American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Environmental Lab

Report # 1
(pH Value Determination)

Names URN: (University Registration Number)

Tamara al-Tawal 1310360

Submitted on: Day.Month.Year (7th of March 2017)

1 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Apparatus and Materials ................................................................................................................ 3
Procedure ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Results and Calculations ................................................................................................................ 4
Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Convulsion ..................................................................................................................................... 5
References ...................................................................................................................................... 5

2 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Introduction
pH is known to be the potential of hydrogen and mathematically is described as the negative
logarithmic of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. This value is usually used as a
measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. As we know that the hydrogen ion and the
amounts it is presented in will determine the acidity of the solution. Moreover, there is a scale
ranging from 0 to 14 that indicates the state of the material. As going from 0 up to 7 solutions
are called acid solutions, with the value of 7 being the neutral value, and up from 7 to 14
solutions will be base.

Objectives
The aim of this test is to find the pH values for three samples of different types; tape water, milk
and a fizzy drink such as Pipsi. Then, answer the question presented in the lab manual along
with analyzing the results found.

Apparatus and Materials

For this test we needed:
1. Solution samples to find their pH, which were tape water, milk and Pipsi.
2. A standardized pH meter.
3. Distilled water.
4. Buffer solutions, one base 7.00 pH and one is an acid 4.01pH.
5. KCl salt solution.
6. Flasks.
Note: The standardized pH meter is made up of 2 main parts, a display and a probe which are
connected together using a special cable. The display is used the show the pH value found and
also the temperature; which has 2 main settings wither the standard 25oC that we used or a
setting were you are able to test the wanted temperature. Moreover, the probe, is made of two
electrodes or also called 2 half cells, being the sensor and the reference, which are covered with
a plastic case. These electrode are kept in salt (neither an acid or a base) solution made of KCl.

Procedure
The steps followed for conducting this experiment are as follows:
1. Begin by standardizing or calibrating the pH meter, and that is done by: inserting the
probe in one of the buffer solutions and entre the value of the pH to the device, then
wash the probe with distilled water and put it back into the second buffer solution and
also entre the value of its pH to the meter. At this stage the meter will be able to identify
the pH values of different solutions by using the two values obtained from the buffer
solutions and interpolating between them. Note however, that a minimum of two buffer
solutions must be used for this step.
2. Then decide on the solutions to be tested and put each in a flask.

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 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

3. The make sure the probe is cleaned with distilled water (this water has a pH of 7 and is
usually used to clean the probe of any traces that might be on it from previous readings
or even sometimes to dilute solutions) , and put it in the flask with tape water let's say.
Wait for the reading changes to become small and then note down the value.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3, for milk and Pepsi and note down the values of the pH for each.

The pH meter working method:

It works as a voltmeter, meaning that it measures the electrical potential of the solution and
compares it with the voltage of a known solution. Now for this to happen a complete electrical
circuit must be present, in this case it is the solution and the probe (which has two electrodes).
As mentioned before this electrode is made of a source half cell that contains a neutral solution
of a pH 7 usually potassium, and the reference half cell. Now:
 After calibrating the device as mentioned before, you dip the probe in the solution.
 Hydrogen ions move to the outer surface of the source cell and start to replace some of
the metal ions found in it.
 In return also some of these metal ions also move from the source to solution.
 This ion-exchange process is how it all works as it creates an electrical circuit. Now if
the two solutions (the one in the flask and the salt in the probe) have two different
acidties then the amount of ion exchange will be different in each side of the cell.
 Thus, having different degrees of hydrogen ion activity on the two sides will induce a
voltage due the difference in electrical charge on each side. This is also called a potential
difference.
 Now the larger the voltage difference the larger the difference in the hydrogen ion
activity in the solution so it is acid and has a low pH reading. But the lower the activity
in the solution the more alkaline it will be thus a higher pH value will be read.

Results and Calculations

The following table shows the results obtained at a room temperature of 25oC.

Solution Testing pH True pH

Tape water 8.48 Base 6.5-8.5 for human use
Milk 6.96 Acid 6.4-6.8 whole cow milk
Pepsi 2.80 Acid 2.61

This tape water follows in the rang for pH that is required for human use.

Discussion
First and for most we notice that our reading for tape water follows in the standard range
required for human uses, and this shows that the chemical process used by the municipal of our
city is meeting the requirements. And the fact that the pH value is shifted to the higher end of
the rang could be due to number of uncertainties, that are to be listed later in this section.

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 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Secondly, we notice that the values of pH for both the milk and the Pepsi samples are slightly
higher than those known at a standard temperature. This could be due to a number of
uncertainties such as: the temperature of the room may not be exactly 25oC knowing that the
amount of H+ active in solution will typically increase with temperature increase, the pH then
should decrease, also the big number of people in the lab area mean that higher amounts of CO2
is being released into the air which in return will affect the state of the solution yielding a more
acid solution meaning a lower value. Moreover, the use of distilled water to clean the electrodes
might have also affected the reading if the probe was not dried before using.
Now, a number of conditions affect the pH of water, specially open waters, and those are :
 Carbon Dioxide, if dissolved in water creates a weak acid
 The existing of rocks, soils, corals and any other form of organic derbies, they can
produce minerals into the environment thus affect the pH value.
 Air pollution will release nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides. Both of these
compounds will transform into acids when introduced to water.
 Dust and any other air born contaminant, they may contain chemical or organic
compounds that when dissolved in water can transform into mild acids or compounds
with alkaline properties.

As for algae pollution and its effects on water, there is no one fixed answer for all conditions
and that due to the face the algae affects the pH levels of water differently during the daylight
and during the night and the can be explained. As during the day photosynthesis place thus these
organisms suck CO2 from the water. Removal of carbon dioxide from the water raises the pH
levels. Depletion of inorganic carbon from water by algae results in high pH levels, as
evidenced by the rise in pH levels of natural waters, which can go up to 10 or beyond in the
presence of algae.
On the other hand at night this process occurs in reverse, no photosynthesis takes place, so algae
stops taking in carbon dioxide from water and it consumes oxygyn and starts releasing CO2 into
the water. This increased production of carbon dioxide decreases the pH levels in the water at
night.
Examples on acid solutions in everyday life could be : lemon juice, vinegar and battery acid
used in automobiles. As for everyday bases we have baking soda, anti-acid tablets, and milk.

Convulsion
To sum up, we have come to understand how the pH meter works and how to use it in order to
fin the pH values of different solutions. Furthermore, we have learned about the different
conditions that may cause the pH level to vary and in which direction.

References
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_PH_value_in_Pepsi_cola
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-ph-meters-work.html
https://www.scribd.com/doc/30423873/Acids-and-Bases-in-Everyday-Life
The lab manual.

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