Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Arjun Tisseverasinghe
Lab Partner: Jessica Tucker
May 1, 2015
Abstract
In this lab, the student was had to determine the first two dissociation constants of a polyprotic
acid and the molecular weight of the unknown acid. The student started by standardizing their sodium
hydroxide solution so that they could make an accurate calculation for the two objectives. Using that
information, they titrated the unknown acid to find its pH curve which helped finding the molecular
weight. The answers were slightly skewed after the solution sat over night and the pH reader was
imprecise.
Introduction
In the lab, Identifying an Unknown Acid, we had the objectives of finding the first two
dissociation constants of a polyprotic acid and how to determine the molecular weight of an acid. In part
one, we had to standardize our sodium hydroxide solution that we made with an acetic acid solution. The
overall reaction that would be on going is represented by the equation NaOH + HC 2H3O2 H2O +
NaC2H3O2.. Using this equation you would be able to find the moles of acetic acid which is .025M
meaning the molarity of the solution would be .110M. In part two, we used made a titration curve using a
pH reader. If the endpoint had a pH of 6.1, then the pKa would also be 6.1. The concentration and
molecular weight also had to be calculated. For example, if 9.59g of an unknown sample of an acid was
dissolved in 50mL of water was titrated with .300M NaOH and the first end point was 12.50 mL, then
youd be able to find out the concentration was .15M and the molecular weight was 1278.66 g/mol.
Equipment
Unknown Acid
250 mL Beaker
Acetic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
Graduated Cylinder
Phenolphthalein
Funnel
Buret
Erlenmeyer Flask
25 mL volumetric pipet
Procedures
1. Part I
a. Place 150 mL sodium hydroxide solution in a 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask
and pour 5 mL of the titrant into the buret to rinse. Rinse twice.
b. Add 25 mL of acetic acid solution and 2 drops phenolphthalein to a
separate beaker
c. Fill the buret with NaOH
d. Titrate the solution until the pink color stays for at least 30 seconds
e. Repeat b-d twice after cleaning up by pouring waste in the sink
f. Calculate the concentration of the NaOH
2. Part II
Start mL
Finish mL
Amount Used
50.00
31.80
18.20
50.00
30.45
19.55
50.00
30.45
19.55
pH of Titrant
0
1.5
1.50
3.0
1.63
4.5
1.83
6.0
2.19
7.5
3.35
8.0
5.70
8.5
5.92
9.0
6.00
10.0
6.50
11.0
6.72
12.0
7.05
13.0
7.25
13.5
7.80
14.0
7.98
14.5
8.49
15.0
10.42
15.5
11.04
17.0
11.64
Mv=m
.349 M x .025 L=m
m=8.73 x 1 03 moles
[NaOH ]=8.73 x 1 03 /.01955 L
[NaOH ]=.45 M
Part 2
pK a1=7.75
pKa2= 14.75
Molecular Weight
5.
H 30+
Ka=
A
H 3 O+
Ka=
A
H 3 O++log
log Ka=log
[ acid]
[base ]
[acid ]
pH= pKa+ log
[base ]
pKa=pH log
Conclusion
In this lab, the student was had to determine the first two dissociation constants of a polyprotic
acid and the molecular weight of the unknown acid. The student started by standardizing their sodium
hydroxide solution so that they could make an accurate calculation for the two objectives. The pKa that
we were able to reach was 7.75 and 14.75 opposed to the actual 2.16 pKa. This could have been due to
inaccurate measurements and the time period in between some readings. These measurements could be
used for most industries including the ones that produce plastics.