Identifying and Unknown Acid

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

a. Place 50mL of NaOH in an Erlenmeyer flask

b. Pour the NaOH into the buret using a funnel
c. Record the initial volume of the NaOH in the buret
d. Add 25 mL of the unknown solution into a small beaker and measure the
pH of the solution
e. Add the titrant in 1.5 mL portions until the pH is 2.3 or greater then add
in 0.5 mL increments recording the pH after each increment. When the pH is 6.0 or
greater add titrant in 1 mL increments until the pH reaches 7.2. Then add in 0.5 mL
increments until the pH is 11.0 or greater. Finally add in 1.5 mL portions and finish at
12pH
f. Graph the titration curve
g. Determine the molecular weight
Data and Observations
Part 1 Titration Data
Trial

Start mL

Finish mL

Amount Used

50.00

31.80

18.20

50.00

30.45

19.55

50.00

30.45

19.55

Part 2 Titration Data

mL NaOH

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

Calculations and Graphs

Part 1

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

.00775 L x .45 M =Moles NaOH

Moles NaOH =2.325 m
2.325 moles NaOH=.025 L x molar mass
2.325 moles NaOH /.025 L=molar mass
molar mass=.140 moles
Discussion
1. The identity of the unknown acid is sulfuric acid because the pKa1 is 7.75 which is too
high to be anything else. This may or may not be incorrect because of the inaccurate pH readings
and the time it sat over night.
2. H3PO4 + NaOH NaH2PO4 + H2O
3. The concentration of the sodium hydroxide would be affected if the acetic acid was
impure because the answer from the titration is reliant on on the concentration of the acetic acid.
4. The experimental molecular weight would be different because the titrated sodium
hydroxide solution would have the wrong concentration causing the weight to be higher or lower
than the actual amount.

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.