1.

0 INTRODUCTION
Concentration of solution is the amount of solute in a given amount as solvent. A
concentrated solution contains relatively large quantity of solute in a given amount of solvent.
Dilute solutions contain relatively little solute in a given amount of solvent. There are 2
specifics term to express concentration, which is molarity and percent by mass.

Molarity is the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.

Percent by mass is the mass in grams of solute per 100 grams of solution

Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid. The molecular formula for acetic acid is
CHCOOH. Both molarity and percent by mass of acetic acid in a vinegar solution can be
determined by performing a titration. A titration is a process in which small increments of a
solution of known concentration are added to a specific volume of a solution of unknown
concentration until the stoichiometry for that reaction is attained. Knowing the quantity of the
known solution required to complete the titration, calculation of the unknown solution can be
done. The purpose of titration is to determine the equivalence point of the reaction. The
equivalence point is reach when the added quantity of one reactant is the exact amount
necessary for stoichiometric reaction with another reactant.

2.0 AIMS / OBJECTIVES

The objective of this experiment is to determine the molarity of a solution and percent by
mass of acetic acid in vinegar by titration with the standardized sodium hydroxide solution
(NaOH).

3.0 THEORY
In the titration process, a burette is used to dispense a small, quantifiable increment of
solution of known concentration. A typical burette has the smallest calibration unit of 0.1mL,
therefore, volume dispense from the burette should be estimated to the nearest 0.01mL.

Figure 1.1: depicts a typical 50 mL burette.

In this experiment, the equivalence point occurs when the moles of acid in the solution equals
to the moles of base added in the titration. For example, the stoichiometric amount of 1 mole
of the strong base, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), is necessary to neutralize 1 mole of the weak
acid, acetic acid (CH3CO2H), as indicated in equation 3:

NaOH (aq) + CH3CO2H(aq) NaCH3CO2 (aq) + H2O (l)

(Equation 1-3)

The sudden change in the pH of the solution shows that the titration has reached the
equivalence point. pH in an aqueous solution is related to its hydrogen ion concentration.

Symbolically, the hydrogen ion concentration is written as [H3O+]. pH is defined as the

negative of the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
pH = - log [H30+]

(Equation 1-4)

pH scale is a method of expressing the acidity or basicity of a solution. Solutions having a pH

< 7 are acidic, pH = 7 are neutral, pH > 7 are basic. For example, a solution having [H30+] =
2.35 x 10-2 M would have a pH of 1.629 and is acidic. pH electrode will be used in this
experiment. The titration is initiated by inserting a pH electrode into a beaker containing the
acid solution (pH within 3-5). As sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is incrementally added to the
acid solution, some of the hydrogen ions will be neutralized. As the hydrogen ion
concentration decreases, the pH of the solution will gradually increase. When sufficient
NaOH is added to completely neutralize the acid (most of the H3O+ ions are removed from
the solution), the next drop of NaOH added will cause a sudden sharp increase in pH (figure
2-2). The volume of based required to completely neutralized the acid is determine at the
equivalence point of titration.

Figure 1.2: acid-base titration curve of weak acid titrated with NaOH

In this experiment, titration of vinegar sample with a standardized sodium hydroxide solution
will be done. To standardize the sodium hydroxide solution, of a primary standard acid
solution is initially prepared. In general, primary standard solutions are produced by
dissolving a weighed quantity of pure acid or base in a known volume of solution. Primary
standard acid or bases have several common characteristics, these are:

they must be available in at least 99.9 purity.

they must have a high molar mass to minimize error in weighing.

they must be stable upon heating.

they must be soluble in the solvent of interest.

Potassium hydrogen phthalate KHC8H4O4, and oxalic acid, (COOH)2, are common primary
standard acid. Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, is the most commonly used based. Most acids and
bases (e.g. HCl, CH3COOH, NaOH, and KOH) are most available as primary standard. To
standardize one of these acid or based solutions, titration of the solution with a primary
standard should be done. In this experiment, NaOH solution will be titrated with potassium
hydrogen phthalate (KHP). The equation for this reaction will be:
KHC8H4O4 (aq) + NaOH (aq) KNaC8H4O4 (aq) + H2O (l) (Equation 1-5)

Once the sodium hydroxide solution has been standardizes, it will be used to titrate 10.00mL
aliquots of vinegar. The equation for the reaction of vinegar with NaOH is

CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq) NaCH3COO (aq) + H2O(l)

(Equation 1-6)

Knowing the standardized NaOH concentration and using Equation 6, we can determine the
molarity and percent by mass of acetic acid in the vinegar solution.

