Experiment #7: Potentiometric Titrations - Acid Base Titrations with PH meter

Part A: Strong Acid + Strong Base ⇒Salt + H2O

Part B: Weak Acid + Strong Base ⇒ Salt + H2O
Part C: Strong Acid + Weak Base ⇒ Salt + H2O

Kamille Ward
SCH 113 03
April 17th, 2018
I. TITLE: Experiment #7: Potentiometric Titrations - Acid Base Titrations with PH meter
Part A: Strong Acid + Strong Base ⇒Salt + H2O

Part B: Weak Acid + Strong Base ⇒ Salt + H2O

Part C: Strong Acid + Weak Base ⇒ Salt + H2O

II. OBJECTIVE:

The objectives for the first part of the experiment include studying strong acid- strong base

reactions using a pH meter. While performing a weak acid- strong base reaction using a pH

meter, the equivalence point and the pukka of a weak acid should be determined. The

equivalence point of a weak base- strong acid potentiometric titration should also be determined

in the third part of the experiment

III. THEORY:

All 3 parts of experiment 7 are performed in extremely similar ways. All three

experiments include the use of an acid-base titration method. There are a few theories that

describe what the difference between an acid and a base are. The Arrhenius theory is that acids

are substances that produce hydrogen ions in solution, while bases are substances that produce

hydroxide ions in solution. The Bronzed-Lowry theory states that an acid is a proton donor, and a

base is a proton acceptor. Finally, the Lewis theory states that an acid is an electron pair acceptor

while a base is an electron pair donor.

The first experiment that we completed consisted of strong acid-strong base titrations.

The strong acid is hydrochloric acid and the strong base is sodium hydroxide. The reaction

depicting this titration is as follows:

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) ⇒ NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

The titrand in the experiment is the hydrochloric acid while the titrant is the sodium hydroxide.

The pH of the HCl before the addition of NaOH is acidic. When NaOH is added, pH increases

slowly at first. Near the equivalence point, the pH rises steeply. The equivalence point is the

point at which there is an equal molar amount of acid and base. At this point, the curve rises

vertically. For strong acid-strong base titrations, a small addition of NaOH causes a large

increase in [OH-] because [H+] and [OH-] are very small at the equivalence point, causing the pH

to rise drastically at the equivalence point.

The second experiment that we completed consisted of weak acid-strong base titrations.

The weak acid is acetic acid and the strong base is sodium hydroxide. The reaction is shown as:

CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq) ⇒ CH3COONa(aq) + H2O(l)

The titrand in the experiment is CH3COOH and NaOH is the titrant. Weak acid is only partially

ionized in water. Adding small amounts of NaOH decreases concentration of CH3COOH and

increases the concentration of CH3COO-. At the halfway point in this experiment, half of

CH3COOH present in the first place will have been neutralized, making [CH3COOH] and

[CH3COONa] equal. The equation pKa= pH1/2 shows that the ionization constant of acetic acid is

equal to the pH at the halfway point in the titration. pKa is measure of acid strength. The lower

the pKa value, the stronger the acid. At the equivalence point, the acid and base have reacted to

form the salt, CH3COONa. The pH at equivalence point is determined by the strength of

CH3COONa, which is the conjugate base of the weak acid. This leads to the pH being greater

than 7 at the equivalence point.

A conjugate base is essentially what is left over after an acid has lost a hydrogen ion. The

chemical equation of CH3COOH⇔ CH3COONa is the reason for the buffer zone in the graph of
the titration. The buffer system resists a large change in pH. The pH increases slightly until the

equivalence point in this experiment and when the equivalence point is reaches, a large change in

pH is observed due to CH3COOH becoming lower, and the addition of NaOH neutralizes the

remaining CH3COOH. The pH scale is a scale used to rank solutions in terms of acidity or

basicity, ranging from 0 to 14. Any pH value lower than 7 is acidic and any value above 7 is

alkaline, or basic.

The third experiment that we completed consisted of a strong acid and a weak base

titration. The strong acid is hydrochloric acid and the weak base is ammonia. The reaction is

shown as:

HCl(aq) + NH3(aq) ⇒ NH4Cl(aq) + H2O(l)

The titrant is the hydrochloric acid and ammonia is the titrand. The pH of the NH3 before the

addition of the HCl is basic. When the HCl is added, the pH decreases slowly at first. Near the

equivalence point, the pH declines steeply. At this point, the curve decreases vertically. It then

continues to decrease slowly. Eventually, it levels off and the acidic pH plateaus.

