Keo, Uykheang

Period: 1
06/07/2010

Determination of Ka of Weak Acids

Purpose The purpose of the lab is to determine the acids ability to ionize or produce ions
when dissolved in water.
Procedure: Label two weighting dishes #1 and #2. Obtain an unknown weak acid and
record the unknown letter in the data table. Measure small quantity of unknown into each
weighting dish the weight should be around 0.15-0.20g. Using the graduated cylinder
measure out 50.0 mL of distilled water and place it into a 150.0 beaker. Put the unknown
into the water, which contain 50.0 mL of distilled water and stir to dissolve. After its
dissolve, pour the solution in to the Erlenmeyer flask. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein
solution in the flask. Using a pipet, add sodium hydroxide drop wise and swirling the
solution until a faint pink color persists throughout the solution for at least 5 seconds.
Pour the contents of the flask back into the beaker. Pour the solution back and forth a few
times to mix. Using a pH meter, measure the pH from the solution in the beaker, record
the pH in the Data Table. Using the same method, but this time using sample #2, and
repeat the same process for the remaining unknowns.
DATA:
Unknown Sample pH pH average PKa Identity of Unknown
C Sample #1 3.50 3.56 3.56
Sample #2 3.61 Acetylsalicylic acid
E Sample #1 4.28 4.27 4.27
Sample #2 4.26 Potassium hydrogen
tartrate

Conclusion: The pKa can be determined by the when the solutions contain equal molar.
In order to find the pKa, pH need to be found. Uses the pH meter put it inside the equal
molar of solution that where the pH come from. With pH in hand pKa now is known, the
pKa uses to determine the identities of the unknown. The unknown acid for C is
Acetylsalicylic acid. As for E is potassium hydrogen tartrate.

Theory Analysis: From both experiment the result is that there are only one end point,
no matter how much NaOH is added the color will remain the same. From the experiment
the result from unknown E is very close to the acceptable value. The pKa is at 4.27 and
the acceptable value is 4.34, which mean the experiment is good at the right process. As
for experiment C the value from the lab is also every accurate pKa is 3.56 and the
acceptable value is 3.49. The reason why the lab is no more closer than the acceptable
value is might cause by the measurement of the volume.

Post-Lab Questions
1)
 Unknown Sample pH pH average PKa Identity of Unknown
C Sample #1 3.50 3.56 3.56
Sample #2 3.61 Acetylsalicylic acid
E Sample #1 4.28 4.27 4.27
Sample #2 4.26 Potassium hydrogen
tartrate

2) The PKa from the experiment and the answer from the regular value are close to the
acceptable value. Since the data is every close to the acceptable value the percent error
will be so small.
3)
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate -log (6.2x10-8) PKa= 7.21
Potassium hydrogen sulfate -log (1.0x10-2) PKa=2
Potassium hydrogen phthalate -log (3.9x10-6) PKa= 5.41
Potassium hydrogen tartrate -log (4.6x10-5) PKa= 4.34
Acetylsalicylic acid –log (3.2x10-4) PKa= 3.49
4)
Unknown Sample pH pH average PKa Identity of Unknown
C Sample #1 3.50 3.56 3.56
Sample #2 3.61 Acetylsalicylic acid
E Sample #1 4.28 4.27 4.27
Sample #2 4.26 Potassium hydrogen
tartrate
5)
KH2PO4 + H2O H+ + KHPO4- Potassium dihydrogen phosphate
KHSO4 + H2O H+ + KSO4 - Potassium hydrogen sulfate
KHC8 H4O4 + H2O H+ + KC8 H4O4- Potassium hydrogen phthalate
KHC4H4O6 + H2O H++ KC4 H4O6- Potassium hydrogen tartrate
2−CH3CO2C6H4COOH + H2O H+ + 2−CH3CO2C6H4COO- Acetylsalicylic acid
6) It not necessary to know the exact mass of each acid sample, because the unknown
will dissolve in water, and the one important thing, which need to measure is the volume.
Because after the volume from the flask and the beaker mix together they have equal
molar, so that is why the mass is not necessary.
7) It not necessary to know the exact concentration of sodium hydroxide solution used,
because things that need to do is to make the solution reach the equivalence point. There
no need to calculate the equivalence, since phenolphthalein is used in indicate when the
solution at equivalence point when the color changes.
8) It was necessary to measure the exact volume of distilled water used to dissolve the
acid, as well as the exact volume of solution transferred from the beaker of the
Erlenmeyer flask, because in order to make the solution equal molar it had to be equal
volume from the one that titrated and the one by itself. In order to separate the two
concentrations in half the volume has to be known.