LABORATORY REPORT

CHM 213
(PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY)
1. MUHAMMAD MIRZA HIZAMI BIN RAJIEI 2019289394

GROUP :1
PROGRAMME : AS115 2A
NO. AND TITLE OF EXPERIMENT :5 Acid-Base Equilibrium.

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 15 / 4 / 2020

DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION : 30 / 4 / 2020
NAME OF LECTURER : DR. NUR ROYHAILA MOHAMAD

Laboratory Report Marking Scheme:

Criteria Full Marks (to be filled by
Mark(s) lecturer)
Objective of the Experiment
Introduction
Experimental Procedure
Results and Observations
Calculations
Discussion
Conclusion
Answers to Questions
References
Format
Total Marks
OBJECTIVES:

To measure the pH of solutions of different of acidity and basicity, to determine the

ionisation constant of a weak acid, to study the effect of dilution on the degree of ionisation
and to study the properties of buffer solutions.

INTRODUCTION:

In discussing equilibrium chemical systems, we must consider as one of the most important
of these topics reactions involving acids and bases. Most acid-base systems are equilibrium
ones. Let's look at this field of chemistry, starting with some descriptive chemistry.
Acids and bases are relative terms. A molecule cannot be called an acid in exclusion of all
else. For example, the gaseous hydrogen chloride molecule HCl(g) is a very stable molecule
and does not act as acid or base unless something else is introduced to the system. If water is
introduced to the system, the HCl readily reacts with the water to form H3O+(aq) and Cl-
(aq). In other words, in the process of dissolving into the water, the HCl molecule gives up a
proton to become Cl-(aq) and a water molecule accepts the proton and becomes H3O+(aq).
According to the Bronsted-Lowrey definition, an acid is a molecule or ion that can easily give
up (donate) a proton in a reaction with a base. Similarly, a base is a molecule or ion that can
bond with (accept) a proton released by an acid in a reaction. Thus, in the reaction between
hydrogen chloride (HCl) and water, the HCl is the acid and the water is a base. In the
reaction between ammonia (NH3) and water, the water donates a proton to the ammonia
molecule to make NH4+(aq) and OH-(aq). Thus, in this reaction, the ammonia is a base and
the water is an acid. We have seen water as a Bronsted-Lowrey acid and as a
Bronsted-Lowry base.

Acid Base
Arrhenius Substance that produce H3O- Substance that produce OH-
in water. in water
Bronsted-Lowry Proton donor Proton acceptor
Lewis Substance that can accept a Substance that can donate a
pair of electrons. pair of electrons.

Recall that we write concentration here but actually an equilibrium constant is properly
written using relative activities. Relative activities are written as:

For the pH scale in water solution we can easily find H3O+ and OH- concentrations in the
range between 1 and 10-15. For reasons of convenience and other scientific reasons,
concentrations are often expressed on a logarithmic scale. For this, the 'p' function is used. It
was first proposed by Sørenson. (S1909). You will see this function used in numerous ways
in Science. Don't get confused into thinking that each time you see it it is something new. In
general: p X = -log X .Whatever X is. In this case, we use pH and pOH to measure
concentrations. Hence, pH = -log [H+] and pOH = -log [OH-.We already know that in
aqueous solution KW = [H+][OH-] = 1.0×10-14. Because of a law in mathematics that says
:log (x×y) = log x + log y.We can write pKw = p([H+][OH-]) = pH + pOH = 14.We can also
convert pH and pOH values back to [H+] and [OH-] values by using the inverse of the p
function [H+] = antilog(-pH) or [H+] = 10-Ph .For buffer solutions in many chemical
processes, both industrial and biological reactions can only take place in a narrow range of
[H3O+] concentrations (narrow pH range). To ensure that the desired reactions take place,
buffers are used which hold the pH constant (within limits).
Examples of such chemical processes are:
• Sewage treatment: Bacteria only survive in a narrow pH range
• Photographic developing
• Electroplating
• Most metabolic processes
• Stomach pH ~ 1.5
• Saliva pH ~ 6.8
• Blood pH ~ 7.4
Buffers are used to maintain pH at some desired range. A Buffer is made up of approximately
equimolar amounts of a weak acid and its conjugate base. To make these solutions, we could,
for example add a weak acid (like Acetic acid) and the salt of the acid (like Sodium acetate)
in equal proportions.
The solution made up of CH3COOH and CH3COO- is considered in approximately equal
amounts.
CH3COO- + H3O+ CH3COOH + H2O
According to La Châtelier's principal If we add a small amount of acid, the acetate ion will
react with it and reduce the effective change in pH. If we add a small amount of base, the
acetic acid will react with it and again reduce the effective change in pH. The amount of acid
and base added must be smaller than the amount of buffer or it will simply use up all the
buffer and then proceed to change the pH.
To restate what we said in more mathematical terms:

Here, we see that the equilibrium constant for the reaction of the acetate ion with acid is very
large. Hence, any acid added to the buffer solution will be immediately used up in the buffer
equilibrium. Similarly, the Kfor the reaction of the acetic acid with a base is large and the
base will be used up.
A buffer is most effective at resisting change in pH when [base] = [acid]
pH = pKa + log(1) = pKa.