IV. PROCEDURE

a. Experiment 7 (Part A) –

HCl(aq) [titrand] + NaOH(aq) [titrant] ⇒ NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

To begin the experiment, 40 mL of 0.1 M HCl was added to a clean and dry 250 mL

beaker. A magnetic stir bar was added to the beaker while the pH meter, magnetic stirrer,

and buret were set up as directed. The buret was conditioned with the 0.098 M NaOH
 provided. In order to begin the titration process, the pH electrode was calibrated using

pH=4 and pH=7 buffer solutions and the initial pH of the HCl titrand was recorded. The

NaOH titrant was added in 1 mL increments until the pH reached about 2.5. Once the pH

reached 2.5, the titrant was added in 0.5 mL increments. The pH was observed for a

drastic change. Once the drastic change was observed, titration was continued in 0.5 mL

increments until the pH plateaued.

b. Experiment 7 (Part B) –

CH3COOH(aq) [titrand] + NaOH(aq) [titrant] ⇒ CH3COONa(aq) + H2O(l)

To begin the next section of the experiment, 40 mL of 0.1 M acetic acid was added to a

clean and dry 250 mL beaker. A magnetic stir bar was added to the beaker while the pH

meter, magnetic stirrer, and buret were set up as directed. The buret was conditioned with

the 0.09338 M NaOH provided. In order to begin the titration process, the pH electrode

was calibrated using pH=4 and pH=7 buffer solutions and the initial pH of the HCl

titrand was recorded. The NaOH titrant was added in 1 mL increments until the pH

reached about 5. Once the pH reached 5, the titrant was added in 0.5 mL increments. The

pH was observed for a drastic change. Once the drastic change was observed, titration

was continued in 0.5 mL increments until the pH plateaued.

c. Experiment 7 (Part C) –

HCl(aq) [titrant] + NH3(aq) [titrand] ⇒ NH4Cl(aq) + H2O(l)

To begin the final part of the experiment, 40 mL of 0.1 M NH3 was added to a clean and

dry 250 mL beaker. A magnetic stir bar was added to the beaker while the pH meter,
 magnetic stirrer, and buret were set up as directed. The buret was conditioned with the

0.1 M HCl provided. In order to begin the titration process, the pH electrode was

calibrated using pH=7 and pH=10 buffer solutions and the initial pH of the NH3 titrand

was recorded. The HCl titrant was added in 1 mL increments until the pH reached about

8. Once the pH reached 8, the titrant was added in 0.5 mL increments. The pH was

observed for a drastic change. Once the drastic change was observed, titration was

continued in 0.5 mL increments until the pH plateaued.

V. DATA

EXPERIMENT 7 (PART A)

Volume

(mL) pH
1 1.17414047
1.19120410

2 3
1.19912650

3 4
1.21893250

4 7
1.24635620

5 3
1.25245035

6 8
7 1.25488802
1.29876593

8 4
1.32558021

9 4
 1.34569092

10 5
1.36702046

11 6
1.39413945

12 5
1.41882078

13 1
1.44502564

14 6
1.47123051

15 1
1.49286476

16 1
1.52394494

17 9
1.55045452

18 2
1.58092529

19 6
1.61413843

20 9
1.65009395

21 2
1.70128485

22 1
1.72596617

23 7
1.76527347

24 5
25 1.82377736
 1.86674115

26 1
27 1.92463562
1.99654664

28 6
2.06662942

29 5
2.13061804

30 9
2.22629627

31 7
2.32532629

32 1
2.49352496

33 1
34 2.67787314
3.00391041

35 6
36.5 3.36651262
5.09847138

37 3
5.65882890

37.25 7
6.06439490

37.5 1
6.74297902

37.75 6
9.05906251

38 6
9.71387943

38.5 7
39 10.3635163
 3
39.5 10.7760906
11.1722106

40 5
11.3696612

40.5 7
11.4787466

41 4
11.5668071

41.5 7
11.6280534

42 3
11.7051444

42.5 8
11.7871108

43 6
11.8130110

43.5 2
11.8498806

44 6
11.8925397

44.5 4
11.9208775

45 6
11.9653648

45.5 9
11.9882179

46 7
12.0275252

46.5 7
47 12.0485501
47.5 12.0692702
 3
12.0912091

48 8
12.1055304

48.5 5
12.1296023

49 6
12.1497130

49.5 7
12.1683002

50 4

EXPERIMENT 7 (PART B)

Volume

(mL) pH
3.22053520

0 6
3.16018219

1 8
2 3.42152211
3.61653065

3 1
3.74150692

4 7
3.84940216

5 4
3.94818751

6 2
4.00768646

7 8
 4.07999620

8 4
4.13750237

9 2
4.19586259

10 3
4.25564623

11 3
4.31372176

12 9
4.36695767

13 7
4.41279180

14 1
4.45805655

15 7
4.49933573

16 7
4.54004554

17 9
18 4.58132473
19 4.63399127
20 4.65961283
21 4.71085595
22 4.75925223
4.81561966

