athersample*olutions'
!

Detcrminationsf K" for a weakacid

1" Fill theburetwith 0-3h'INaOH soluti*n'

Z. .Pipette?5 mL of an unknownweak acid solution{0'? M) into a
coniealflask,add3-4 dropt af phenolphthslein indicator,andtitrate,
theaeidsolutionuntil s pink
faintp*rsistent colour appears'
3. Add 25 mL of unknownacid solution into ths n*utralicedsalution
(Step2). Stirwell.RecordthepH of thesolution'

Strongacid-basetitration

L Fitl ths buretwith 0.? M HCl.

7.. Using a pipet,transfer25 mL of 0.2 M NaOH inta the 100 mL
beakir andadd3-5 dropsof phenolphtlralein'
Calibratea pH m*ter at PH 7 andPH4'
4, Mexure thepH efNaoH andressrdinTable 6.2.Thetip of thepH
metershouldbesubmerged for theenlireexperiment'
f . Carefullyadd l0 rnl oi HCl (buret)into the NaOH solution.Mix
solutiongently andrneanurethe pH-
6, CcntinuJaddingacid and msasuringpH as indicatedin the Table
6.2 sf thedatashset'

Jd
 ACIDANDBASES

QUES'ruONS
l. Estimatethe pH of Sample1 and Sample2,
2. Which indicatorsbracketedthe pH colour changeof SampleI ?
3, Which indicatorsbracketedthe pH colour changeof Sample2?
4. From the observed pH of the unknown weak acid (experiment B),
calculate

(a) [H-] in the solutionand Ka.

(b) Percentionization.

5. construct a titration curve by plotting measuredpH versusvolume HCI

(mL) added(refer to Table 6.2)"

(a) What is the pH range for the colour change of phenolphthaleinas

shown in the plottedgraph?
{kr) What is the pH of the equivalencepoint in this titration?
(c) Explain why phenolphthaleinwas usedin this experiment?

n1
_1J
EXPLORINGCHEMICALS

DATASHEETEXPERIMENT 6
Acids and Bases

Narne l)ate

StudentIf) Group :

pH usingindicator

'l'able6.1: pH usingindicator

pll of Colour Colour

Colorr
lndicator colelur changrin changcin
change
change SampleI SampleI

Thyrnol blue

r
- 1- +. /

llorr
Red-,ve _1.i -+.+

Determination of K, for a rveak acid

of Ka for a weak acid:

Detenrrination
i
nH o{'half ncutralizedsolutianof unknorvnwcak acid:

C Strong acid*hasttif ration

Table 6.2: Strongacid-baseti

I
aLnq atllgr ) 1-t 3t,

bl Mlsured
olr

31