CM011L: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS (LABORATORY)

3rd Quarter SY 2019-2020

Experiment No. 1
Vinegar Analysis
Valencia, Allan Jay A.
CHM011L – A22
Mapúa University

ABSTRACT

The experiment ‘s purpose is to determine the percent by mass of the acetic acid in vinegar by doing titration with the sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid, since it is an acid it can be titrated with a base. In this
experiment, it consists of two trials of titration. These trials are the titration between NaOH and the Vinegar sample. Titration
is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte (vinegar). The purpose of titration is to determine the
concentration of an acid or base in an aqueous solution. There are three (3) indicators to know if the experiment conducted
was success or failed these indicators are based on the change in colour of the vinegar with the reaction of the acid and the
base in experiment: light-pink coloured vinegar means the reaction is complete and amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is
exact, the colourless vinegar sample means that current amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is still less than the needed
amount while the magenta coloured vinegar is the which only means that the experiment failed because the amount of sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) needed is exceeded. The acid in this experiment is the Vinegar while the base is sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
The percent by mass of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) in vinegar are 4.05% for the first trial and 4.01% to second trial. The average
percent by mass of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) in vinegar (%) of the first and second trial is 4.03%.

Keywords: Titration, sodium hydroxide, dilute, concentration, acetic acid

INTRODUCTION

According to Stanton et.al., 2009, the concentration of
solution is the amount of solute in a given amount solvent.
One (1) concentrated solution contains a great quantity of
solute in a given amount of solvent. However, the dilute
solutions contain relatively little solution in a given amount of
solvent. The chemist uses a specific term to interpret the
concentration of solutions. These are the molarity and the
percent by mass.
We all know that the vinegar is the most common household
products that being used in cooking and cleaning but
scientifically? It can also be used in different experiments
and medicinal purposes. The vinegar contains a minimum of
4.0 g of acetic acid per 100 mL of solution, which
corresponds to the 0.67 M. Since the vinegar is an acid, it
can be titrated to determine the molarity and percent by mass
of acetic acid in a vinegar solution. Titration is used to
determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte
(vinegar). The purpose of titration is to determine the end
point of the reaction. The end point of a titration is the point
at which the acid has completely reacted with or been
neutralized by the base. In the experiment we have an
indicator to know if the reaction has been complete and the
objective is achieved. The indicator used is the change in
color of the vinegar, there are three (3) different outcomes
for this experiment: one (1) the light-colored means that the
amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) used is exact, two (2)
is the colorless vinegar which means that the amount of
sodium hydroxide is still low and the third (3) is the magenta-
colored vinegar which means that the amount of sodium
hydroxide exceed to the exact amount needed in the
experiment. In this experiment we are asked to make a light-
colored vinegar as it proves that the reaction is complete,
and the experiment is a success.
MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE
The first thing you need to do before experimenting is to
prepare all the necessary materials and apparatuses for the
experiment and equip the necessary equipment for safety
purposes. The laboratory apparatuses used in the
experiment are the following: burette, burette stand, funnel,
stirring rod beaker, two (2) graduated cylinder, and
Erlenmeyer’s flask. The chemical materials used are the
commercial vinegar, sodium hydroxide (NaOH),
phenolphthalein. Last thing you need is the safety equipment
such as the laboratory gown, laboratory mask, goggles, and
face mask.

Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date of Experiment 1 of 3

 CM011L: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS (LABORATORY)
3rd Quarter SY 2019-2020

Once you prepare all the materials and apparatuses you Table 1. Table of Data of Vinegar Brand A in Trial 1
need you may now start the experiment. Me and my Title Title
groupmates started to gather the necessary chemicals and Mass of flask (g) 133.16 g
Mass of the flask + Vinegar (g) 136.21 g
measure the Erlenmeyer’s flask in a digital weighing scale, Mass of Vinegar (g) 3..05 g
after that we recorded it in a report sheet. After gathering the The mass of flask is 133.16 g and we pour the (two) 2 mL,
chemicals, we started to pour the vinegar, assigned by the which the mass changed into 136.21 g. To find the mass of
instructor, to the Erlenmeyer’s flask. We poured down the vinegar, we subtracted the mass of the flask from the mass
two (20) mL of distilled water and two (2) drops of of flask filled with vinegar which is 3.05 g.
phenolphthalein. After preparing the chemical, our group set
up the burette filled with twenty-five (25) sodium hydroxide Table 1.1 Analysis of Vinegar Brand A in Trial 1
(NaOH) and the burette stand. Title Title
Initial burette reading of NaOH
25 mL
(mL)
Final burette reading of NaOH
15 mL
(mL)
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 15 mL
Molar Concentration of NaOH
.0134 mol/L
(mol/L)
Moles of NaOH Added (mol) 0.0015 mol
Moles of CH3COOH (mol) 0.0015 mol
Mass of CH3COOH (g) 0.09 g
Percent by Mass of CH3COOH in
2.95%
Vinegar (%)
In the table 2, we gathered the data we need and used it to
find the moles of the CH3COOH, moles of NaOH, percent by
Figure 1. Titration Setup (Source: Google) mass of CH3COOH in vinegar. The solution in finding these
is already in our manual.
After completing the setup, we tested the burette to see if it
is working or not and checking if there are bubbles. We Table 1.2. Table of Data of Vinegar Brand A in Trial 2
placed the flask filled with chemicals under the burette to Title Title
start the process of titration (fig.1 b). We added sodium Mass of flask (g) 133.46 g
Mass of the flask + Vinegar (g) 136.18 g
hydroxide (NaOH) to the sample until it turns into a light-pink Mass of Vinegar (g) 2.72 g
solution. That’s an indication that the reaction is complete.
We recorded the amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) used
to complete the reaction (fig.1 c). After that, we started to
conduct the trial 2 of the titration.
Table 1.2.1 Analysis of Vinegar Brand A in Trial 2
Title Title
The last thing you need to do after completing the titration is Initial burette reading of NaOH
to clean all the materials used and giving back all of it to the 25 mL
(mL)
person in-charge of materials and go to your instructor to Final burette reading of NaOH
12 mL
pass and have your report sheet checked. (mL)
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 12 mL
Molar Concentration of NaOH
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .0134 mol/L
(mol/L)
Moles of NaOH Added (mol) 0.0012 mol
While conducting the experiment. We are recording all the Moles of CH3COOH (mol) 0.0012 mol
data we need. The following data are shown in the table Mass of CH3COOH (g) 0.072 g
Percent by Mass of CH3COOH
below. 2.65%
in Vinegar (%)

