Student's

Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

Conductivity of strong and weak electrolytes with

Cobra4 (Item No.: P3060660)
Curricular Relevance

Area of Expertise: Education Level: Topic: Subtopic:

Experiment:
Chemistry University Physical Chemistry Electro Chemistry

Difficulty Preparation Time Execution Time Recommended Group Size

Intermediate 10 Minutes 10 Minutes 2 Students

Additional Requirements: Experiment Variations:

PC with USB inter6ace, Windows XP or higher

Keywords:

Kohlrausch’s law, equivalent conductivity, temperature dependence o6 conductivity, Ostwald’s dilution law

Overview

Short description
Principle

It is possible to di66erentiate between strong and weak electrolytes by measuring their electrical conduc-tance. Strong
electrolytes 6ollow Kohlrausch’s law, whereas weak electrolytes are described by Ost-wald’s dilution law. The examination o6 the
concentration dependence o6 the conductivity allows the mo-lar conductivities o6 in6initely diluted electrolytes to be determined,
and 6acilitates the calculation o6 the degree o6 dissociation and the dissociation constants o6 weak electrolytes.

Fig. 1: Experimental setup.

Safety instructions

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

When handling chemicals, you should wear suitable protective gloves, sa6ety goggles, and suitable clothing. Please re6er to the
appendix 6or detailed sa6ety instructions.

Safety instructions

When handling chemicals, you should wear suitable protective gloves, sa6ety goggles, and suitable clothing.

Acetic acid
H226: Flammable liquid and vapour.
H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/6ace protection
P305+351+338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water 6or several minutes. Remove contact lenses i6 present and easy to do –
continue rinsing.
P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

Equipment

Position No. Material Order No. Quantity

1 Cobra4 Wireless Manager 12600-00 1
2 Cobra4 Wireless-Link 12601-00 1
3 Cobra4 Sensor-Unit Conductivity+ 12632-00 1
4 So6tware Cobra4 - multi-user licence 14550-61 1
5 Holder 6or Cobra4 with support rod 12680-00 1
6 Conductivity temperature probe Pt1000 13701-01 1
7 Magnetic stirrer without heating, 3 ltr., 230 V 35761-99 1
8 Magn.stirring bar 15mm, cyl. 46299-01 1
9 Retort stand, h = 750 mm 37694-00 1
10 Right angle clamp 37697-00 1
11 Spring balance holder 03065-20 1
12 Support rod with hole, stainless steel, 10 cm 02036-01 1
13 Glass beaker DURAN®, tall, 250 ml 36004-00 1
14 Glass beaker DURAN®,tall, 150 ml 36003-00 2
15 Volumetric 6lask 250 ml, IGJ14/23 36550-00 4
16 Volumetric 6lask 500 ml, IGJ19/26 36551-00 4
17 Volumetric 6lask 1000ml, IGJ24/29 36552-00 6
18 Funnel, glass, top dia. 80 mm 34459-00 1
19 Volumetric pipette, 1 ml 36575-00 2
20 Volumetric pipette, 5 ml 36577-00 4
21 Volumetric pipette, 100 ml 36582-00 1
22 Pipettor 36592-00 1
23 Pipette dish 36589-00 1
24 Pasteur pipettes, 250 pcs 36590-00 1
25 Rubber caps, 10 pcs 39275-03 1
26 Precision Balance, Sartorius ENTRIS623-1S, 620 g / 0,001 g 49294-99 1
27 Weighing dishes, square shape, 84 x 84 x 24 mm, 25 pcs. 45019-25 1
28 Spoon, special steel 33398-00 1
29 Cristallizing dish,boro3.3, 300ml 46243-00 1
30 Wash bottle, plastic, 500 ml 33931-00 1
31 Desiccator, Wertex, diam. 150 mm 34126-00 1
32 Porcelain plate 6.desiccator150mm 32474-00 1
33 Silicon grease Molykote, 50 g 31863-05 1
34 Silica gel, orange, granular, 500 g 30224-50 1
35 Acetic acid, 1 M sol., 1000 ml 48127-70 1
36 Stand.solu.1413æS/cm(25øC), 460ml 47070-02 1
37 Potassium chloride 250 g 30098-25 1
38 Water, distilled 5 l 31246-81 1
Additional
material
PC with USB inter6ace, Windows XP or higher

Tasks
1. Determine the concentration dependence o6 the electrical conductivity o6 potassium chloride and acetic acid.
2. Calculate the molar conductivity using data 6rom the measurements taken and determine the molar conductivity at in6inite
dilution by extrapolation.
3. Determine the dissociation constant o6 acetic acid.

