DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

CHE 244

EXPERIMENT: 4

EXPERIMENT TITLE: KINETICS OF HYDROLYSIS OF METHLY ETHANOATE AND

DETERMINATION OF THE ENERGY OF ACTIVATION

Surname: TSHEOLE

First name: KARABO YUVAL

ID number: 201801845

Day: THURSDAY

Date of the Experiment: 27 February 2020

Partner’s name and ID: ORATILE CHRISSON SETOMBEKO 20183250

AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT
The aim of the experiment is to determine the rate constant for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of
methyl acetate at room temperature and also at a temperature of 35 degrees.
SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE
For the experiment at 35 degrees, 50ml of 2M HCL was pipetted into a 250ml reaction bottle as
well as 45ml of distilled water using a burette. The reagents were shaken to mix the two before
being dipped in a 35 degree thermostatic water bath for about 15 minutes so that it attains the
water bath temperature. Once temperature equilibrium is achieved temperature is recorded for
the solution. A 5ml solution of methyl ethanoate which has been in the water bath is pipetted into
a 250ml stoppered flask. Once the pipette is half empty the stop clock is started and never
stopped until the experiment is completed. The solution is shaken to mix its contents. After
intervals of 5, 15, 25, 45, 65, 85 and 95 minutes 5ml of the solution in the stoppered reaction
bottle is taken out and pipetted into a conical flask with 50ml of distilled water. Time is noted
when the pipette is half empty and titrate against 0.5M of NaOH solution from the burette with
the phenolphthalein provided. Procedure will be repeated for room temperature but intervals of
5, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95 and 110 minutes will be used and methyl ethanoate used will be at room
temperature and not dipped in a water bath. The same reagents were added to another 250ml
reaction bottle and left at room temperature while also shaken occasionally.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
Data was collected and recorded in data sheets provided for room temperature and at a
temperature of 35 degrees.
Table 1: Determination of k at room temperature

A Graph ln(V͚ - Vt) versus Time

120

f(x) = − 230.37 x + 406.78

R² = 0.95
100

80
ln(V͚ - VT)

60

40

20

0
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8

Time(min)
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS
Time in milliseconds and minutes is first converted to seconds and summed up to make
calculations easier when converting to the required value.
72/1000 5 minutes × 60 seconds/1 minutes
= 0.072 s =300 seconds

300s + 18s+ 0.072s = 318.072s

318.072s/60s
=5.3012 min
=5.3 min

Vt = final reading – initial reading

=11.60ml -4.61ml
=6.99 ml

V͚-Vt
12.8 ml - 6.99 ml
=5.81ml

ln (V͚ -Vt)
= ln(5.81)
=1.76
(ii) Determination of k at 35° C

A graph of ln(V - V) versus temperature

100
f(x) = − 176.76 x + 304.47
R² = 0.92

90

80

70

60
ln(V͚ - Vt)

