Results

Table 1. titration of 5 ml aliquots of organic acid solution with a standardised sodium

hydroxide solution (approximately 0.05M)

Run 1

0.05 0.1 0.15 0.20 0.25

Initial volume (ml) 0.01 0.64 1.97 6.96 1.64
Final volume (ml) 6.16 13.97 33.54 34.94 34.10
Titrated volume 6.15 13.33 21.59 27.98 32.96
(ml)

Run 2

0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25

Initial volume(ml) 0.80 9.96 0.51 20.04 0.81
Final volume (ml) 7.00 23.24 21.99 47.85 33.17
Volume titrated(ml) 6.20 13.34 21.54 27.90 32.66
Average volume titrated 6.17 13.34 21.54 27.90 32.66

Table 2. titration of the sample solution with charcoal against the standard sodium
hydroxide
Run 1
0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 blank

Initial volume (ml) 0.58 0.62 5.94 11.89 1.32 1.60

Final volume (ml) 5.94 11.89 25.00 36.56 30.18 7.57
Volume titrated (ml) 5.09 11.27 19.06 24.67 28.86 5.97

Run 2
0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 Blank
Initial volume (ml) 0.05 5.05 0.56 19.53 0.32 1.60
Final volume(ml) 5.03 16.21 19.55 44.13 29.09 12.58
Volume titrated (m) 4.98 11.18 18.99 24.98 28.77 6.01
Average volume titrated 5.04 11.23 19.03 24.83 28.82 5.99
(ml)

Sample calculations
[NaOH] = 0.0500M
Consider the raction:
NaOH + CH3COOH → CH3COO- + Na+ + H2O
Stoichiometric ratio of NaOH : CH3COOH is 1 : !

No. of moles of NaOH = C × V

= 0.0500 × 6.17×10-3
= 3.09×10-9 mol

Therefore, [CH3COOH]initial = C2
C1V1 = C2V2
n(NaOH) = C2V2
3.09×10-3 = 5.00×10-3 C2
C2 = 0,06171 M

Final concentration of CH3COOH after adsorption

n(NaOH) = C × V = 0.0500 × 5.04×10-3
= 2.52×10-4 mol
Therefore, [CH3COOH] = 2.52×10-4/ 5.00×10-3
= 0.05040 M

2.number of moles before adsorption

n=C×V
= 0.06171 × 20×10-3 = 1.234×10-3 mol
Number of moles after adsorption
n = C × V = 0.05040 × 20×10-3 mol
3. Calculation of a = no. of mole of acid adsorbed / grams of acid
= 5.650 ×10-4 mol
Table 3 Results for the adsorption of acetic acid in charcoal
Inititial Final No. of No. of moles No. of moles a (mol/g)
concentration concentation moles after ads adsorbed
(M) (M) before ads (mol) (mol)
(mol)
 0.05 0.06171 0.05040 1.234×10-4 1.008×10-3 2.260×10-3 5.650×10-4

0.10 0.2668 0.2246 5.336×10-3 4.492×10-3 8.440×10-4 2.110×10-3

0.15 0.6300 0.5709 1.260×10-2 1.140×10-2 1.200×10-3 3.000×10-3

0.20 1.1160 0.9932 2.232×10-2 1.986×10-2 2.460×10-3 6.150×10-3

0.25 1.6330 1.441 3.266×10-2 2.882×10-2 3.840×10-3 9.600×10-3

control 0.0500 0.0500 0.001 0.001 - -

Table 4. ln a vs ln C for acetic acid in charcoal

ln a ln C
-7.48 -2.98
-6.16 -1.49
-5.81 -0.56
-5.09 -0.0068
-4.65 0.37

From fig 2.
Slope = 0.02283
Yint = -0.0002783
Using equation …1 ln a – ln k + 1/n ln C
Yint = ln K
-2.783×10-4 = ln K
K = 0.99972

Slope =1/n
Therefore, n = 1/slope = 1/0.02283 = 93.80
Table 5 C/a Vs. C
C/a (M mol-1 g-1) C (M)
89.20 0.05040
106.45 0.2246
190.30 0.5709
 161,50 0.9932
150.10 1.4410

From fig 2

Slope = 43.52

Yint = 111.0

C 1 1
Using eqn …5 = + C
a amK am

Slope = 1/am

Therefore, am = 1/slope = 1/ 43.52 = 0.02298 mol/g

Yint = 1/amK

111.0 =1/0.02298K

Therefore K =0.39

Using equation 6

A = amNA

= 0.2298 × 6.022×1023 × 21×10-20

= 29060.47 m2/g

Discussions

The main objection of this experiment was to fit the experimental data to Langmuir’s
isotherm by studying the absorption of a specific carboxylic acid onto charcoal from aqueous
solutions. The specific surface area for a sample of charcoal was also determined. From table
3 the results show that the number of moles of the carboxylic acid adsorbed by a charcoal
increase with an increase in the concentration of the carboxylic acid. The small amount of a
carboxylic acid is being absorbed by a charcoal this is caused by its insolubility in the acid
solution and this is the reason why the carboxylic acid is adsorbed on its surface. The
parameters of Freundlich’s isotherm, K and n were determined from graph 2 (The plot of ln a
Vs. ln C) and were found to be 0.99972 and 43.80 respectively. The graph of C/a vs. C was
plotted to determine the parameters of Langmuir’s isotherm, am and K, from the slope and y-
intercept and were found to be 0.02298 and 0.39 respectively. The specific area for the
charcoal used was found to be 29060.47 m2/g. The number of moles per gram, am, of
charcoal adsorbed increases with an increase in concentration of a carboxylic acid.

Conclusion

In this experiment the values of the Freundlich’s parameters, K and n were found to be
0.99972 and 43.80 respectively. The mole per gram and K from the plot of Langmuir’s was
found to be 0.02998 and 0.39. The number of moles per gram of charcoal adsorbed was
found to increase with an increase in carboxylic acid concentration. The specific area of the
charcoal used was 2906.47 m2/g. the results found were satisfactory and the method of
Langmuir’s isotherm used was efficient.

Answers to questions

1. The main objection of discarding the first 5 ml of each filtrate was to ensure that the
filter is always kept saturated and to give the concordant results of the concentration
of the acetic acid before adsorption
2. Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm is considered as the best method to determine the
adsorption constant because of the relation it gives between the molecules on the
surface of the charcoal and the concentration of the solution. The small concentration
of the acetic acid caused the Freundlich’s isotherm to fail to determine the bahavior of
the acetic acid.
3. Langmuir’s isotherm is considered as a theory of monolayer. The Langmuir’s theory
performed very well for the adsorption of a carboxylic acid from aqueous solution
onto charcoal. In this matter the adsorption is chemisorption from the gas phase. The
adsorption of a monolayer is different because the amount of a charcoal adsorbed
reached the maximum point and it remained constant while the concentration
increases.
4. The source of errors in this experiment might have been overshooting during the
titration procedure and this might lead to a huge error.
Eslope = 0.02283 × 3 = ± 0.06849
Ey-int = -0.000278 × 3 = ± 0.000834
Eam = ± {(Eslope/slope)2}1/2×am
= ± {(0.06849/43.52)2}1/2 ×0.02998
= ± 0.00004718
EK = (0.00004718/0.02998)2 + {(27.6/32.7)2}1/2 ×0.39
= ± 0.3292
EA = 0.00004718 × 6.022×1023 ×21×10-20
= ± 5.9665

References
1. P.W. Atkins ang J. De Paula, 2006, Physical Chemistry, 8th Ed.