Experiment 15.

Acids, Bases, Salts and Buffers

Objective:

1. To understand an acid-base reaction

2. To demonstrate the effects of acids and bases on various substances
3. To demonstrate the color changes of various acid-base indicators
4. To measure the pH of a variety of common substances
5. To demonstrate hydrolysis reactions of salts
6. To prepare several buffer solutions and measure their buffer capacities

Discussion:

An acid, according to Arrhenius, is any substance that liberates H + ions when placed in
water. Addition of an acid to water causes the concentration of H + ions to be higher than
that of OH ions and the solution is described as acidic. A base is defined as any
substance that liberates OH ions when placed in water. The resulting solution has a
higher concentration of OH ions than the H+ ions and is described as basic or alkaline.

Bronsted and Lowry define acids as proton donors and bases as proton acceptors. On
this basis, the autoionization of water is written as follows:

H2O (l) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq) + OH (aq)

In this reaction, one water molecule donates a proton (H +) and behaves as an acid. The
other water molecule accepts the proton and behaves as a base. The double arrows
indicate that the reaction is reversible. When it proceeds from right to left, the hydronium
ion (H3O+) behaves as an acid while the hydroxide ion (OH) behaves as a base.

The term neutralization is often used to describe a reaction in which equal amounts of
acid and base react with each other. The products of the reaction are water and a salt in
dissociated form.

Acids and bases can react with many substances. The extent and rate of such reactions
often depends on the strength of the acids or bases involved. Acids can either be a boon
or a bane. For example, hydrochloric acid can be used to clean newly laid brick but acid
rain can cause deterioration of stone statues and buildings.

The concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+) in solution is often expressed in terms of

pH. Below is the equation used to calculate pH. Take note that the concentration of H 3O+
is expressed in molarity (M).
pH =  log [H3O+]

For example, in the case of pure water, the H 3O+ concentration is = 10 7 M. Therefore
pH =  log [10-7] = 7. This pH value is characteristic of neutral solutions. A pH value
lower than 7 corresponds to an acidic condition while a pH higher than 7 is basic.

Dyes that change color as the pH changes are referred to as indicators. They are often
used to locate the point at which a specific amount of acid and base have been reacted.

The neutralization of an acid by a base produces a salt. If both the acid and the base
used are strong, the solution will have a pH close to 7. A salt produced from the reaction
of a strong base and a weak acid will have a pH above 7. Similarly, a salt formed from

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the reaction of a weak base and a strong acid will have a pH below 7. For example,
potassium nitrite (KNO2), a salt produced from potassium hydroxide (a strong base) and
nitrous acid (a weak acid) gives a basic solution when dissolved in water.

KOH (aq) + HNO2 (aq) ——→ KNO2 (aq) + H2O (l)

A solution which has the capability to resist a change in pH when small amounts of acid
or base is added is called a buffer. A buffer is prepared by dissolving a weak acid and its
salt in water. It is most effective when the concentration of the weak acid and its salt is
the same. The amount of acid or base a buffer can accept without a significant change in
pH is called buffer capacity.

Procedure:

I. Acid-Base Neutralization

Place 1.0 mL of 1.0 M NaOH solution and 1.0 mL of 1.0 M HCl solution in a clean
evaporating dish. Stir and evaporate to dryness over a boiling water bath.

Proceed to the other parts of the experiment while waiting. When evaporation is
complete, cool the dish and collect the residue.

Moisten the end of a clean stirring rod with distilled water. Dip the moist end of the rod
into the solid. Place the rod with adhering solids into a Bunsen burner flame. The
appearance of an intense yellow flame confirms the presence of sodium ions (Na +).
Record your results.

Quarter-fill a plastic microspatula with the solid and transfer the material to well A1 of
the comboplate. Dissolve the solid in 10 drops of distilled water and add 2 drops of 0.1 M
AgNO3. A distinct clouding of the solution or the settling of a white solid indicates the
presence of chloride ions (Cl–). Record your results.

II. Effect of Acids and Bases on Various Materials

Place a small amount of the following materials into the given comboplate position:
iron, A8 and B8; paper, A9 and B9; marble, A10 and B10; cotton, A11 and B11; milk,
A12 and B12. Add 5 drops of 6 M HCl to wells A8, A9, A10, A11 and A12. Dispense 5
drops of 6 M NaOH to wells B8, B9, B10, B11 and B12. Stir the mixtures and allow the
samples to stand an obvious change occurs. Note and record any changes that take place.
Be especially aware of color changes, evolution of gases (fizzing or bubbling) and the
dissolution or breaking up of solids.

