Common-Ion Effect and Buffers

Gladys Ericka Galang1 and Irene Lourdes Lumang1 1Institute of Biology, College of Science Date Performed: 29 November 2012 Date Submitted: 6 December 2012

There are more types of solutions used in the laboratory not just those which are readily available and typically prepared ones. An example is the buffer solution, which is a solution able to resist changes in pH upon addition of strong acid or base. This experiment allows the students to prepare buffer solutions and relate these concepts with common-ion effects. Students are also required to calculate the values needed in preparing these solutions. The experiment required a number of different solutions to be prepared by the students. The students were grouped in four, each group with their assigned pH meter. Each group was required to prepare two solutions from dilution of a more concentrated solution: 50 mL 0.20 M CH3COOH and 50 mL 0.10 M CH3COOH, and four solutions from dissolution of pellets: 50 mL 0.20 M NH3, 50 mL 0.10 M NH3, 25 mL 0.20 M NaCH3COO, and 25 mL 0.20 M NH4Cl. The 25 mL sodium hydroxide solution and the 25 mL hydrochloric acid solution were taken from the previous experiments. A drop of methyl orange indicator was added to the first two solutions, both which are acetic acid solutions (30 mL 0.10 M CH3COOH and 15 mL 0.20 M CH3COOH added with 15 mL 0.20 M NaCH3COO). A drop of phenolphthalein indicator was added to the ammonia solutions afterwards (30 mL 0.10 M NH3 and 15 mL 0.20 M NH3 added with 15 ML 0.20 M NH4Cl). The pH of the solutions are measured with the pH meter assigned to the group. All four solutions, afterwards, are divided into three equal portions: the first portion added with three drops of 1.0 M hydrochloric acid solution, the second with sodium hydroxide solution and the third was the control. Colors were compared and from there, the pH was of each estimated. The true pH was measure with the pH meter. Table 1. Recorded Colors and pH of the solutions added with corresponding indicator Color of Sol'n ph Sol'n reading + methyl orange + Phenolphthalein 2.86 1 salmon pink 4.41 2 yellow-y orange 9.52 3 Pink 8.54 4 faint pink Table 2. Estimated, Recorded and Calculated pH of Solutions added with Methyl Orange indicator pH Sol'n Estimated pH range pH meter Calculated a <2.86 2.18 1 b >2.86 3.64 c =2.86 2.86 2.72 a <4.41 4.32 2 b >4.41 4.56 c =4.41 4.41

Table 3. Estimated, Recorded and Calculated pH of Solutions added with Phenolphthalein indicator pH Sol'n Estimated pH range pH meter Calculated a 2-4 2.66 2.87 3 b 10-11 11.04 c 9-10 9.19 a 3-5 1.90 4 b 7-8 8.15 c 8-9 8.20 The values above are the pH of the given solutions taken from observation, use of the pH meter and calculations. The first table holds the pH values of the control set up, and the next two tables are of the set-ups added with HCl and NaOH drops. Using the pH meter, we can see that there are significant differences of the pH of the control and those added with the strong acid and base. The pH decreased with the addition of HCl, and increased in addition of NaOH, except in the fourth solution, where both pH values decreased, but only by a few decimal places in 4b, and a huge gap in 4a. These are from the values gathered using the pH meter. The values which are gathered from the observing color changes using the indicators are least reliable since it uses sight, judgment and knowledge of acids and bases of the person observing. The values taken from the pH meter are more credible, but there are also pH meters which cannot be properly calibrated, and those which are worn out. Meaning, the pH meter values can also have little differences with the actual pH value which can be taken from the calculated values. The calculation of the pH comes from the equation: [H+] = Ka [HA] / [A-] References: http://chemistry.about.com/od/workedchemistryproblems/a/phweakacid.htm https://instruct.uwo.ca/chemistry/020inter/WeakAcidBaseNotes.pdf