INTRODUCTION
ions and λ indicates the limiting molar
Conductimetry is a non-titrative method of
analysis based on the measurement of
electrolytic conductance to monitor a progress
of chemical reaction. Electrolyte solutions,
known as ionically conducting solutions, actually
produce ions as they dissolve. Hence, such
solutions conduct electric current by migration
of ions under the influence of electric field.
These could actually be classified as either strong
or weak. Strong electrolytes completely
dissociate into ions in water, while weak
electrolytes only dissolve partially. Conductance,
referring to the ability of an electrolyte to
conduct electrical current, depends on the
concentration of the ionic species and behaves
differently for weak and strong electrolytes. It is
the reciprocal of resistance, and it could further
be mathematically defined as:
1 𝐴
𝐺= =𝐾
𝑅 𝑙
where k is the conductivity, A is the cross
sectional area of the electrodes and I is the
distance between the electrodes. Since the
charge of ions facilitates the conductance, of
electrical current, the conductivity of a solution
is proportional to its ion concentration.
Movement of ions in water can be studied by
installing a pair of electrodes into the liquid and
by introducing a potential difference between
them. Molar conductivity, on the other hand,
measures the current-carrying ability of a given
amount of electrolyte.
κ
Λm =
c
where k refers to conductivity and c stands for
concentration. Hence, from this relationship, it
could be noted that the concentration is actually
directly proportional to the conductivity.
Furthermore, the law of independent migration
states that:
𝚲 𝒐𝒎 = 𝒗+𝝀+ + 𝒗−𝝀−
where c refers to the corresponding number of
conductivities for the ions, respectively. The
conductivity in water is very low that it is usually
expressed in millisiemens or microsiemens. In
fact, it also directly linked to the concentration
of the ions and their mobility. Ionic mobility is
inversely proportional to the strength of applied
field but is directly proportional to the drift
speed, a terminal speed reach by two forces
acting in opposite directions. It is an essential
part of the conductivity that is independent of
concentration. In addition, it also provides a link
between measurable and theoretical quantity.
The following equation shows the relationship
between the latter and its molar conductivity,
through the charge of the ions (z), and Faraday’s
constant (F).
𝝀± = 𝒛𝒖±𝑭
At extremely high dilutions, interionic forces
become negligible, making the applied electric
field the only variable the ions’ electric force
depend on. Moreover, the dissociation constant
of a weak electrolyte, specifically aqueous
ammonia, is also to be determined in this
experiment. A dissociation constant is the ratio
of dissociated to undissociated compound.
Unlike strong electrolytes which remain
completely dissociated, weak electrolytes
change their degree of dissociation depending
on conditions in which its general chemical
equation could be written as:
HA(aq) + H2O(l) ↔H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)
The concentration of the ions on the ammonia
solution is to be obtained from the
concentration of a strong electrolyte, potassium
hydroxide, that exhibit the same conductance
and mobility as the latter. Hence, the data will be
extrapolated, using a calibration curve wherein
conductance is plotted against concentration, to
infinitely dilute solution and the dissociation
constant could be obtained from it. In this
experiment, the relative mobility of some
monovalent ions and the dissociation constant
of a weak electrolyte are to be determined by
means of measuring the conductance of
electrolyte solutions through the use of a
conductivity meter.
The concentration of the ions on the
ammonia solution is to be obtained from the
concentration of a strong electrolyte,
potassium hydroxide, that exhibit the same
conductance and mobility as the latter.
Hence, the data will be extrapolated, using a
calibration curve wherein conductance is
plotted against concentration, to infinitely
dilute solution and the dissociation constant
could be obtained from it.
In this experiment, the relative mobility of some
monovalent ions and the dissociation constant
of a weak electrolyte are to be determined by
means of measuring the conductance of
electrolyte solutions through the use of a
conductivity meter.
