Experiment #6, COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION of pH

COCADIZ, Judy Ann M.; MARTIN, Louise Joy A.

Group 6, Chemistry 18.1, CD2, Ms. Joan del Rosario
May 19, 2014
I.

Abstract
The pH level is the measure of the activity of dissolved hydronium ions in a solution, and can be determined
through qualitative and quantitative methods. In the experiment, the pH levels were qualitatively obtained by
calculating the negative logarithm of the concentration of the hydronium ions present. The solutions were then
added with the appropriate indicators and compared to a set of McIlave buffers to colometrically (qualitatively)
determine the pH level. The ionization constants (K a) were calculated by multiplying the concentration of the
products and divide by the concentration of the reactants which aqueous substances.

II.

Keywords: Buffer solutions, pH indicator, common ion effect, ionization constant, Henderson-Hasselbalch

III. Introduction

ionization constants. This can be calculated using

the formula
Lower
pH
Higher
pH
range
pH
[Products]
color
color
K a=
[Reactants]
Red
1.2-2.8
Yellow

Indicator
The pH level of a
solution is used to
Thymol blue
express
the
concentration
of
Bromophenol blue
Yellow
3.0-4.6
Purple
hydronium ions present
Table 1. This table shows
Chlorophenol red
Yellow
4.8-6.4
Violet
in an aqueous solution
examples of pH indicators with
their respective pH range for
and
allows
us
to
Bromothymol blue
Yellow
6.0-7.6
Blue
color transition and color on the
categorize the solution
Phenol red
Yellow
6.8-8.4
Red
different ends of the range.
as acidic, basic or
neutral. The determination of the pH level can be
The Henderson-Hasselbalch formula allows us
done through various methods - pH paper, pH meter
one method to approximate the pH of a buffer
or colorimetric determination, and calculations are a
solution. The basic equation is as follows:
few of these.
[Salt ]
Colorimetry is the analysis of chemical samples
pH = p K a +log
[ Acid ]
in order to determine their concentration. The
colorimetric determination of the pH level of a
solution makes use of complex organic dyes, also
IV. Experimental
called indicators, that change to distinctive colors
under a specific pH range. The acid-base indicators
Part A: Preparation of Buffer Solutions
added are weak acids or bases and are halochromic,
To begin the experiment, preparation of a set of
which means that when added to a solution, they
McIlave buffer solutions was done using a
respond to the change in pH by emitting photons,
predetermined set of data (see Table 2). The
visually resulting to a color change. This change
varying volume combinations of 0.2M Na 2HPO4
occurs in narrow ranges of pH because of the
(DSP) and 0.1M citric acid (CA) were made
equilibrium shift that occurs in the reaction. Two or
measured using a pipet and placed inside uniform
more pH indicators are usually needed to effectively
sized test tubes, labeled with their pH. Five (5)
determine the pH level of the solution.
drops of the proper indicator was then added to
The ionization constant is the extent to which
each test tube, with the first test tube (pH 2.2)
the substance will dissociate in water. This is
added with thymol blue. For pH levels with multiple
needed in order to calculate the amount of
proper indicators, different test tubes were prepared
hydronium ions present in a solution. Since weak
for each indicator. The test tubes were then set
acids only partially dissociate, they have low
aside for the second part of the experiment.
Chemistry 18.1, Colometric Determination of pH

Page 1 of 4

mL
DSP
0.20
0.62
1.06
1.58
2.05
2.47
2.85
3.22
3.55
3.25
4.14
4.41
4.67
4.93
5.15

pH
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.2
4.4
4.6
4.8
5.0

mL
CA
9.80
9.88
8.91
8.42
7.95
7.53
7.15
6.78
6.45
6.15
5.86
5.59
5.33
5.07
4.85

pH
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.0
6.2
6.4
6.6
6.8
7.0
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
8.0

mL
DSP
5.20
5.58
5.80
6.05
6.31
6.61
6.92
7.34
7.72
8.24
8.69
9.08
9.37
9.57
9.72

mL
CA
4.80
4.42
4.20
3.95
3.69
3.39
3.08
2.66
2.28
1.76
1.31
0.92
0.63
0.43
0.28

-x
0.1 - x

+x
x

+x
x

[H 3 O+ ]=4.8
pH =log
+
H 3 O

[Salt ]
[ Acid ]
x
p K a= pH log
0.1x
pH= p K a +log

1.58 x 105
p K a=4.8log
9.984 x 105
p K a=log K a=7.60

Table 2. This table shows the data needed to prepare McIlave

buffers.

