Determination of Percent Acetic Acid in Vinegar

PROCEDURE
1. 150 ml of 0.2102 M Sodium Hydroxide solution was taken into a beaker.
2. Buret was rinsed and cleaned with 5x3 mL of NaOH solution and rinsing solution was
discarded.
3. Buret was filled with NaOH solution using funnel up to the top of the buret and flushed
the tip of the burette. Initial buret reading was recorded as Vi.
4. 5 mL of pipette was taken and rinsed with vinegar solution and rinsing solution was
discarded.
5. 5 mL of the vinegar solution was taken into a 250 mL of Erlenmeyer flask and
approximately 50 mL of water and one drop of phenolphthalein indicator was added.
6. Titrated with sodium hydroxide until the light pink color appeared which indicated the end point.
7. At that time, final buret reading was recorded on the buret as Vf.
8. The number of mLs of NaOH used were calculated as Vf-Vi.
9. The above procedure was repeated for one more time and Vi and Vf were recorded on the buret.
10. The percentage of Acetic acid was calculated in vinegar using value obtained from titrations.

DATA
Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide Used = 0.2102 M
Titration Titration 1 Titration 2
Volume of Vinegar Acid Used 5 mL 5 mL
Initial reading of buret with NaOH (Vi) 0.6 mL 0.41 mL
Final reading of buret with NaOH (Vf) 15.98 15.89 m L
Volume of NaOH used (Vf-Vi) 15.38 15.48 mL
Molarity of Acetic Acid in Vinegar 0.647 M 0.651 M
Average Molarity of Acetic Acid in Vinegar 0.649 M
Gram of Acetic Acid per liter of Vinegar 39.0 g /L
Gram of Vinegar per liter of Vinegar 1005 g/L
Mass % of acetic acid in vinegar sample 3.88 %
CALCULATIONS
We know that;
NaOH(aq)+HC2H3O2(aq)→NaC2H3O2(aq)+H2O(l) ----------------------------- Eq. [1]

Titration 1:
Molarity of Acetic Acid in Vinegar
From equation 1 it is clear that there is 1:1 molar ration between NaOH and Acetic Acid

Molarity of Acetic Acid = Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide

Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide Used (M1) = 0.2102 M

Volume of Sodium Hydroxide used (V1) = 15.38 mL

Volume of Vinegar taken (V2) = 5mL
Molarity of Acetic Acid (M2) = ?
So,
M1V1 = M2V2

M2 = M1V1 / V2

Molarity of Acetic Acid (M2) = 0.2102 x 15.38 / 5

Molarity of Acetic Acid (M2) = 0.647 M
Titration 2
Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide Used (M1) = 0.2102 M

Volume of Sodium Hydroxide used (V1) = 15.48 mL

Volume of Vinegar taken (V2) = 5mL
Molarity of Acetic Acid (M2) = ?
So,
M1V1 = M2V2

M2 = M1V1 / V2
Molarity of Acetic Acid (M2) = 0.2102 x 15.48 / 5
Molarity of Acetic Acid (M2) = 0.651 M

𝑀 (𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1)+𝑀 (𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2)

Average Molarity of Acetic Acid in Vinegar =
2
0.647+0.651
Average Molarity of Acetic Acid in Vinegar =
2

Average Molarity of Acetic Acid in Vinegar =0.649 M

Gram of Acetic Acid per liter of Vinegar = Average Molarity of Acetic Acid x Molar Mass of
Acetic Acid (g/mole)

Gram of Acetic Acid per liter of Vinegar = 0.649 x 60.05 = 39.0 g/ L

Percentage of Acetic Acid in Vinegar Solution =?

Gram of Vinegar per liter of Vinegar = 1005 g /L
Gram of Acetic Acid per liter of Vinegar = 39.0 g/ L
𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝐴𝑐𝑖𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟
Percentage of Acetic Acid in Vinegar Solution = 𝑥 100
𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟
39.0
Percentage of Acetic Acid in Vinegar Solution = 𝑥 100
1005
Percentage of Acetic Acid in Vinegar Solution = 3.88 %

Discussion
Experimenters aimed to determine the percentage of Acetic Acid in Vinegar by titrating the vinegar
solution against a solution of 0.2101 M NaOH. This titration is an example of Acid-Base titration.
Phenolphthalein was used as an indicator. The end point was determined through change in color
from colorless to light pink. Federal law required the vinegar should contain at least 4% of acetic
acid by weight. In order to determine the percentage of acetic acid in vinegar samples we have
performed this experiment either, it our laboratory vinegar met the standard federal law or not. In
our vinegar sample acetic acid was found to be 3.88% and was met the standard of federal law.
 2. Determination of Molar Mass of Unknown Acid
PROCEDURE
1. 150 ml of 0.2102 M Sodium Hydroxide solution was taken into a beaker.
2. Buret was rinsed and cleaned with 5x3 mL of NaOH solution and rinsing solution was
discarded.
3. Buret was filled with NaOH solution using funnel up to the top of the buret and flushed the
tip of the burette. Initial buret reading was recorded as Vi.
4. 0.4098 g of unknown acid was weighed in a 250 mL of Erlenmeyer flask and approximately
50 mL of water and one drop of phenolphthalein indicator was added.
5. Shaked well and Titrated with sodium hydroxide until the light pink color appeared which indicated
the end point.
6. At that time, final buret reading was recorded on the buret as Vf.
7. The number of mLs of NaOH used were calculated as Vf-Vi.
8. The above procedure was repeated for one more time and Vi and Vf were recorded on the buret.
9. Molar Mass of unknown acid was determined from each titrations results.
10. Average Molar Mass, Average Deviation and % deviation was also calculated for both samples.

