Mapua University

School of School of Chemical, Biological, and

Materials Engineering and Sciences
Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory
First Quarter SY 2019-2020

Experiment 1: Vinegar Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar through titration. The experiment
starts off by placing a given amount of vinegar inside an erlenmeyer flask, a given amount of distilled water and adding given
drops of phenolpthalein. The buret is then filled with NaOH. The mixture placed inside the erlenmeyer flask is titrated until the
color becomes very light pink. Values that are needed is recorded through the whole procedure of the experiment. The values that
were both given and measured is then used to compute in order to determine the percent by mass of the acetic acid in vinegar.

© 2019 Cachapero, Bok, Chan, Dayao, Garcia, Magat

Keywords: Titration; Molar mass; Acetic Acid; NaOH; Phenolpthalein;

1. Introduction

Vinegar is already common since 3000 BC. The word vinegar in Middle English means sour wine. Vinegar is
mainly used as a basic seasoning in cooking of certain foods although it is also as a pesticide as it does not harm the
plant as much as other pesticides. It adds flavors to the vegetables and meat products. It can also used as a preservative
for both domestic use and in the food industry. Vinegar has its acetic acid content and low pH. It contains 5-20%
acetic acid by volume produced by the fermentation of ethanol or sugars by acetic acid bacteria. In the experiment,
the concentration of the acetic acid in vinegar will be determined. The result can determine if the use of vinegar in
cooking.

2. Methodology

MATERIALS:

•Erlenmeyer’s Flask

•Graduated Cylinder

•Burette

•Funnel

•Clam

•Beaker

•Iron Stand
 CM011L Laboratory Report 2

METHODS:

Vinegar was collected using a graduated cylinder and placed in the Erlenmeyer’s Flask. After getting the
vinegar with the use of graduated cylinder, the students drop 2-3 phenolphthalein and was gathered and placed in the
Erlenmeyer’s flask together with the vinegar. After preparing all the things to proceed in the next procedure of the
experiment, the burette was filled with sodium hydroxide. A white piece of paper was placed underneath the flask that
contains vinegar for them to easily determine the visible change made by the indicator. The vinegar sample was titrated
by carefully adding the NaOH to the flask while the flask was in a whirling motion. NaOH is continued to be added
until it reaches neutralization.

3. Results and Discussions

Table 1. Results for Vinegar A

A. Preparation of Vinegar sample Trial 1

1. Mass of the flask (g) 91.47g

2. Mass of the flask + vinegar (g) 94.47g

3. Mass of the vinegar (g) 3.0g

B. Analysis of the vinegar sample

1. Burette reading of NaOH initial (mL) 0mL

2. Burette reading of NaOH final (mL) 19.5mL

3. Volume of NaOh used (mL) 19.5mL

4. Molar concentration of NaOH (M) 0.1070 M

5. Moles of NaOH added (mol) 0.0020865 mol

6. Moles of CH3COOH in vinegar (mol) 0.0020865 mol

7. Mass of CH3COOH in vinegar (g) 0.1253g

8. Percent by mass of CH3COOH in vinegar (%) 4.18%

 CM011L Laboratory Report 3

Table 2. Results for Vinegar 4

A. Preparation of Vinegar sample Trial 1

1. Mass of the flask (g) 91.47g

2. Mass of the flask + vinegar (g) 94.47g

3. Mass of the vinegar (g) 3.0g

B. Analysis of the vinegar sample

1. Burette reading of NaOH initial (mL) 0mL

2. Burette reading of NaOH final (mL) 18.9mL

3. Volume of NaOh used (mL) 18.9mL

4. Molar concentration of NaOH (M) 0.1070 M

5. Moles of NaOH added (mol) 0.0020223 mol

6. Moles of CH3COOH in vinegar (mol) 0.0020223 mol

7. Mass of CH3COOH in vinegar (g) 0.1214g

8. Percent by mass of CH3COOH in vinegar (%) 4.05%

By starting of the experiment, the student subtracted the mass of the flask which has 91.47g from the mass
with a vinegar in it (3g) that has 91.47g in total. They reduced the initial burrete reading that has 0 mL to 19.5 mL
which resulted to 19.5g of NaOH. In order for them to get the moles of Sodium Hydroxide, they used this formula:
(Molarity)x(volume)=(moles). After, they multiplied the volume of NaOH and given molarity of NaOH that resulted
to 0.0020865 mol or 2.0865𝑥10−3 mol. They also multiplied the mole of CH3COOH (0.0020865 mol) and its
molecular weight (60.05 g/mol) for them to get the mass of CH3COOH in vinegar that is 0.1253g. By getting the
percent by mass of CH3COOH in vinegar (%) they divide the mass of CH3COOH by the mass of the vinegar (3g)
and multiplied it by 100 resulting 4.18% for vinegar A. The data that they acquired from vinegar B is slightly different
from the vinegar A.