K a=2.5 10

Part B: Colorimetric Determination of pH

For the second part of the experiment, the
following solutions were prepared:
(a) 0.01M HOAc,
(b) 1mL 0.1M HOAc + 1mL 0.1M NaOAc + 8mL
H2O,
(c) 1mL 0.1M HOAc + 0.1mL 0.1M NaOAc +
8.9mL H2O,

B. Calculate the pH of the three mixtures of HOAc

and NaOAc (solutions B, C & D) using the
Henderson-Hasselbach equation and compare with
your observed pH, (use the value of ionization
constant of HOAc at 25). Support your answer with
computations.

(d) 0.1mL 0.1M HOAc + 1mL 0.1M NaOAc +

8.9mL H2O
The theoretical pH level of the solutions was
then calculated using the Henderson-Hasselbach
equation. Using this calculated pH, the proper
indicator for each solution was determined and 2
drops of it was then added to their respective
solution.
V. Results
A. Calculate the ionization constant of acetic acid
using colorimetric data.
pH of 0.01 M HOAc
[H3O+] of M HOAc
Calculate Ka of HOAc

4.8
1.58x10-5
2.5x10-8

Table 3. This table shows the calculated Ionization

constant of the HOAc.

Computations:
HOAc +

0.1

H2O
-

H3O+

+ OAc-

Chemistry 18.1, Colometric Determination of pH

pH

SOLUTION

Observed
4.8
4.8
3.8
4.8

A
B
C
D

Calculated
xxxx
4.74
3.74
5.74

Table 2. This table shows both the calculated and observed pH

level of the solutions.

Solution B:
HOAc +

0.1 mmol
-x
(1.1 x)
10mL

H2O
-

H3O+
0
+x
x

+ OAc0.1mmol
+x
(0.1 x)
10mL

OA c

pH= p K a +log
p K a=log(1.8 x 105 )
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OA c

pH= p K a +log

p K a=4.7447
0.1x
10
pH=4.744log
0.1x
10

p K a=log(1.8 x 105 )
p K a=4.7447

*since 0.01>>>>x

pH=4.744log

0.01
0.01

0.1x
10
pH=4.744log
0.01x
10

pH = 4.74
This value is close to the observed pH that is
4.8

*since 0.01>>>>x

Solution C:

HOAc + H2O
0.1 mmol
-x
(1.1 x)
10mL

H3O+
0
+x
x

0.01mmol
+x
(0.01 x)
10mL

OA c

pH= p K a +log

0.01x
10
pH=4.744log
0.1x
10
*since 0.01>>>>x

0.001
0.01

pH = 3.74
This value is close to the observed pH that is
3.8
Solution D:
HOAc + H2O
i 0.01 mmol

-x
e (0.01 x)
10mL

H3O+
0
+x
x

0.01
0.001

pH = 5.74
This value is close from the observed pH that
is 5.2

VI. Discussion

p K a=log(1.8 x 105 )
p K a=4.7447

pH =4.744log

pH =4.744log

+ OAc-

+ OAc0.1mmol
+x
(0.1 x)
10mL

Part A of the experiment was focused on the

preparation of a set of buffer solutions, added with
their proper pH indicators. The addition of the
appropriate indicator was a crucial step because
indicators are only effective when it is within its
specific pH range, since no color transition occurs in
pH levels above or below this range.
Part B of the experiment involved the following
reactions:

O Ac(aq)
+
O(aq) +
HOAc(aq) +H 2 O(l) H 3
O Ac
(aq)
Na+
(aq )+
NaO Ac
(aq )