DATA
Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide Used = 0.2102 M
Titration Titration 1 Titration 2
Mass of Unknown Acid Used 0.4098 g 0.4365 g
Initial reading of buret with NaOH (Vi) 0.61 mL 0.53 mL
Final reading of buret with NaOH (Vf) 31.39 mL 34.39 m L
Volume of NaOH used (Vf-Vi) 30.78 mL 33.86 mL
Moles of unknown Acid 6.46 x 10-3 moles 7.11 x 10-3 moles
Molar Mass of Unknown Acid 63.43 g/moles 61.39 g/moles
Average Molar Mass of Unknown Acid 62.41 g/moles
Average Deviation of Molar Mass of unknown acid 1.02
Percent Deviation 1.634%
CALCULATIONS

Titration 1:
Moles of Unknown acid
Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide Used = 0.2102 M

Volume of Sodium Hydroxide used = 30.78 mL = 0.03078 L

Moles of sodium hydroxide = Molarity of NaOH x Vol. of NaOH used in L
Moles of sodium hydroxide = 0.2102 x 0.03078
Moles of sodium hydroxide = 6.46 x 10-3 moles
Since;
𝐻𝑋 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = 𝐻2𝑂 + 𝑁𝑎𝑋
From equation 1 it is clear that there is 1:1 molar ration between NaOH and unknown acid
Therefore, No. of moles of Unknown acid = 6.46 x 10-3 moles
Calculation for molar mass determination monoprotic unknown acid:
Mass of unknown Acid used = 0.4098 g
Molar mass of unknown acid (g /mol)= mass of unknown acid used / no. of moles of unknown acid

Molar mass of unknown acid (g /mol) = 0.4098 g / 6.46 x 10-3 moles

Molar mass of unknown acid (g /mol) = 63.43 g /mol

Titration 1:
Moles of Unknown acid
Molarity of Sodium Hydroxide Used = 0.2102 M

Volume of Sodium Hydroxide used = 33.86 mL = 0.03386 L

Moles of sodium hydroxide = Molarity of NaOH x Vol. of NaOH used in L
Moles of sodium hydroxide = 0.2102 x 0.03386
Moles of sodium hydroxide = 7.11 x 10-3 moles
Since;
𝐻𝑋 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 = 𝐻2𝑂 + 𝑁𝑎𝑋
From equation 1 it is clear that there is 1:1 molar ration between NaOH and unknown acid
 Therefore, No. of moles of Unknown acid = 7.11 x 10-3 moles
Calculation for molar mass determination monoprotic unknown acid
Mass of unknown Acid used = 0.4365 g
Molar mass of unknown acid (g /mol) = mass of unknown acid used / no. of moles of unknown
acid
Molar mass of unknown acid (g /mol) = 0.4365 g / 7.11 x 10-3 moles
Molar mass of unknown acid (g /mol) = 61.39 g /mol

Average Molar Mass of Unknown Acid

𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1)+𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2)
Average Molar Mass of Unknown Acid=
2
63.43+61.39
Average Molar Mass of Unknown Acid=
2
Average Molar Mass of Unknown Acid= 62.41 g / mol

(𝑀𝑀1−𝑀𝑀𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒)+(𝑀𝑀2−𝑀𝑀𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒)
Average Deviation of MM =
2
(63.43−62.41)+(61.39−62.41)
Average Deviation of MM =
2
(1.02)+(−1.02)
Average Deviation of MM = = 1.02
2
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑀
Percent Deviation for MM = 𝑥 100
Average Molar Mass
1.02
Percent Deviation for MM = 𝑥 100 = 1.634%
62.41
Discussion
Experimenters aimed to determine the molar mass of an unknown acid by titrating the acid solution
against a solution of NaOH of known molarity calculated based on titration of the NaOH solution
against an unknown monoprotic acid. Data was collected through analysis of the titration process
and calculations based on titration. The titration was simple acid base titration where
phenolphthalein was used as an indicator. The end point was determined through change in color
from colorless to light pink.
Moreover, it is not possible to determine the chemical formula of the unknown acid based on the
titrations alone. Because the unknown is an acid, the experimenter can be sure that it donates
protons, but how many protons and even the composition of the rest of the acid cannot be
determined by the titration alone. The experiment allows for the calculation of the molar mass of
the unknown acid as we did, Molar mass from titration 1 and 2 were calculated as 63.43 g/moles
and 61.39 g/moles respectively. Average Mass was calculated as 62.41 g/moles. Percent deviation
of the both the experiments was found to be 1.634%, which means there is an error in the
experiment. The error could be human error because of inaccurately observed end point of the
experiments. May be I have consumed more sodium hydroxide after reaching to the end point.
There could be weighing error. If percent deviation exceeding 1% revealed for inaccurate results,
the experiment need to be performed again.