Experiment 4: Ionic Equilibria Jaime Maru S.A. Alberto III and Ariane I. Ramirez Group 4 Chem 18.

1 Section MHIJ2 Ms. Jireh Sacramento August 13, 2012 Abstract In this experiment, the equilibria involving ionic species and their occurrence in solutions were observed. The experiment is composed of three parts. The first part focused on distinguishing acidic from basic compounds, which was done by determining pH of unknown solutions with the use of pH paper and were classified. The second experiment determines the ionization constant of acetic acid, a weak electrolyte, which was done by addition of HCl into a solution of water and methyl violet, until its color reaches that of the acetic acid solution caused by a certain amount of HCl. The third experiment, lastly, titration was done to determine the solubility product constant of benzoic acid. Key concepts: Ionic equilibria, Ions, Solubility, Strong electrolyte, Weak electrolyte, Ionization constant, pH, Solubility Product Constant concentration of water may be taken to be almost equal to that of a pure water, so its activity equals 1. The solubility product constant, Ksp, indicates the solubility of a solute, obtained from the product of the molar concentration of the ions in solution, each raised to a power equal to its coefficient in the equation of equilibrium. A higher value of Ksp would mean a higher solubility. Experimental The first part of the experiment dealt with the determination of strong and weak electrolytes. We determined the pH of the different solutions provided by the instructor with the use of pH paper. We referred to the Table 1.1 in classifying the given solutions into strong or weak acid, strong or weak base, or acidic, basic or neutral salt. pH 0 2.5 2.5 6 7 8 11 12- 14
Table 1.1 Standard pH Range

Introduction The pH measures the activity of hydrogen in a solution. A solution with a pH less than 7 is said to be acidic, and a pH higher than 7 would mean a basic solution. A pH of 7 is present in pure water, and is considered neutral. Different concepts are used to classify acids from bases. Based on Arrhenius concept, an acid is a solute + that produces H3O ions when dissolved in water, while a base produces OH ions. Bronsted-Lowry concept states that an acid is a substance capable of donating a proton, while a base accepts a proton. The third is the Lewis concept, which states that an acid is an electron pair acceptor while a base in an electron pair donor. Many processes are concerned with the equilibrium of ionic species in a solution. Solutes in aqueous solutions can be classified into electrolytes or non-electrolytes. Non-electrolytes do not conduct electricity because molecular, not ionic, particles are involved. While in electrolytes, conduction of electricity is present due to the presence of ions. The electrolytes can still be further classified into strong or weak electrolyte. In a strong electrolyte, the solute is completely or completely ionized in a solution, making it a strong conductor of electricity. Examples of this are dissolved salts, strong acids, and strong bases. The solute in weak electrolyte is just partially ionized, resulting in a mixture of molecules and ions. It has a lower number of ionic species compared to that of same quantity of a strong electrolyte, making it a weak conductor of electricity. Weak bases and acids are weak electrolytes. The ionization constant, K, expresses the extent to which a weak electrolyte ionizes. It can + be evaluated with K= [H3O ][A ] / [HA] for acids, + and K= [OH ][HB ] / [B ] for bases. The
Chem 18.1 Experiment 4: Ionic Equilibria

Classification Strong acid Weak acid Neutral Weak base Strong base

The second part of the experiment dealt with the determination of the ionization constant of acetic acid. First, we placed 1.1 mL of 1 M of acetic acid in a 5 mL test tube and added 1 drop of methyl violet. In another 5 mL test tube, we placed 1.0 mL of distilled water and added 1 drop of methyl violet. We then added 0.01 M HCl dropwise from a syringe until the color of the solution matched that of the acetic acid solution. The third part dealt with the determination of t he solubility product constant of benzoic acid. We placed 50 mL of distilled water in a 100 mL beaker and heated it to 40 degree Celsius. We added a pinch of benzoic acid crystals and stirred
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in until the crystals no longer dissolve. We let it cool with stirring to room temperature. Then, we filtered the mixture and collected the filtrate in a clean beaker. We pipeted 10 mL of the filtrate into a 50 mL Erlenmeyer flask. We added 2 drops of phenolphthalein into the filtrate. We titrated the solution with 0.01 M NaOH to a light pink endpoint. Results Part A: Strong and Weak Electrolytes Solution A B C D E F G Observed pH 1 12 6 11 7 9 13 Classification Strong acid Strong base Weak acid Weak base Neutral Weak base Strong base

= [2x10 ] / 0.998= 4.008 x 10

-3 2

-6

Part C: Solubility Product Constant of Benzoic Acid, C6H5COOH The volume of 0.01 M NaOH used in order to reach a light pink endpoint is 20 mL.

Table 1.2 Results for Solutions A to G with their Observed pH and Their Corresponding Classification

Part B: Ionization Constant of Acetic Acid The test tube on the left is the one with acetic acid while the test tube on the right is the one with distilled water. The volume of HCl used is 0.25 mL.