50

40

30

20

10

0
1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7

Time(min)
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

1/1000 5 minutes × 60 seconds/1 minutes

= 0.001 s =300 seconds

300s + 1s+ 0.001s = 301.001s

301.001s/60s
=5.0167 min
=5.01 min

Vt = final reading – initial reading

=7.24ml - 0ml
=7.24ml

V͚-Vt
12.8 ml – 7.24 ml
=5.71ml

ln (V͚ -Vt)
= ln(5.17)
=1.64
DISCUSSION

Results for graph 1 are more precise and more accurate as the results were expected to show a
straight line which is clearly evident of graph 1.For graph 2 the results were more precise as
values were in line with each other although there were fluctuating. The possible sources of
errors encountered were of human reaction time error. The stopwatch was started and never
stopped and a certain quantity was expected to be withdrawn by the experimenter and at times
the volume required was taken some seconds later as it was not easy getting the mixture at
required intervals because of the parallax error of the pipette and also time was expected to be
recorded when the pipette was half way empty and it was no written on it to identify the half way
point of the burette. Using a calibrated pipette would have minimized the error. Other errors
were also parallax error when taking readings from the burrette when observing the titration. In
order to minimize the human reaction error, the experiment could be repeat and thereafter the
average time would be calculated and recorded while parallax error was minimized by taking
reading from the instrument eye level and also taking measurements in line with the meniscus.
Ehteshami. M et al (2004) suggested that “to further enhance the accuracy of results all
equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and all equipment should only be used once and not be
cleaned within a single experiment and re-used as it may not me entirely be cleaned and may
have some contaminants”.
CONCLUSION
The findings of the experiment indicate that the activation energy is a negative value of -0.9 x10-
4
KJ/mol. As activation energy is negative. This indicates that rate of the reaction decreases with
increasing temperatures as the reaction is assumed to be a reversible reaction and reactants are in
excess according to (Popken and Gmehling, 2000).
REFERENCES
Ehteshami, M., Rahimi, N. & Jafari Nasr, M. R. (2004). A new process for the hydrolysis of
methyl acetate to produce acetic acid and methanol. 9th Chemical Engineering Congress, Iran
University of Science and Technology

Popken, T., & Gmehling, J. (2000). Reaction kinetics and chemical equilibrium of
homogeneously and heterogeneously catalyzed acetic acid esterification with methanol and
methyl acetate hydrolysis. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 39, 2601-2611.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF THE EXPERIMENT

Determination of k at temperature at each temperature and calculation of the activation energy

Graph 1: y = -230.37x + 406.78
Graph 2: y = -176.76x + 304.47
T1 =26.3 °C =
T= °C + 273.15K
26.3°C + 273.15 = 299.5K

T 2 = 34.9° C
T= °C + 273.15K
34.9 C + 273.15K
= 308.1K
ln(k1/k1)=Ea/(R)(1/T2 -1/T1)
ln((-230.37/-176.76)=Ea/(8.314J/K mol-)(1/308.1K – 1/299.5)
Ea= 0.26 x 8.314J/K mol)/(9.31x10-5)
= -0.9 x10-4KJ/mol
QUESTION 1: Explain what is meant by a weak acid
A weak acid is an acid that is partially dissociated in an aqueous solution.

QUESTION 2; How is the strength of an acid related to;

(i) Its Ka- A larger Ka means that the acid has a stronger tendency to donate its H+, which
is the definition of a stronger acid, whereas a smaller Ka means that the acid has a
weaker tendency to donate its H+, which is the definition of a weaker acid.
(ii) Its pKa- The larger the value of pKa, the smaller the extent of dissociation at any given
pH and that is the weaker the acid and the smaller the value of pKa, the larger the
extent of dissociation at any given pH and thus the stronger the acid.

QUESTION 3; What is the pKa of an acid whose Ka is 5.6x10-4?

pKa= -logKa
= -log5.6x10-4
= 3.25

QUESTION 4; Derive the relationship between pH and pka at one half of the equivalence point,
for titration of a weak acid (ha) with a strong base
PH= pKa + log (A-)/ (HA); at one half of the equivalence point, half of the weak acid (HA) has
been converted into its conjugate base (A-)
SO; (HA) = (A-) and log (A-)/ (HA) =0
THEREFORE, PH= pKa

QUESTION 5; The pH at one-half neutralization point in an acid-base titration was found to be

4.8. What is the value of ka for this unknown acid?
PH = pKa therefore pKa= -logka
So; Ka= 10^pKa
=10^3.25
=1778.27941
=1.78x102
QUESTION6; Calculate the mass of potassium hydrogen phthalate (kc8h5o4) required to prepare
100 ml of a 0.1 m standard solution
Moles= Molarity x molar mass
= 0.1M x 0.1L
=0.01 moles
Molar mass (KC8H5O4) = 204.22g/mol
Mass = number of moles X molar mass (KC8H5O4)
= 0.01 mole X 204.22 g/mol
= 2.04 grams