Experiment # 6: Colorimetric Determination of pH

Dela Cruz, Richard Dean C.

Fernandez, Mon Carl Stephano D.
Group #6, CHEM 18.1, AB2, Prof. John Kevin Paulo C. Biadomang
May 13, 2014
I. Abstract
The pH of the solution measures how acidic or basic that said solution is, and is proportional to how
many hydronium ions exist in a solution. The more hydronium ions, the more acidic the solution. The pH of
unknown solutions by using pH indicators. pH indicators are chemical compounds that change the color of the
solution when it is added to it in small amounts. The color change and intensity corresponds to a certain pH,
giving a general idea of how acidic or basic the solution is. This method of finding the concentration of an
unknown by basing it by the light absorbed (or color) is called colorimetry.There are solutions that resist drastic
changes in pH, and these are what you call buffer systems. You can find the pH of a buffer system by using the
ionization constant and, vice-versa via the Henderson-hasselbach equation. In the Henderson-Hasselbach
equation, the higher the ratio of the conjugate base to the acid, the higher the pH, and therefore lowering the
acidity.
II. Keywords
pH, McIlvaine buffer, colorimetry, pH indicator, Henderson-Hasselbach equation, ionization constant
III. Introduction
Colorimetry is the process by which the
concentration of an unknown solution, by using the
amount of light absorbed (or the color of the
solution). The color and color intensity is then
associated with the concentration of [H3O+] ions, or
the pH of the solution. The color of the said solution
can be observed by using pH indicators. pH
indicators are usually weak acids or bases that
have different colored conjugate acid base pairs.
Since they are weak electrolytes, an equilibrium is
established when dissolved in water:

would resist any drastic change, therefore removing

all possibilities for error in getting pH. In getting the
pH of a buffer system, we have to use its Kaand the
Henderson-Hasselbach equation, given by:
= + log

Kaor the ionization constant, is the equilibrium

constant for the ionization of an acid (HA) to yield
conjugate base (A-) and hydronium ions (H3O).
Given by the equation:

HInd + H2O H3O+ + IndWhen the solution being tested has high H3O
concentration, the equilibrium is disturbed and
therefore (according to Le Chateliers principle) the
equation would shift backwards, and thus creating
more HInd, and becoming closer to the color of
HInd. The same thing will happen if H3O would
decrease, it would cause more Ind-to form, and thus
favoring its color. pH indicators only cover
respective pH ranges, because accoring to the
Henderson-Hasselbach equation, the logarithm of
the possible ratios of Ind- to HInd, plus its pKa would
determine its pH range.
Buffer solutions are solutions that resist drastic
changes in pH. This is cause by the coupling of
equal (or almost) amount of weak acid and its
conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate
acid. These solutions are good basis for colorimetry
tests since even though you add indicators, the pH
CHEM 18.1: COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF PH
Page 1 of 4

[ ]
[]

[3 +][-]
[]

IV. Experimental
In Part A of the experiment, buffer systems
were prepared and were measured with the
appropriate pH indicators in their respective pH
range. These tables present the amount of
Na2HPO4 and 0.1M Citric Acid.

pH
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8

THYMOL BLUE (2.2-2.8)

0.1M Citric
0.2M Na2HPO4
Acid
0.20
9.80
0.62
9.38
1.06
1.58

8.94
8.42

Table 1: Range of Thymol Blue with its corresponding buffer

solutions within its range

BROMOPHENOL BLUE (3.0 4.6)

0.1M Citric
pH
0.2M Na2HPO4
Acid
3.0
2.05
9.80
3.2
2.47
9.38
3.4
2.85
8.94
3.6
3.22
8.42
3.8
3.55
6.45
4.0
3.85
6.15
4.2
4.14
5.86
4.4
4.41
5.59
4.6
4.67
5.33
Table 2: Range of Bromophenol Blue with its corresponding
buffer solutions within its range

pH
4.8
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.0
6.2
6.4

CHLOROPHENOL RED (4.8-6.4)

