Experiment #1: Acid-Base Titrations

INTRODUCTION

A neutralization reaction is a chemical reaction between an acid and a base which react to produce a more
neutral solution. It involves the combination of H+ ions and OH- ions to generate water. At the end of a neutralization
reaction in water, no excess hydrogen or hydroxide ions are left. In a neutralization reaction, a point is reached when
both acid and base in the reaction have been consumed and neither of them are in excess. When a strong acid
neutralizes a weak base, the resulting solution's pH will be less than 7. When a strong base neutralizes a weak acid,
the resulting solution's pH will be greater than 7.

To be able to locate the equivalence point in a neutralization

reaction, one must be careful in controlling the addition of a base to an
acid and a mean to be found to signal the point at which the reaction
mixture turns from acid to base. In order to achieve the first objective, a
burette (Figure 1.) – a laboratory apparatus used to measure the volume
of a liquid or gas, can be used to dispense one solution. Moreover, the
second objective can be achieved through the use of an acid-base
indicator – a substance that changes its color depending on whether it is
added to an acid, a base, or a neutral substance. In this experiment, a
Figure 1. Burette
phenolphthalein indicator will be used. The said indicator is colorless in
acidic solutions and pink in basic solutions.

The procedure of measuring the volume of a solution required to react with another solution is referred to as
titration. In titration, the solution of a known concentration is called titrant and the solution of unknown concentration
is the analyte. The point at which the indicator changes color and the titration is stopped is call the endpoint of titration.
In a broad sense, titration is the technique to determine the concentration of an unknown solution.
The purpose of this experiment was to go through the process of neutralization reaction with the acid HCl and
base NaOH. Another purpose of this experiment was to determine the percent by weight of acetic acid in a vinegar
sample.

METHODOLOGY

Before the experiment was commenced, the materials and apparatus to be used were prepared. The list of
the materials and apparatus are as shown in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.

Table 1. List of Chemicals

65mL of 0.2 NaOH 10 mL vinegar
Few drops of 1M HCl Distilled water
6 drops of phenolphthalein

Table 2. List of Apparatus

Quantity Name of apparatus
 1 piece 50-mL graduated cylinder
1 piece 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask
1 piece Medicine dropper
1 piece Burette clamp
1 piece 25-mL base burette
1 piece 150-mL beaker

First and foremost, the apparatuses were cleaned thoroughly. The cleaned burette was clamped into the iron
stand as shown in Figure 2. Then, the burette was filled with 0.2 NaOH solution. Using
a 10-mL graduated cylinder, 5mL of vinegar was measured and placed after in a 125-
mL Erlenmeyer flask. 20mL of distilled water was added as well as 2 drops of
phenolphthalein. The solution was mixed by swirling it. 0.2M NaOH was added slowly
whilst swirling the flask gently.

The procedure was done until the color of the vinegar changes into light pink
as seen on Figure 2. Once the desired color was achieved, the volume of NaOH was
recorded. The titration was repeated for trial 2. After proper waste disposal, computations
for the moles and weights were done. The moles of NaOH used in the titration was Figure 2.
computed by multiplying the moles per liter. The moles of NaOH is equal to the moles of
acetic acid to its molar weight. The weight of the vinegar is computed as well by multiplying its volume to its density.
The percent by weight of acetic acid in the vinegar was calculated by dividing the weight of HC2H3O2 by the weight of
vinegar then multiplying it to 100 percentage.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the percent by weight of acetic acid in a vinegar sample.
The experiment showed that the following results:

Table 4. Results
Trial 1 Trial 2
Moles of NaOH 3.4531x10-3 moles 3.47304x10-3 moles
Moles of HC2H3O2 3.4531 x 10-3 moles 3.45308x10-3 moles
Weight of HC2H3O2 in grams 0.2072136248 grams 0.2072124246 grams
Volume of vinegar in mL 5 mL 5 mL
Weight of vinegar in grams 5 grams 5 grams
Percent by weight of HC2H3O2 4.14% 4.14%
Average percent by weight of HC2H3O2 4.14%

Below are the computations of Trial 1:

Moles of NaOH used in titration:

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = (𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻) 𝑥 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟)
 1𝐿
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = (0.1996 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻) 𝑥 (17.3 𝑚𝐿) ( )
1000 𝑚𝐿
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = 3.4531 𝑥 10−3

Moles of acetic acid in the vinegar:

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = (𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻)𝑥
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = (3.4531 𝑥 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻)𝑥
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = 3.4531 𝑥 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2

Weight of acetic acid in the vinegar:

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟) 𝑥 (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝐿)
60.008 𝑔
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (3.4531 𝑥 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2 ) 𝑥 ( )
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = 0.2072136248 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2

Weight of the vinegar:

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝐿) 𝑥 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝐿)
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (1𝑚𝑙) 𝑥 (5 𝑚𝐿)
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = 5 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟

Percent by weight of acetic acid in the vinegar:

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2 = 𝑥 100%
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟
0.2072136248 𝑔
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2 = 𝑥 100%
5𝑔

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝑪𝟐 𝑯𝟑 𝑶𝟐 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟒 %

The calculations for Trial 2 are as follows:

Moles of NaOH used in titration:

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = (𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻) 𝑥 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟)
1𝐿
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = (0.1996 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻) 𝑥 (17.4 𝑚𝐿) ( )
1000 𝑚𝐿
−3
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = 3.4𝟕𝟑𝟎𝟒 𝑥 10

Moles of acetic acid in the vinegar:

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = (𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻)𝑥
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = (3.47304 𝑥 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻)𝑥
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
−3
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 = 3.4𝟕𝟑𝟎𝟒 𝑥 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2

Weight of acetic acid in the vinegar:

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟) 𝑥 (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝐿)
60.008 𝑔
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (3.47304 𝑥 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2 ) 𝑥 ( )
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝟕𝟐𝟏𝟐𝟒𝟐𝟒𝟔 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2

Weight of the vinegar:

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝐿) 𝑥 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝐿)
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (1𝑚𝑙) 𝑥 (5 𝑚𝐿)
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = 5 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟

Percent by weight of acetic acid in the vinegar:

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2 = 𝑥 100%
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟
0.2072124246 𝑔
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶2 𝐻3 𝑂2 = 𝑥 100%
5𝑔

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝑪𝟐 𝑯𝟑 𝑶𝟐 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟒 %

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, neutralization is used because the acid and base properties of H+ and OH- are neutralized. In
this experiment, the researcher was able to analyse acetic acid in vinegar, in order to neutralize it, a base is needed.
A strong base like NaOH was used. The method done was titration. The point where just enough base has been added
to neutralize the acid is called equivalence point.

in computing the percent by weight of acetic acid in the vinegar, one must have the accurate data of the moles
of HC2H3O3, the weight of HC2H3O2, and the weight of vinegar. The main objective of the experiment which is to
determine the percent by weight of acetic acid in a vinegar sample resulted to 4.14% in both trials.
 The researcher recommends the next researchers to observe properly while conducting the experiment. It is
also advised to handle with extra care the apparatus for they are fragile and proper waste disposal should be practiced.
Most importantly, it is recommended that the next researchers must be very careful in controlling the drops of the
burette to avoid getting dark pink results.

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