III. Measuring the pH of Various Materials

Place 6 pieces of pH paper on a clean and dry watch glass. Using a clean stirring rod, wet
the pH paper with a drop or two of the following samples: orange juice; softdrink;
laundry detergent; dishwashing detergent; baking soda solution; and aspirin solution. Be
sure to use a clean stirring rod for each sample. Compare the color of the dipped pH
paper to the reference pH chart. Record the measured pH values.

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IV. Acid-Base Indicators

Place 2 drops each of 0.05M HCl into wells A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6 of the comboplate.
Similarly, dispense 2 drops each of 0.05M NaOH into wells B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6. Add
1 drop of the following indicators to the given wells: methyl red, A2 and B2; bromcresol
green, A3 and B3; phenolphthalein, A4 and B4; methyl orange, A5 and B5 and methyl
violet, A6 and B6. Shake the comboplate gently and record the resulting color.

V. Behavior of Salts in Solution

Place 3 crystals of the following salts into the corresponding comboplate well: sodium
acetate, D7; sodium carbonate, D8; ammonium chloride, D9 and sodium chloride, D10.
Add 10 drops of hot distilled water (about 95 oC) to each sample and stir until all of the
solid dissolves. Do not forget to wash the stirrer before using it to another sample. Obtain
the pH of each solution and the heated distilled water using a pH paper. Record the
measured pH values.

VI. Buffers and Buffer Capacity

Using pipettes, prepare the following in 10 different test tubes:

A-a 1.0 ml 0.1M NaC2H3O2 plus 1.0 ml of 0.1M HC2H3O2
B-a 1.0 ml of 0.1 M NH3 plus 1.0 ml of 0.1M NH4Cl
C-a 1.0 ml of 0.1 M NaC2H3O2 plus 1.0 ml of boiled distilled water
D-a 1.0 ml of 0.1 M NaCl plus 1.0 ml of boiled distilled water
E-a 1.0 ml of boiled distilled water

A-b 1.0 ml 0.1M NaC2H3O2 plus 1.0 ml of 0.1M HC2H3O2

B-b 1.0 ml of 0.1 M NH3 plus 1.0 ml of 0.1M NH4Cl
C-b 1.0 ml of 0.1 M NaC2H3O2 plus 1.0 ml of boiled distilled water
D-b 1.0 ml of 0.1 M NaCl plus 1.0 ml of boiled distilled water
E-b 1.0 ml of boiled distilled water

Test the pH of each solution.

Acid Buffer Capacity

Add 0.5 ml of 0.05 M HCl to each test tubes A-a, B-a, C-a, D-a, and E-a. Shake and test
the pH of each solution.

Base Buffer Capacity

Add 0.5 ml of 0.05 M NaOH to each test tubes A-b, B-b, C-b, D-b, and E-b. Shake and
test the pH of each solution.

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Page 4 of 6
 Name ____________________________ Date_____________________
Section __________ Group No. ________________

Experiment 15. Acids, Bases, Salts and Buffers

Objective:

Data and Result:

I. Acid-Base Neutralization

appearance of residue: salt produced:

result of flame test: neutralization equation:

result of adding AgNO3:

II. Effect of Acids and Bases on Various Materials

Material Changes Observed

6 M HCl 6 M NaOH
iron

paper

marble

cotton

milk

Reactant Substances which Substances which Substances which did

reacted and evolve reacted but did not not react
gases evolve gases
HCl

NaOH

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III. Measuring the pH of Various Materials

Substance pH Substance pH
orange juice dishwashing detergent
softdrink baking soda
laundry detegent aspirin

IV. Acid-Base Indicators

Indicator Color with 0.05 M HCl Color with 0.05 M NaOH

methyl red
bromcresol green
phenolphthalein
methyl orange
methyl violet

Indicators showing very distinct color difference in acidic and basic solution:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Indicators showing only slight color difference in acidic and basic solution:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

V. Behavior of Salts in Solution

Salt Solution pH Salt Solution pH

sodium acetate ammonium chloride
sodium carbonate sodium chloride

VI. Buffers and Buffer Capacity

Acid Buffer Capacity
Initial pH pH after adding 0.05 M HCl
A-a
B-a
C-a
D-a
E-a

Base Buffer Capacity

Initial pH pH after adding 0.05 M NaOH
A-b
B-b
C-b
D-b
E-b

Conclusion: [Use the back page.]

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