It is the same procedure we did at the table 1. Finding

the measurement of flask using the digital weighing

Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date of Experiment 2 of 3

 CM011L: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS (LABORATORY)
3rd Quarter SY 2019-2020

scale. The only difference is that we gathered 1.92 g includes questions to be answered in the Discussion,
mass of vinegar. integrate your responses into a logical discussion, rather
than answering them one by one. And don't include only the
Table 2. Table of Data of Vinegar Brand B Trial 1 answers to the questions - use them as a guideline for
Title Title supplementing your discussion, not limiting it. Your final
Mass of flask (g) 133.65 g paragraph is the conclusion. Include a brief restatement of
Mass of the flask + Vinegar (g) 136.52 g
Mass of Vinegar (g) 2.62 g
the purpose and the main results and how they are relevant
to the field of study. Also include any future direction for your
Table 2.1 Analysis of Vinegar Brand B in Trial 1 results or changes you would make the next time to produce
Title Title results that are more significant or noteworthy. This section
Initial burette reading of NaOH
25 mL
will be written in the past tense when you are describing your
(mL) experiment, and present tense when comparing to current
Final burette reading of NaOH theory.
15 mL
(mL)
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 15 mL
Molar Concentration of NaOH
.0134 mol/L
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(mol/L)
Moles of NaOH Added (mol) 0.0015 mol
0.0015 mol
The experiment we conducted is a success because we
Moles of CH3COOH (mol)
Mass of CH3COOH (g) 0.09 g
achieved the objective of the experiment. Using the data
Percent by Mass of CH3COOH gathered to find the percent by mass of acetic acid
2.85% (CH3COOH) in vinegar which is the main objective of this
in Vinegar (%)
experiment.

Table 2.2. Table of Data of Vinegar Brand B Trial 2 Example of application of titration. Titration is used in
Title Title laboratory medicine to determine unknown concentrations of
Mass of flask (g) 133.65 g chemicals of interest in blood and urine. It is commonly used
Mass of the flask + Vinegar (g) 136.52 g
Mass of Vinegar (g) 2.62 g
by Pharmacists who develop new pharmaceuticals.

Table 2.2.1 Analysis of Vinegar Brand B in Trial 1 For those people who are interested on doing the
Title Title experiment. We would like to recommend that you follow the
Initial burette reading of NaOH
25 mL instructions and use the exact amount of chemicals needed
(mL) for the experiment because one mistake could destroy the
Final burette reading of NaOH
(mL)
15 mL whole experiment. Lastly, always be careful on handling the
Volume of NaOH used (mL) 15 mL laboratory apparatuses because most of the equipment are
Molar Concentration of NaOH
.0134 mol/L
fragile so you need to be extra careful or it might cost you a
(mol/L) thousand for replacing or paying the damage you created.
Moles of NaOH Added (mol) 0.0015 mol
Moles of CH3COOH (mol) 0.0015 mol
Mass of CH3COOH (g) 0.09 g REFERENCES
Percent by Mass of CH3COOH
2.85% Scharf, W. and Malerich, C. (2010). Determination of Acetic Acid Content
in Vinegar (%)
of Vinegar. Baruch College.

Based on the table provided. You can see the slight

difference between the two (2) trials conducted. The
difference is that we used a 1.9 mass of vinegar B in trial 1
while in the trial 2 is 1.92 g. Maybe we added an excess
amount of vinegar so that’s why the mass of it change into
higher value than the trial 1.

were changes to the experimental procedure; or if equipment

was faulty, you need to include this information and explain
how it may have affected the results. If your lab manual

Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date of Experiment 3 of 3