Setup and procedure

Setup

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

Prepare the solutions required 6or the experiment as 6ollows:

0.1 molar KCl solution: Weigh 7.4551 g o6 dried potassium chloride into a 1000 ml volumetric 6lask, add some distilled
water to dissolve it, and then make up to the calibration mark with distilled water.
0.05 molar KCl solution: Weigh 3.7275 g o6 dried potassium chloride into a 1000 ml volumetric 6lask, add some distilled
water to dissolve it, and then make up to the calibration mark with distilled water.
0.01 molar KCl solution: Pipette 25 ml o6 the 0.1 molar KCl solution into a 250 ml volumetric 6lask and make up to the mark
with distilled water.
0.005 molar KCl solution: Pipette 25 ml o6 the 0.05 molar KCl solution into a 250 ml volumetric 6lask and make up to the
mark with distilled water.
0.001 molar KCl solution: Pipette 5 ml o6 the 0.1 molar KCl solution into a 500 ml volumetric 6lask and make up to the mark
with distilled water.
0.0005 molar KCl solution: Pipette 5 ml o6 the 0.05 molar KCl solution into a 500 ml volumetric 6lask and make up to the
mark with distilled water.
0.0001 molar KCl solution: Pipette 1 ml o6 the 0.1 molar KCl solution into a 1000 ml volumetric 6lask and make up to the
mark with distilled water.
0.1 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 100 ml o6 the 1 molar acetic acid solution into a 1000 ml volumetric 6lask and make
up to the mark with distilled water.
0.05 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 50 ml o6 the 1 molar acetic acid solution into a 1000 ml volumetric 6lask and make
up to the mark with distilled water.
0.01 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 25 ml o6 the 0.1 molar acetic acid solution into a 250 ml volumetric 6lask and make
up to the mark with distilled water.
0.005 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 25 ml o6 the 0.05 molar acetic acid solution into a 250 ml volumetric 6lask and
make up to the mark with distilled water.
0.001 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 5 ml o6 the 0.1 molar acetic acid solution into a 500 ml volumetric 6lask and make
up to the mark with distilled water.
0.0005 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 5 ml o6 the 0.05 molar acetic acid solution into a 500 ml volumetric 6lask and
make up to the mark with distilled water.
0.0001 molar CH3COOH solution: Pipette 1 ml o6 the 0.1 molar acetic acid solution into a 1000 ml volumetric 6lask and
make up to the mark with distilled water.
Set up the experiment as shown in Fig. 1.
Connect the conductivity probe to the Cobra4 Sensor-Unit Conductivity +.
Combine the Cobra4 Sensor Unit Conductivity + with the Cobra4 Wireless-Link.
Start the PC and connect the Cobra4 Wireless Manager with a USB socket o6 the computer.
A6ter the Cobra4 Wireless-Link has been switched on, the sensor is automatically recognized. An ID number (01) is
allocated to the sensor, which is indicated in the display o6 the Cobra4 Wireless-Link.
Call up the “Measure” programme and boot the experiment “Conductivity o6 strong and weak electrolytes: potassium
chloride” (experiment > open experiment). The measurement parameters 6or this experiment are loaded now.
Ror calibration: Pour some standard solution into a beaker and immerse the well-rinsed probe into the solution (Advice:
Both platinum electrodes o6 the probe have to be covered completely with the solution).
In the Cobra4 Navigator under “Devices” double-click the “Conductivity” symbol. Now you can change some meas-
urement parameters.
Enter the value 6or the conductivity at a given temperature under the menu point “Calibration”. You can 6ind this value on
the label o6 the standard solution (at 25 °C C = 1413 μS / cm, see Fig. 2). Click the “Apply” button and 6inish the calibration
with “OK”.

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

Fig. 2: Settings 6or the calibration mode o6 the sensor.

Procedure
Procedure: When measuring the conductivity, always begin with the solution having the lowest concentration in each series o6
measurements. Be6ore each new measurement, thoroughly rinse the probe, the glass beaker and the magnetic stirrer bar, 6irst
with distilled water and then with the solution to be subsequently measured.

Determine the conductivity o6 the distilled water that is used 6or the dilution o6 the solutions and note the result. This is to
enable the conductivity o6 the water used to be taken into consideration in the evaluation.
Place a glass beaker containing a magnetic stirrer bar on the magnetic stirrer. Pour the 6irst potassium chloride solution to
be measured into the glass beaker, and immerse the previously well-rinsed conductivity cell to a depth o6 approximately 5
cm in the solution.
Adjust the magnetic stirrer bar to a medium stirring speed (Note: The stirring bar must not touch the measurement cell).
Start the measurement with

Record the 6irst value by pressing

Subsequently determine the respective conductivities o6 the other solutions by pressing

whereby in each case the solution with the next higher concentration is measured.

While recording the measuring series, pay strict attention to cleanliness as even the slightest trace o6 contaminants (e.g.
by carrying over some o6 one solution into another) would result in the registration o6 erroneous data.
Stop the measurement by pressing

Send all data to „measure“ (see Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: Window which appears a6ter measurement.

In “measure” click on

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

to get the graph 6or conductivity.

Open the display options with

Change the setting as shown in 6ig. 4.