0.1M Citric
0.2M Na2HPO4
Acid
4.93
5.07
5.15
4.85
5.20
4.80
5.58
4.42
5.80
4.20
6.05
3.95
6.31
3.69
6.61
3.39
6.92
3.08

Table 3: Range of Chlorophenol red with its corresponding

buffer solutions within its range

BROMOTHYMOL BLUE (6.0 7.6)

0.1M Citric
pH
0.2M Na2HPO4
Acid
6.0
6.31
3.69
6.2
6.61
3.39
6.4
6.92
3.08
6.6
7.34
2.66
6.8
7.72
2.28
7.0
8.24
1.76
7.2
8.69
1.31
7.4
9.08
0.92
7.6
9.37
0.63
Table 4: Range of Bromothymol Blue with its corresponding
buffer solutions within its range

CHEM 18.1: COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF PH

Page 2 of 4

PHENOL RED (6.8-8.0)

pH

0.2M Na2HPO4

6.8
7.0
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
8.0

7.72
8.24
8.69
9.08
9.37
9.57
8.72

0.1M Citric
Acid
2.28
1.76
1.31
0.92
0.63
0.43
0.28

Table 5: Range of Phenol Red with its corresponding buffer

solutions within its range

In Part B, pH was to be determined by

comparing the color changes in the Part A. After
preparing the followng solutions:

0.1M HOAc

1 mL 0.1M HOAc + 1 mL 0.1M NaOAc +

8mL H2O

1 mL 0.1M HOAc + 0.1 mL 0.1M NaOAc +

8.9 mL H2O

0.1 mL 0.1M HOAc + 1 mL 0.1M NaOAc +

8.9 mL H2O

Drop it with different indicators (new soln per

indicator) and compare the color with that of Part A.
Take note, only compare the color of of the solution
with the same indicator used, as to refrain from
getting wrong results. Ideally, the pH must be the
same for all indicators, but if observed pH is
different from one indicator to another, getting the
average pH is necessary.
After getting the observed pH, calculate the
theoretical pH and the ionization constant for acetic
acid.
V. Results
From the given table of McIlvaine buffers,
the class prepared colourful sets of buffers with
their corresponding pH indicators. The observed
data was found by getting the mean of all the
observed pH from the five indicators.

TEST
TUBE

SOLUTION

OBSERVED
PH

0.01 M HOAc

4.88

1 mL 0.1M
HOAc + 1 mL
0.1M NaOAc +
8mL H2O

5.08

1 mL 0.1M
HOAc + 0.1 mL
0.1M NaOAc +
8.9 mL H2O

0.1 mL 0.1M
HOAc + 1 mL
0.1M NaOAc +
8.9 mL H2O

5.2

This production of additional CH3COOcauses the ionization of CH3COOH to be

suppressed based on Le Chateliers Principle of
chemical equilibrium. The system consumes
the additional
CH3COO- by
forming
more
CH3COOH. This means a backward reaction. This
also means the reduction of formation of H3O +,
which determines the level of acidity of the solution.
In this case, it is reduced; therefore, the solution
becomes less acidic.
The experimental ionization constant of
acetic acid can be calculated by using the observed
pH of the 0.01 M CH3COOH solution. From the
observed pH of 4.88, the Ka was calculated:
pH = -log [H3O+]
[H3O+] = 10-pH
[H3O+] = 10-4.88

