The Nature of Acids and Bases: Exploring the pH Scale

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Where do water and hydrochloric acid (HCl) lie on the pH scale in relation to each other?

2. Give an example of a buffer, and describe what it is used for.

3. Explain why conjugate pairs are composed of weak acids and strong bases, and vice
versa.

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The Nature of Acids and Bases: Exploring the pH Scale

EXPERIMENT 1: PREPARING A BUFFER

Data Sheet

Table 2: Sodium Acetate Data

Sodium Acetate (g) Molarity of Sodium Acetate (M)

Table 3: Buffer Solutions and pH Readings

Volume of Acetic Acid Volume of Sodium Acetate

Buffer pH
(mL) (mL)
A 5 5
B 5 1
C 10 1
D 1 10
E 1 5

Post-Lab Questions

1. Show your calculations for the molarity of sodium acetate (recorded in Table 2).

4. Using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, calculate the predicted pH value for each
buffer solution based on the volumes given in Table 3. The pKa of acetic acid is 4.75.
Show your work.

a. Buffer A:

b. Buffer B:

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The Nature of Acids and Bases: Exploring the pH Scale

c. Buffer C:

d. Buffer D:

e. Buffer E:

5. Calculate your pH percent error for each buffer solution based on your theoretical
calculations in Question 2 and your measured values in Table 3. Show your work.

a. Buffer A:

b. Buffer B:

c. Buffer C:

d. Buffer D:

e. Buffer E:

6. What are some potential sources of error in this experiment that could account for your
percent error values?

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The Nature of Acids and Bases: Exploring the pH Scale

EXPERIMENT 2: EXPLORING BUFFERING CAPACITY

Data Sheet

Table 4: Observing the Effects of Acid on Buffer F and Buffer H (water)

pH with 0 mL of pH with 5 mL of pH with 10 mL pH with 20 mL

Buffer
Cola Cola of Cola of Cola

Buffer F

Buffer H
n/a n/a
(water)

Table 5: Observing the Effects of Base on Buffer G and Buffer I (water)

pH with 0 mL of pH with 5 mL of pH with 10 mL of pH with 20 mL of

Buffer
Borax Solution Borax Solution Borax Solution Borax Solution

Buffer G

Buffer I
n/a n/a
(water)

Post-Lab Questions

1. What happened when the cola and borax solution was added to the water?

7. Is water a good buffering system? Explain your scientific reasoning.

8. How would the pH change if you added 40 mL of the borax solution to 40 mL of water?
Explain your reasoning.

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