Sample calculation for standardizing a based with KHP

Figure 3 depicts the titration curve of 1.523 grams of KHP dissolved in 20.0mL of distilled
water titrated with NaOH. Determine the molarity of the NaOH solution.

15.30 mL NaOH at the

equivalence point

Figure 1-3: titration curve of KHP with NaOH. The volume of NaOH used at the equivalence
point is 15.3 mL of NaOH.

Calculate the moles of KHP used in the titration.

From equation 5, calculate the moles of NaOH required neutralizing the moles of KHP.

Calculate the molarity of the NaOH solution.

= 0.04875 M NaOH

Sample calculations for determining the acetic acid concentration in vinegar by titration with
standard base.

A 10.00 mL aliquot of vinegar requires 16.95 mL of the 0.4875 M standardized NaOH

solution to reach the equivalence point of the titration. Calculate the molarity and the percent
by mass of CH3COOH in the solution. Assume the density of the vinegar solution is
1.00g/mL.
Calculate the moles of NaOH that reacted.

Calculate the moles of CH3COOH neutralized by the moles of NaOH

Calculate the molarity of the CHCOOH solution

Calculate the mass of acetic acid in the solution

= 0.4963 g

Calculate the mass of the acetic acid solution

Calculate the percent by mass of acetic acid in the solution

= 1.963% CHCOOH.

4.0 APPARATUS
4.1) Apparatus:
250 mL beakers, conical flask, burette, glass rod, magnetic stirrer.
4.2) Chemicals:
6 g NaOH solids, 1.5 g KHP, distilled water and 10 mLvinegar.

Figure 4.1: Titration of KHP with NaOH solution

Figure 4.2: Titration of vinegar with NaOH solution

5.0 METHODOLOGY/PROCEDURE
5.1) Experiment A: Standardization of sodium hydroxide solution.
1. 250 mL beaker is weighed by using calibration meter and the reading is recorded.
2. 6 grams of NaOH solid is prepared by weighing it by using calibration meter in the
250 mL of beaker.
3. The 250 mL of approximately 0.6 M NaOH solution from NaOH solid is prepared by
added 250 mL of distilled water into it. The mixture is then stirred to be completely
dissolved.
4. Another 250 ml beaker is weighed and the reading is recorded to the nearest 0.001 g.
1.5 grams of KHP is added to the beaker. The mass of KHP and the beaker is
recorded to the nearest 0.001 gram. The data is then recorded. 30 mL is added to the
beaker. The solution is completely stirred until the KHP is dissolved completely.
5. KHP is placed under the burette that filled with NaOH solution. The pH value of the
KHP is taken for the initial reading by using pH electrode.
6. KHP is titrated with every 1 mL addition of NaOH solution. The KHP is titrated until
it reached equilibrium state. The solution is stirred by using magnetic stirrer.
7. Step 5 and 6 is repeated for second trial to standardize the solution.
8. The graph of pH versus NaOH is plotted. From the graph, the volume of NaOH
required neutralizing the KHP solution in each titration is determined.
9. The molarity of sodium hydroxide solution for titration 1 and 2 is calculated.
10. The average molarity of sodium hydroxide solution for titration 1 and 2 is calculated.
The resulting sodium hydroxide concentration is used in the part B of the experiment.

10

5.3) Experiment B: Molarity of acetic acid and percent of vinegar

1. 10 mL of vinegar is transferred to a clean, dry 250 ml beaker using a 10 mL
volumetric pipette. 100 mL distilled water is added into the beaker to cover the pH
electrode tip during the titration.
2. The initial reading of the vinegar is taken by using pH electrode.
3. The vinegar is titrated with every 2 mL of sodium hydroxide solution until it reached
equilibrium state. The solution is stirred by using magnetic stirrer.
4. Step 2 to 3 is repeated for second titration.
5. The graph of pH versus volume NaOH added is plotted. The volume of NaOH
solution needed to neutralizing vinegar is determined. The data is recorded.
6. The molarity of acetic acid in vinegar for titration 1 and 2 is calculated.
7. The average molarity of acetic acid for each titration is calculated.
8. The percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar for titration 1 and 2 is calculated.
9. The percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar is calculated.