Fig. 4: Settings 6or the conductivity o6 KCl solutions as 6unctions o6 the concentration.

Open the data table with

Exchange the x values manually with the given concentration values in the right order.
Save the measurement (File > Save meausrement as…).
Fig. 5 shows the graph as it is now presented by the programme.

Fig. 5: Conductivity o6 potassium chloride solutions as a 6unction o6 the concentration.

Call up the “Measure” programme and boot the experiment “Conductivity o6 strong and weak electrolytes: acetic acid”
(experiment > open experiment). The measurement parameters 6or this experiment are loaded now.
Carry out the measurements and the alterations using the same procedure as above.
Fig. 6 shows the graph as it is presented by the programme.

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

Fig. 6: Conductivity o6 acetic acid solutions as a 6unction o6 the concentration.

Theory and evaluation

The resistance o6 a conductor having a uni6orm cross section is proportional to the length an inversively proportional to the
cross sectional area o6 the conductor.

The substance constant is known as the speci6ic resistance; its reciprocal as the speci6ic conductivity, and the reciprocal o6
the resistance as the conductance . It is usual to use 6or metallic conductors and 6or electrolytes. The conductivity 6or an
electrolytic solution results in the 6ollowing:

having the dimension Ω-1 . cm-1.

I6 the conductivity o6 a solution is to be measured, then the measurements o6 the cell (length an area) must be known.
There6ore, the cell is usually calibrated with a solution with a known conductivity. The ratio o6 the measured to the tabulated
conductivity o6 a calibration solution directly provides the ratio o6 the length to the cross section. This ratio is also known as the
cell constant. Usually it can be 6ound in the accompanying test certi6icate.

As a result o6 the strong concentration dependency, the conductivity is not appropriate 6or comparing electrolytes. For these
purposes it is better to determine the molar conductivity . This is calculated 6rom the speci6ic conductivity and the
concentration (in mol . l-1) o6 the substance in the electrolyte solution:

When the concentration dependence o6 the conductivity in electrolytes is examined, one 6inds that the conductivity basically
increases with the concentration because the number o6 the charge carriers (ions) increases. The plot o6 molar conductivity
versus concentration can be calculated with

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

by setting the parameters as given in Fig. 7. In this operation you can also substract the conductivity o6 the distilled water. The
two diagrams 6or potassium chloride and acetic acid are shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 7: Parameters o6 channel modi6ication.

Fig. 8: Molar conductivities o6 aqueous potassium chloride and acetic acid solutions as 6unctions o6 the concentration.

The molar conductivity approaches a limit with increasing dilution. This is the conductivity at in6inite dilution. Kohlrausch
6ound the 6ollowing con6ormity to natural law 6or the concentration dependency o6 the molar conductivity 6or strong electrolytes:

According to Kohlrausch ‘s law, plotting the molar conductivity o6 KCl against the square root o6 the concentration should result
in a straight line. This line’s intersection with the ordinate is the molar conductiv-ity at in6inite dilution.

Weak electrolytes do not dissociate completely and have a lower conductivity than strong electrolytes. As the concentration
increases, the dissociation equilibrium shi6ts in the direction o6 non-dissociated molecules. The degree o6 dissociation α o6 weak
electrolytes is the quotient o6 the molar conductivity divided by the molar conductivity at in6inite dilution.

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com
Student's Sheet
Printed: 30.03.2017 16:01:18 | P3060660

Ostwald’s dilution law is valid 6or weak electrolytes. It enables dissociation constants to be calculated:

The limiting value o6 the molar conductivity o6 weak electrolytes at in6inite dilution is 6irst reached at extremely low
concentrations; there6ore, exact measurements in this are no longer possible. Consequently cannot be obtained by
extrapolating -curves 6or weak electrolytes. The 6ollowing equation is derived by trans6orming Ostwald’s law o6
dilution:

From this equation it can be seen that a linear relationship exists between the reciprocal o6 the conductivity and the product o6
the molar conductivity and the concentration o6 weak electrolytes. Furthermore, Ostwald’s law o6 dilution shows that the molar
conductivity at in6inite dilution can be obtained 6rom the line’s point o6 intersection o6 the line with the ordinate over
.

Appendix
Disposal

The diluted solutions o6 potassium chloride and acetic acid can be disposed by rinsing into the drain.

Appendix

Hazard symbol, signal word Hazard statements Precautionary statements

Potassium chloride
-
- -

Acetic acid

H226: Flammable P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/ eye

liquid and vapour. protection/6ace protection.

H314: Causes severe P305 + 351 + 338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water 6or
skin burns and eye several minutes. Remove contact lenses i6 present and easy to do.
damage. continue rinsing.

P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.

Danger

Robert-Bosch-Breite 10 Tel: +49 551 604 - 0 in6o@phywe.de

D - 37079 Göttingen Fax: +49 551 604 - 107 www.phywe.com