RESULTS
The first part of the experiment involves
observing the relative mobility of various
monovalent ions by measuring their
conductance using a conductivity meter. A
higher value for the conductance will mean
higher mobility, since higher conductance
suggests the ability to carry more current, and
thus conduct more electricity. The results
show that the H+ ion has the highest mobility,
since the conductance of HCl is the highest
among the other solutions tested, with a
conductivity of 40.5 mS. This statement may
be drawn out due to the fact that the value for
the conductance of all the solutions tested
were taken under the same temperature and
with the same concentration of 0.1 M. For HCl,
this high value for its conductivity may be
attributed to its property of being a strong
acid. Although all of the solutions tested were
strong electrolytes (that is, they ionize
completely in solution), HCl may be considered
the “strongest”, since it conducts the most
electricity. The size of ions may also affect the
conductivity of solutions. Simple dynamics will
predict that objects with larger mass tend to
move slower than those with smaller ones. In
the same way, ions with large sizes tend to
carry less current and thus, conduct electricity
less. This also explains why HCl is the strongest
conductor: since H+ is relatively smaller than
the others, it can carry more current and
conduct more electricity. In the same thought,
NaC2H3O2 has the lowest conductivity among
all solutions tested since Na+ and C2H3O2- are
relatively large ions compared to the others.
Thus, they will carry the least current and
conduct the least electricity. Therefore, when
the electrolytes are arranged from greatest
conductance it would be: HCl> > NaCl > NaOH
> NH4Cl >NaC2H3O2.
On the other hand, the second part of the
experiment involves the experimental
determination of the base-dissociation
constant of the weak base NH4OH. A plot of
conductance against the concentration of OH-
was obtained by obtaining the conductivity of
solutions of KOH with various concentrations.
The values may be seen in Table 3, and a linear
equation of
y = -26140x + 709.11
was obtained, where y is the conductance
and x is the concentration of OH-. The
equilibrium concentration of OH- in a
solution of NH4OH may be determined by
obtaining the conductance of a solution of
the weak base with a given initial
concentration and substituting it to the
generated linear equation aforementioned.
Note that this is done because NH4OH is a
weak base, and will not ionize completely
in solution.
For an initial concentration of 0.1 M, the
concentration of hydroxide ions in equilibrium
was found to be 0.0038541 M, while for an
initial concentration of 0.01 M, the hydroxide
ion concentration was found to be 0.000596
M. Letting A be the initial concentration of
NH4OH, the base-dissociation constant may be
computed by using the ICE method for
equilibrium calculations, and the following
expression will be obtained,
x2
Kb =
A−x
where x is the concentration of hydroxide ions
at equilibrium and A is the initial concentration
of the weak base. Using this formula, a value
of 1.4854𝑥10−4was obtained for initial
concentration of 0.1 M and 3.5526𝑥10−5 for
that when the initial concentration was 0.01
M. Since dealing with minute values, a
percentage error basis of evaluating results
shall not be effective, since it shall always be
high. However, the true value for the Kb of
NH4OH is 1.75 x 10-5, with the second value
obtained being close and the first value being
far from the true value. The first value may
have been different due to the alteration in
the initial concentration of the weak base.
Lower concentrations of electrolyte will mean
lower conductivity, since less current is carried
by the ions. The conductance meter may not
have detected the exact conductance of the
solution, since it will be smaller. Thus, a far
value is obtained. Lastly, human errors still
remain as a possible source of erroneous data
obtained for this particular part of the
experiment.
CONCLUSION
Based on the experimental values
obtained above, there are several
conclusions that can be made based on
this study. First, different molecules have
different characteristic conductance based
on their ability to conduct electricity.
These factors include the size of the
individual cations and anions and the
electrolytic character of the molecule.
Moreover; under low concentrations, it
can be seen that the conductance versus
the concentration follows a linear
relationship. However; these is only
applicable to only dilute conditions. This
phenomenon is governed mainly by the
Kohlrausch’s Law. Which gives this in a
mathematical basis as
∧=∧0−𝑏√𝑐
Lastly, it is also significant in this study that the
dissociation constant is affected mainly by its
concentration. As per se, the mathematical
definition of the dissociation constants
explains its relationship. As seen from the
calculated data, it can be seen the
concentration of the electrolytic solution
affects the dissociation constant exhibiting an
inverse proportionality between the two
variables.
Overall, the objectives of this study are all
attained and thus can be regarded to be a
success. However; none of the experimental
value gathered where tested for accuracy
versus the literature value. From this alone, it
is highly recommended that the experimental
data to be compared to ensure the accuracy of
this study.
REFERENCES
Atkins, P., & de Paula, J. (2006). Physical
Chemistry, Eighth Edition. New York City:
W. H. Freeman and Company.
Chang, R., & Goldsby, K. (2011). General
Chemistry: The Essential Concepts. New
York City, United States of America:
McGraw-Hill.
Levine, I. N. (2009). Physical Chemistry, Sixth
Edition. New York City: McGraw-Hill.