Nathalie Dagmang Group 8

Co-worker: Annjaneth Briones Date Performed: December 14

Results and Discussion Report 4:

Common Ion-Effect and Buffers

Methyl orange, the color of which varies from red (pH is less than 3.1) to yellow (pH is more
than 4.5), was used to determine the pH of solutions 1 and 2. Solution 1, which is comprised of acetic
acid (HOAc), turned pale pink when methyl orange was added, indicating that its pH ranges from 3.1 to
4.5. Solution 2 (HOAc plus NaOAc) on the other hand, turned yellowish, meaning its pH is more than 4.5.

Phenolphthalein was another indicator used in the experiment and was used for solutions 3 and
4. The ammonia solution, solution 3, turned dark pink indicating that its pH is more than 10 while
solution 4 (NH3 plus NH4Cl) turned light pink indicating that its pH ranges from 8.3 to 10.

The smallest change in pH that occurred when one drop each of sodium hydroxide and
hydrogen chloride was added in the solutions was that of solutions 2 and 4. Solutions 2 and 4 are
examples of buffer solutions which are composed of weak acids (or weak bases) and their conjugate
bases (or acids). These solutions’ ability to resist a relatively large change in pH can be explained by the
acid-dissociating constant expression of the reaction that takes place when a small amount of acid or
base is added to the buffer solution.

The concentration of H+ ions present in the solution can be calculated from the formula derived
from the acid-dissociating constant expression, A being the anion of the weak acid:

[H+] = ka [HA] / [A-]

This expression indicates that the pH of the solution varies accordingly with Ka and the ratio of
the weak acid to its conjugate base. This means that with the addition of small amounts of a strong base
or acid (a lot smaller compared to the amount of the weak acid and its conjugate base), the ratio of the
weak acid to its conjugate base will only change slightly and will cause only a small effect on the
solution’s pH. This concept can be illustrated from the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

base −added acid

pH= pKa+log
acid +added acid

1
 To be able to determine the pH, and also the changes in pH brought about by the addition of
hydrogen chloride and sodium hydroxide, three methods were used. The first method used visual
indicators, namely methyl orange and phenolphthalein. Visual indicators are the least accurate, using
only the sight and judgment of the person performing the experiment (which has a low credibility) in
determining its color and concluding its pH. Another method used, the pH meter, is more accurate than
visual indicators. However, the pH meter available in the laboratory is already quite aged and at times,
cannot be properly calibrated. pH meters should have been the most accurate way of determining the
pH, but in this case, there are still doubt in the results given by the equipment. The low accuracy of the
pH meter can be proved by the results it gave for test tube 2b, which should had had a higher pH than
test tube 2c. The third method used in indicating the pH of the solutions was by calculations. Calculation
is the most accurate way of solving for pH because it considers the actual reactions that took place in
the solution and takes note of the exact concentrations of the reactants. However, the pH calculated will
only be exactly the same as the actual pH of the solution assuming that the reaction was exactly how the
theory describes it and without external factors which can affect the system. Also, because the
calculation deals with very small amounts, it is important that the measurements of the reagents are
accurate. If the measurements are inaccurate, the results of the calculation would be different from the
actual pH. The accuracy of this method also depends on the person doing the calculations, if the person
uses correct values, methods and formulas.