From these equations, it can be concluded that

NaOAc is a strong electrolyte and HOAc is weak
electrolyte, since NaOAc underwent complete
dissociation and HOAc did not. Both electrolytes
produced the OAc- in the dissociation, resulting in
the occurrence of a common ion effect in the
solution. The presence of additional

Chemistry 18.1, Colometric Determination of pH

OAc

OAc-

Page 1 of 4

ions causes the ionization of HOAc to be

suppressed, as the position of equilibrium shifts to
favor the reactant side of the equation (reverse
reaction). This can be well explained by the Le
Chateliers Principle of chemical equilibrium.
The system consumes the additional OAc- by
forming more HOAc. This means a backward
+

reaction and thus the reduction of

O(aq)
H3O+
H3

concentration and an increase in the pH of

the solution. The solution therefore becomes less
acidic upon the addition of a common ion.
This explains why the results for test tubes B, C,
D, using the Henderson-Hasselbach equation, it can

be inferred that as

OAc

ratio of the OAc-and

the

HOAc increases, the pH level also increases and the

solution becomes less acidic.
In the addition of 1mL 0.1M NaOAc to the 1mL
0.1M HOAc in Test tube B, there was no evident
effect on the pH level of the solution since the
calculated pH level was the same of that of the
observed pH of HOAc. In test tube C, 0.1mL 0.1
NaOAc was added to 1mL 1M HOAc. This resulted
to a [salt]/[acid] ratio of less than 1 and caused a
decrease in the pH level. The addition of 1mL 0.1M
NaOAc to the 0.1mL 0f 0.1M HOAc in solution D, on
the other hand, produced a [salt]/[acid] ratio greater
than one. This in turn, caused the pH level to rise.
Solution D is the least acidic because it has the

highest

OAc

ratio of the OAc-and HOAc in the

the

mixture while solution. C is the most acidic because

OAc

it has the lowest

ratio of the OAc-and HOAc

the
in the mixture.

The pH of a solution can be approximated with

the use of colorimetry and pH indicators. It is
important, however, to acquire first the knowledge of
which indicator to be used on certain pH ranges and
their respective color transitions, for us to be able to
perform colomertric determination.
Buffers can resist dramatic changes in pH but
since they exhibit the common ion effect, a slight
change is still experienced by the solution. The
effects of the common ion on the pH of a weak
electrolyte, such as CH3COOH, is a decrease in the
ionization of the electrolyte, which reduces the
production of H3O+, thereby, causing an increase in
the pH of the solution. This pH level can be
calculated
using
the
Henderson-Hasselbalch
equation. Using this calculated pH, we can now
determine the pH colometrically, taking note of the
appropriate pH indicator.
It is recommended that the preparation of the
McIlave buffer solutions, as well as the solutions of
test tube B, C and D, be carefully done, so as to
achieve an accurate colometric analysis of the pH
level of the solution.
IX. References
Arano, C. (n.d.). Colorimetric method for pH
measurements.
Retrieved
from
http://www.carlos-arano.com.ar/pHing.html
Brandis, K. (n.d.). Acid-base physiology. Retrieved
from
http://www.anaesthesiamcq.com/AcidBase
Book/ab1_4.php
Larsen,
D.
(n.d.).
Henderson-Hasselbalch
Approximation.
Retrieved
from
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistr
y/Acids_and_Bases/Buffers/HendersonHasselbalch_Approximation
Lemay, H., Brown, T., Bursten, B., & Burge, J.
(2004). Chemistry: The central science. New
Jersey: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
Petrucci. (2007). General Chemistry: Principles &
Modern Applications. 9th ed. Retrieved from
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistr
y/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions_an
d_Mixtures/Colloid

I hereby certify I have given substantial

contribution to this report.

VII. Conclusion and Recommendations

Chemistry 18.1, Colometric Determination of pH

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______________________
COCADIZ, Judy Ann M.

MARTIN, Louise Joy A.

______________________

Chemistry 18.1, Colometric Determination of pH

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