11

6.0 RESULTS
6.1) Experiment A: Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide Solution
Mass / Volume / Molarity
Mass of beaker (g)

Titration 1
148.092

Titration 2
148.5445

Mass of beaker + KHP (g)

150.4124

150.0447

1.5032

1.5002

12.29

11.48

Mass of KHP (g)

Volume of NaOH solution
required to neutralize the KHP
(mL)
Molarity of NaOH ( M )
`Average molarity ( M )

0.6188
Table 6.1: Data From Experiment 1

Volume of NaOH to
neutralize the KHP solution
( mL)

Titration 1
( pH)

Titration 2
( pH)

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

3.99
3.80
3.97
4.18
4.33
4.48
4.61
4.58
4.74
4.92
5.17
5.56
6.74
12.29
12.41
12.57

3.76
3.88
4.08
4.22
4.36
4.48
4.61
4.76
4.90
5.05
5.24
5.50
6.02
11.48
12.28
12.46

Table 6.2: pH value of the solution at each titration and the volume of NaOH solution
required to neutralize KHP solution.

12

Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume Of NaOH

Required To Neutralize KHP For Titration 1
14
12

Equivalence point:
12.29 mL

10
8
pH

6
4
2
0
0

10

11

12

13

14

15

mL NaOH

Graph 6.1: Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume of NaOH Required To Neutralize
KHP For Titration 1

Graph Of pH of The Solution Against Volume Of NaOH

Required To Neutralize KHP For Titration 2
14
12

Equivalence point:
11.84 mL

10
pH

8
6
4
2
0
0

10

11

12

13

14

15

mL NaOH

Graph 6.2: Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume of NaOH Required To Neutralize
KHP For Titration 2

13

6.2) Experiment B: Molarity of Acetic Acid And Percent Of Vinegar.

Volume of NaOH required
Titration 1
Titration 2
to neutralize vinegar ( mL)
( pH )
( pH )
0
2.24
2.30
2
3.01
3.02
4
3.34
3.39
6
3.58
3.61
8
3.77
3.79
10
3.92
3.94
12
4.05
4.08
14
4.19
4.20
16
4.31
4.32
18
4.44
4.45
20
4.58
4.59
22
4.74
4.75
24
4.93
4.93
26
5.17
5.17
28
5.62
5.58
30
11.04
10.74
32
11.87
11.81
34
12.11
12.10
36
12.27
12.26
38
12.38
12.37
40
12.46
12.45
Table 6.3: pH value of the solution at each titration and the volume of NaOH solution
required to neutralize vinegar.

Volume of NaOH required to

neutralize Vinegar ( mL )

Titration 1
11.04

Molarity of Acetic Acid in

Vinegar
CHCOOH, (M)
Average molarity of
1.816
CHCOOH, (M)
Percent by mass of acetic
acid in vinegar, %
Average percent by mass of
acetic acid in vinegar, %
Table 6.4: Result From Data Analysed

Titration 2
10.74

10.85

14

Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume Of NaOH For

Titration 1
14
12

Equivalence point:
29.5 mL

10
pH

8
6
4
2
0
0

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
mL NaOH

Graph 6.3: Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume of NaOH Required To Neutralize
Vinegar For Titration 1

Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume of NaOH For

Titration 2
14
12

Equivalence point:
29.21 mL

10
pH

8
6
4
2
0
0

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
mL NaOH

Graph 6.4: Graph of pH of The Solution Against Volume of NaOH Required To Neutralize
Vinegar For Titration 2

15

7.0 CALCULATIONS
7.1) Experiment A: Titration 1

Moles of KHP used in the titration:

Moles of NaOH required to neutralizing moles of KHP:

Molarity of NaOH solution:

Average molarity of titration 1 and titration 2:

7.2) Experiment B: Titration 1

Moles of NaOH reacted:

Moles of

neutralized by the moles of NaOH:

16

Molarity of

solution:

Average molarity of

Mass of acetic acid in the solution:

for titration 1 and titration 2:

Mass of acetic acid solution:

Percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar:

17

8.0 SAMPLE ERROR CALCULATION

8.1) Experiment A:
The molarity of standardize sodium hydroxide solution is 0.6 M. Average molarity that
obtained from the titration process is 0.6188 M.