Sample computation for vinegar A:

Mass of vinegar (g) : Density of vinegar = 1g/mL

1 𝑔 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟
3mL vinegar x = 3𝑔 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟
1 𝑚𝐿 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟

Moles of NaOH added (mol)

1𝐿 0.1070𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
19.5 mL of NaOH x x = 0.0020865 mol NaOH
1000 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿
 CM011L Laboratory Report 4

CH3COOH(aq)+NaOH(aq) CH3COONa(aq)+H2O(I)

Moles of CH3COOH

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 CH3COOH
0.0020865 mol NaOH x =0.0020865 mol CH3COOH
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻

Mass of CH3COOH

60𝑔 CH3COOH
0.0020865 mol CH3COOH x = 0.1253 g CH3COOH
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 CH3COOH

Percent By mass of CH3COOH

𝟎.𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟑𝒈 𝐂𝐇𝟑𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐇
x 100 = 4.18%
𝟑𝒈 𝐂𝐇𝟑𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐇

4. Conclusion

Vinegar is not just for adobo and “sawsawan” even though that’s where it shines and what it’s most known for.
Unknown to many, it’s a cheap product that can be used to clean your home, make health and beauty products, get rid
of pests, and wash your car, among the countless other household uses. Last February 18, 2019, we conducted an
experiment regarding vinegar. We determined the percent mass of acetic acid in the vinegar. Household vinegar is a
4-5% acetic acid, CH3COOH, solution (4% is the minimum federal standard). We used the technique of titration. A
titration is a technique where a solution of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of an unknown
solution.

A volumetric analysis using the titration technique is the method used for determining the percent by mass of acetic
acid in vinegar. Sample of the vinegar are analyzed for the amount of acetic acid in the sample. A titration setup is
used for the analysis, using a standardized NaOH solution as the titrant and the phenolphthalein as the indicator.

Balanced equation:

CH3COOH(aq )+ NaOH(aq)  NaCH3CO2(aq) + H2O(l) (1)

The mass of CH3COOH in the vinegar is calculated from the measured moles in the CH 3COOH neutralized in the
reaction and its molar mass 60.05 g/mol:
 CM011L Laboratory Report 5

60.05g CH3 COOH

mass (g)of CH3 COOH = mol CH3 COOH × (2)
mol CH3 COOH

And, the percent by mass of CH3COOH in vinegar is calculated:

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔)𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝐻3 𝐶𝑂𝑂𝐻

% 𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝐻3 𝐶𝑂𝑂𝐻 = × 100 (3)
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔) 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟

In this experiment, the objectives are to determine the percent mass of acetic acid in vinegar. The moles added of the
sodium hydroxide in the first trial for the titration process is 9.4 x 10 -3 while for the titration process 2 is 9.55 x 10 -3
then the mass of the CH3COOH present in vinegar in the first trial is 0.5645 while the second trial is 0.5734. Then
with that data we can calculate the average percent mass of CH3COOH in vinegar 3.987%

In conclusion, I recommend for the experiment to improve, titration process should taken a few readings to the amount
of sodium hydroxide to achieve the accurate pH value. Also the burette tips should be clean and well maintained to
make sure the fine drops of the titrant, it contributes to the precision of the outcome.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the inspiration and the reason why this experiment was successfully made,
to Engineer Rommel Galvan, we give you our never ending gratitude.

References

[1] Adelphi University (2017, June) Chem Lab Report 8. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/file/13239153/Chem-Lab-Report-8/
[2] Huffstetler, E. (2018, November 10). Uses for vinegar that will save time and money. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/uses-for-
vinegar-3866168
[3] Mara U. T. (2017, June). 8 conclusion and recommendations from this experiment. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/file/p4a1liia/8-
CONCLUSION-AND-RECOMMENDATIONS-From-this-experiment-the-objectives-are-to/