Table : Result of the Observed pH of the mixtures

[H3O+] = 1.3182x10-5M
CH COOH

VI. Discussion
In preparing the buffer solutions, it is
important to use the appropriate pH indicator for
each buffer solution. If an indicator is used for a
solution with a pH outside of its respective range,
the indicator would not show change in color. Using
an indicator in this way would cause a vague,
inconclusive or inaccurate reading of the pH of a
solution.
From the observed pH of test tubes B, C
and D, it can be inferred that as the ratio of the
molarity of NaOAc to that of HOAc in the mixture
increases, the pH level of the mixture also
increases and the solution becomes less acidic.
Solution D is the least acidic because it has
the highest [NaOAc] to [HOAc] ratio in the mixture
while solution C is the most acidic because it has
the lowest [NaOAc] to [HOAc] ratio in the mixture.
Given these equations:
CH3COOH + H2O CH3COO- + H3O+
NaCH3COO Na + CH3COOIt is known that NaCH3COO- is a strong
electrolyte andCH3COOH is a weak electrolyte.
Because it dissociates completely, NaCH3COO
produces much of the CH3COO- . The produced
CH3COO- is a common ion of the dissociation of
CH3COOH, thus, a common ion effect occurs on
the solution.

CHEM 18.1: COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF PH

Page 3 of 4

Initial

.01

Chang
e

-1.3182x10

Equilib
rium

9.986x10

HO
2

-3

CH COO

HO
3

+1.3182x1

+1.318

-5

0
1.3182x10
-5

-5

2x10
1.3182
-5

x10

Ka = [CH3COO-][H3O+] = (1.3182x10-5)2
[CH3COOH]
9.986x10-3
-8
Ka = 1.7399x10
The Ka of a solution is significant in finding
the pH of the solution especially for buffer solutions.
When given the Ka of a solution, the HendersonHasselbach equation can be used to determine the
pH. Given the Ka of acetic acid at 250C, assuming
all CH3COO- ions comes from NaCH3COO:
Ka at 250C :
pKa :

1.8x10-5
4.7447

Test Tube A: 1 mL 0.1 M HOAc + 1 mL 0.1 M

NaOAc+ 8 mL H2O
M1V1 = M2V2
[HOAc]: (.1M)(1mL) = (Ma)(10mL)
Ma = 0.01
[OAc-]: (.1M)(1mL) = (Mb)(10mL)
Mb = 0.01
pH = pKa + log[conjugate base]

reduces production of H3O+, thereby, causing an

increase in the pH of the solution.

[acid]
pH = 4.7447 + log(0.01/0.01)
pH = 4.7447
Performing the computation on
remaining other test tubes, we get a pH of:

the

Test Tube B: 1 mL 0.1 M HOAc + 0.1 mL 0.1 M

NaOAc+ 8.9 mL H2O
pH = 3.7447
Test Tube C: 0.1 mL 0.1 M HOAc + 1 mL 0.1 M
NaOAc+ 8.9 mL H2O
pH = 5.7447
VII. Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, the group has found out that
the use of pH indicators and colorimetry is a way to
find out the pH of an unknown solution when more
precise and accurate instruments are unavailable
although, an understanding of an indicators pH
range and respective color change is necessary.
Buffers can resist drastic changes in pH but still
exhibit a slight change due to the common ion
effect. The effect of the common ion effect on the
pH of a weak electrolyte like CH3COOH is a
decrease in the ionization of the electrolyte, which

To compute for the pH of a buffer solution,

one can use the Henderson-Hasselbach equation
but, take note that this is limited to only certain
strengths of acids and bases.
Stressing out that the McIlvaine buffers
have measurements of Sodium Hydrogen
Phosphate and Citric Acid in increments up to two
decimal places, the group recommends that the
reagents should be measured accurately and
carefully as to avoid inconsistencies with the correct
pH. The group also recommends using the correct
indicator for the respective pH range the use of
more indicators with wider pH ranges.

VIII. References
Brown, T.L., et al. (2000). Chemistry: The Central
Science. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Chang, R. (2010). Chemistry 10th ed. McGraw Hill
Companies, New York.
Silberberg, M.S. (2009). Chemistry: the molecular
nature of matter and change 5th ed.
McGraw Hill Companies, New York.

I hereby certify that I have given substantial contribution to this report.

____________________________________
Dela Cruz, Richard Dean Clod C.

CHEM 18.1: COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF PH

Page 4 of 4

________________________________
Fernandez, Mon Carl Stephano D.