= 3.13 %

18

9.0 DISCUSSIONS
Experiment A is repeated twice in order to get the accurate value. For titration 1, the
equivalence point is at 11.04 mL while for titration 2 is at 10.74 mL. Based on the result
analysed from Experiment A, the average molarity of solution is 0.6188 M. It is obtained
from the equivalence point of the titration process that titrated KHP with standardize sodium
hydroxide solution. The equivalence point is reached when the added quantity of one reactant
is the exact amount necessary for stoichiometry reaction with another reactant. For this
experiment, the stoichiometry amount of 1 mole of NaOH in the solution is necessary to
neutralize 1 mole of the weak acid, which is acetic acid. The sudden change in the pH of the
solution shows that the titration has reached the equivalence point. pH in an aqueous solution
is related to its hydrogen ion concentration. As each 1 mL of NaOH solution is added to the
KHP, the hydrogen ions concentration decreases, leading to increasing the pH of the solution.
Therefore, when the sufficient NaOH solution is added to completely neutralize the acid, the
next drop of NaOH causes a sudden sharp increase in pH.

The molarity that has been calculated from the stoichiometry reaction is 0.6 M. The
percentage error for Experiment A is 3.13 %, which is less than 5. The 3.13 % of the error
may occur due to some mistakes. These are parallax error due to eye is not directly
proportional to the liquid miniscus during conduct titration process and the pH of pH
electrode is not in the range which is 3-5. Besides that, the mass of KHP and NaOH solids is
not in exactly value due to calibration meter is not accurately calibrate and the reading is
taken too fast due to not waiting it to become stable. However, this experiment is successfully
being conducted.

19

There are some factors that involve in this matter, such as pH electrode is not in the range
before taking reading, too fast taking the pH value and not wait it to become stable.
Moreover, the apparatus used is not completely clean and the volume of chemicals should be
taken by using measuring cylinder that has small measurement, in order to make it accurate.
While for experiment B, the average molarity of solution is 1.816 M and the percent by mass
of acetic acid in vinegar is 10.92 %. The pH value increases as more NaOH solution is added
into the vinegar. This is due to the decreases of hydrogen ions in the solution. The concept is
same as in Experiment A. In this experiment, percent by mass of acetic acid in the vinegar is
needed to be calculated. The result shows the average molarity of solution with weak acid,
which is acetic acid is higher compared to primary acid, which is KHP. Hence, more volume
of NaOH solution needed to be added to the weak acid in order to neutralize the acid. This is
resulted from the higher mass of solute in the acid solution.

20

10.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the objective of this experiment which is to determine the molarity of a
solution and the percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar by titration with the standardized
sodium hydroxide solution has been conducted and achieved. From the result of experiment
A, the average molarity of solution is 0.6188 M with percentage error of 3.13 %. The
molarity is obtained from the equivalence point of the titration process that titrated KHP with
standardize sodium hydroxide solution. While for experiment B, the average molarity of
solution is 1.816 M and the percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar is 10.92 %.
From the analysed result, it shows the mass of solute in the acid is higher. Therefore, it can
be concluded, as the higher the mass of solute in the acid solution, the higher the
concentration of the solution be, leading to the higher the molarity and the higher the volume
of NaOH solution needed to neutralize the acid. All in all, this experiment has been
successfully conducted.

21

11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The experiment should be repeated three to five times in order to get the average and
accurate value.
2. Use measuring cylinder that has small measurement during measuring chemicals in
order to get the accurate value compared to beaker.
3. Use magnetic stirrer to stir the NaOH solution during prepare NaOH solution
compared by only using glass rod in order to dissolve the solution completely.

12.0 REFERENCES
1. Chang, R. (2006) Chemistry, 9 edition, McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. p 314324.
2. Olmested, John III: Williams. Gerg: Burk, Robert C. (2010) Chemistry. 1st Canadian Ed:
Johnwiley And Sons Ltd: Mississauga.Canada. p 399-406.

3. Lab manual CHE485 session September 2014 - January 2015, Uitm Shah Alam

4. Theory of Concentration of Acetic Acid In Vinegar (2013). Retrieved October 9, 2014,

from https://www.scribd.com/doc/187577635/Determination-of-the-Concentration-of-AceticAcid-in-Vinegar-Lab-Report

5.

Sample

calculation

of

moles

(n.d).

retrieved

October

9,

2014,

from

https://scilearn.sydney.edu.au/fychemistry/LabManual/E10.pdf

13.0 APPENDICES

22