PROCEDURES:

a. Measuring pH of solutions

The pH values for each of the solutions listed in the Results and Discussion section
predicted before any measurements are made. The pH values of the solution measured. The
results filled in in the table provided

b. Effect of dilution on a

The solution prepared as required. The pH values predicted and the pH measured.
The results filled in the table provided.

c. Buffers

The solution prepared as required. Solution nos.13 and 14 predicted either as buffers or not.
The pH of all the solutions measured and the results filled in the table provided.
RESULTS:

Chemical Solutions Predicted pH Measured pH

a) Hydrogen Ion Concentration: pH
1. Distilled water 7 7
2. tap water 6.6 6.5
3. vinegar 2 2.4
4. Milk 6.8 6.7
5. 0.1 M NH4OH 11 11.6
6. 0.1 M NH4NO3 10 10.2
7. 0.1 M NaCl 7 7
8. 0.1 M CH3COONa 8.6 8.9
9. 0.1 M CH3COONH4 3 2.9
b) Effect of Dilution
10. 0.1 M CH3COOH 2.7 2.8
11. 5 ml 0.1 M CH3COOH + 5 ml H2O 5.8 Dilution
12. 1 ml 0.1 M CH3COOH + 99 ml H2O 6.99 6.99
c) Buffers
13. 5 ml 0.1 M CH3COOH + 5 ml 0.1 M HCl 2 Buffer
14. 50 ml 0.1 M NH4OH + 50 ml 0.1 M NH4NO3 10.1 10.2
15. 10 ml of (14) + 6 ml of H2O 9.8 9.9
16. 10 ml of (14) + 5 ml of H2O + 1ml 0.1 M HCl 9 8.6
17. 10 ml of (14) + 6ml 0.1 M HCl 8.3 8
18. 10 ml of (14 ) + 5 ml of H2O + 1 ml 0.1 M NaOH 10.3 10.8

QUESTIONS:

1. Classify solutions nos 1-14 in the experiment into any of these group. Justify your answers.

a. Strong acid
- solutions no 3,9

b. Strong base
- solutions no 5,6,14,18

c. Weak acid
- solutions no 2,4,10,12

d. Weak base
- solutions no 8,15,16,17

e. Buffer solutions
- solutions no 13
2. Calculate the dissociation constants ( Ka ) and degree of ionization of CH3COOH in
solution nos 10-12 based on the pH values obtained. Compare Ka and degree of ionization
with theoretical value.

Solution nos 10:

𝑥
CH3COOH → H+ + CH3COO- Ionization = 𝑀 × 100%
x= 10-2.8
x = 1.5849 × 10-3 = 1.58%
Ka10 = ( 1.5849 × 10-3 )2
0.1 - 1.5849 × 10-3

= 2.5523 × 10-5

Solution nos 11 and 12

CH3COOH + H2O H3O+ + CH3COO-
𝑥
x = 10-5.8 Ionization = 𝑀 × 100%
= 1.5849 × 10-6
= 1.58 × 10-3 %
Ka11 = ( 1.5849 × 10-6 ) 2
0.1 × 1.5849 × 10-6

= 2.5119 × 10-11

𝑥
x = 10-6.99 Ionization = 𝑀 × 100%
= 1.0233 × 10-7
= 1.02 × 10-4 %
-7 2
Ka12 = ( 1.0233 × 10 )
0.1 × 1.0233 × 10-7

= 1.0471 × 10-13

3. Is the degree of ionisation affected by dilution? Explain

Yes, On the increasing of dilution, the degree of dissociation increases. On dilution of the
acid, it dissociates into ions because of the high dielectric constant of water. On dilution ions
are readily available hence degree of dissociation increase.

4. What are the common ions that are found in solution no.14 ?

NH4+
5. How does the pH change in solution no. 15 – 18 compared to solution no. 14 ? Explain
your findings

Solution no.15 – 17 have lower pH compared to solution no. 14 due to H2O and HCl added
into the solution.Meanwhile solution no.18 have a higher pH compared to solution no. 14 due
to NaOH is a strong base added into the solution.

DISCUSSION:

The solution must be accurately measured otherwise there will be slight change in the results.

CONCLUSION:

The purpose and learning objectives of this experiment were to measure pHs and understand
how the different solutions created/mixed resulted in different pH, determine the ionisation of
the weak acid, study the effect of dilution on the degree of ionisation and to examine how the
buffer solutions functioned to prevent the pH from changing drastically.