Figure 2. A Sample Picture Showing A Light Pink Endpoint

Volume of 0.01 M NaOH used = 20 mL C7H6O2 + H2O <-> C6H5COO + H3O I 0 0 C +x +x E x x M1V1 = M2V2 M1(10 mL) = (0.01 M)(20 mL) M1= 0.02 M Solubility of benzoic acid = 0.02 M + [H3O ] in benzoic acid soln = 0.02 M [C6H5COO ] in benzoic acid soln = 0.02 M Ksp of benzoic acid = [C6H5COO ][H3O ] = [0.02][0.02] = 4 x 10-4 Discussion
+ +

Figure 1. Color Comparison Between Acetic Acid Solution and Distilled Water Solution

Volume of HCl used = 0.25 mL HOAc (aq) + H2O <-> OAC (aq) + H3O (aq) I 1 0 0 C -x +x +x E 1-x x x M1V1 = M2V2 (0.01M)(0.25 mL) = M2(1.0 mL+0.25 mL) M2 = 2x10-3 M + -3 [H3O ] in HCl soln = 2x10 M + -3 [H3O ] in HOAc soln = 2x10 M -3 [HOAc] = 1 M (2x10 M)= 0.998 M + Ka of HOAc = [OAc ][H3O ] / [HOAc]
Chem 18.1 Experiment 4: Ionic Equilibria
+

In 1909, Soren Sorensen proposed a more practical measure called pH. He believed that this was the key to finally get over with the inconvenience of dealing with the concentration of + H and OH ions in aqueous solutions which are frequently expressed in very small numbers. The pH of a solution is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in mol/L. Since pH is basically a way to express hydrogen ion concentration, acidic and basic solutions at 25 degree Celsius can be distinguished by their pH + -7 values. In acidic solutions, [H ] > 1.0 10 M and the pH should be less than 7.00. In basic + -7 solutions, [H ] < 1.0 10 M and the pH should be + more than 7.00. In neutral solutions, [H ] = -7 1.0 10 M and the pH should be equal to 7.00.
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In the first part of the experiment, the pH paper was used to determine the pH of the unknown solutions provided by the instructor. We referred to a standard range in classifying the solutions into strong or weak acids, strong or weak bases, or acidic, basic or neutral salts. We found out that solutions A and C are acids. Solution A is a strong acid while solution C is a weak acid. Solutions B, D, F and G are bases. Solutions B, D and G are strong bases while solution F is a weak base. Solution E is a neutral solution. Ionic equilibrium can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous equilibrium exists between unionized molecules of weak electrolytes and their ions while heterogeneous equilibrium exists between slightly soluble solids and their ions in solution. Ionic equilibrium results when a weak acid is dissolved in water. In the second part of the experiment, we are given the acetic acid as the weak acid. We know that weak acids are weak electrolytes, meaning this type of solute partially ionized in a solution resulting to a mixture of molecules and ions. Compared with the same quantity of a strong electrolyte, it has lower number of ions and it is a weak conductor of electricity. In the experiment, the pH indicator methyl violet was used. This pH indicator is used to test substances with pH ranging from 0 to 1.6. It will turn the substance yellow if it is in the acidic end, meaning having a pH below 0. On the other hand, it will turn bluish violet if it is in the alkaline end, meaning having a pH above 1.6. It appeared in the experiment that the acetic acid solution turned bluish violet meaning, the pH is above 1.6. About 0.25 mL of HCl was used until the solution turned the same color as the acetic acid. With the two solutions with the same pH indicator having the same color, we can assume that they have the + same pH. Since pH is equal to the log[H3O ], the concentration of hydronium ions in HCl solution is equal to the concentration of hydronium ions in the acetic acid solution. Also, the concentration of hydronium ions in HCl solution is equal to the molarity of the HCl because HCl is a known strong acid and strong acids dissociate almost completely into their respective ions. In the third part of the experiment, it was shown that in the endpoint, the analyte is neutralized by the titrant. Therefore, [OH ] of the + titrant is equal to the [H3O ] of the analyte. In the experiment, the [OH ] of NaOH is equal to the + [H3O ] of benzoic acid which is equal to 0.02 M. Conclusion and Recommendation/s

In an acidic solution, the concentration of hydronium ion exceeds that of the hydroxide ion. While in a basic solution, hydroxide ion concentration is greater than hydronium ion concentration. In classifying them further, a pH of 0-2.5 is considered a strong acid; 2.5-6 is a weak acid; 7 is neutral; 8-11 is a weak base; And, lastly, 12-14 is stong base. Weak acids or bases do not dissociate completely. The dissociation is into a small extent, and so the equilibrium constant in such event is small. The unionized species are occurring in higher percentage than the ionized. When solid electrolyte is dissolved in a solution, two kinds of particles are released in the solution. An equilibrium is established between the solid phase (the undissolved) and the aqueous ionic solution (dissolved). The concentration of a substance in its pure solid form is constant so they do not appear in equilibrium constant expressions. It is recommended to accurately compare from the color of the acetic acid solution in order to obtain the correct data for the volume of HCl used. It must also be ensured that the maximum amount of acetic acid was already dissolved in the water. In titration, it is advised to make sure that the endpoint would be very light pink to obtain the accurate amount of NaOH used. It is also recommended to use the half-drop method. Another suggestion is to properly compare from the color charts of the pH paper.

References:

Engle, H. L., et. al., (2007). Learning Modules in General Chemistry 2. 2007 edition. UP Manila CAS- DPSM Chemistry Unit, Pages 73-75, 78-80, 99 Chieh, C. (2012). Hydrolysis Acids, Bases and Neutral Salts. Retrieved from http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca

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