23 2
4.85860694

24 6
25 4.90586449
4.95739229

26 5
27 5.00151831
 5
5.02286961

27.5 5
5.05503890

28 7
5.08379199

28.5 1
5.11909280

29 7
5.15268551

29.5 9
5.18827101

30 9
5.22015562

30.5 7
5.25972670

31 3
5.30385272

31.5 3
32 5.34911748
5.39722907

32.5 6
5.43224520

33 8
5.49316758

33.5 4
34 5.55551338
34.5 5.61956728
5.69016891

35 3
5.78183716

35.5 1
 5.88688555

36 7
6.04146896

36.5 9
6.16217498

37 6
6.36657809

37.5 8
6.69823495

38 9
9.04146896

38.5 9
9.68115391

39 9
39.5 10.2260391
10.5596887

40 5
40.5 10.8398178
10.9887075

41 3
11.0971721

41.5 4
11.1720440

42 3
11.2622888

42.5 6
11.3104004

43 6
11.3792939

43.5 8
44 11.4242740
 6
11.4581514

44.5 5
11.4917441

45 6
45.5 11.5267603
11.5597836

46 4
11.5928069

46.5 8
11.6041943

47 4
11.6306699

47.5 6
11.6508825

48 2
11.6665401

48.5 4
11.6887454

49 9
11.7106661

49.5 6
11.7155057

50 9
EXPERIMENT 7 (PART C)

Volume

(mL) pH
11.2884169

0 7
1 11.0384304
 4
2 10.8951652
3 10.7758314
10.6345065

4 5
10.5132323

5 6
10.4213873

6 8
10.3389209

7 3
10.2755349

8 5
10.2199105

9 3
10.1416482

10 5
10.0941087

11 7
10.0090551

12 4
9.94114159

13 4
9.89198512

14 4
9.82698215

15 9
9.77879588

16 2
9.72705222

17 9
18 9.66787042
 5
9.60028027

19 8
9.54497924

20 9
9.48191667

21 1
22 9.40591818
9.33250687

23 2
9.26168274

24 7
9.17145475

25 1
9.08931170

26 2
8.99164555

27 6
8.87716272

28 3
8.76785425

29 5
8.57834312

30 5
8.17635961

31 8
7.73686196

32 3
6.55451948

32.5 5
33 3.78526383
 9
3.01234301

33.5 7
2.78046677

34 1
2.63008677

34.5 8
2.50945938

35 7
2.42311216

35.5 5
2.33644154

36 6
2.26464722

36.5 7
2.22648628

37 3
37.5 2.18800194
2.12105858

38 9
2.10262491

38.5 2
2.07481269

39 9
2.03859214

39.5 1
2.01077992

40 8
2.00043119

40.5 7
41 1.96938500
 5
41.5 1.93284105
1.89629709

42 5
1.87042526

42.5 8

VI. CALCULATIONS

Part A-

Strong Acid- Strong Base Titration

14

12

10

8
pH value

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Volume of NaOH (mL)

Equivalence Point (37.75, 6.74)

 Weak Acid Strong Base
14

12

10

8
pH value

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Volume of NaOH (mL)

Part B-

Equivalence Point (38, 8.6)

pKa= 4.63

Part C-
 Strong Acid Weak Base
12

10

8
pH value

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Volume of HCl (mL)

Equivalence Point (32.5, 5.6)

VII. DISCUSSION

Throughout all three parts of the experiment, the pH values, volumes, and equivalence

points all vary from each part of the experiment. In the strong acid-strong base titration the

equivalence point was (37.75, 6.74). In the weak acid-strong base experiment, the equivalence

point is (38, 8.6). In the strong acid-weak base titration, the equivalence point was (32.5, 5.6).

The volume of the titrant varied throughout each experiment but were extremely close for the

experiments with weak bases of NaOH, with a minor difference of .25 mL. For the strong base of

HCl, there was slightly less HCl needed to complete the titration. The pH values of all three

values varied by about 1 pH value difference. The reason for the variation in the pH values may

include the initial pH of each part of the experiment being so different, as well as the different

types of acids and bases being used.

The titration curve for the strong acid-strong base titration is in the shape of a sigmoid
curve. Similarly, the weak base-strong acid titration is a sigmoid curve as well. The strong acid-

weak base titration consists of an upside down sigmoid curve with the pH starting basic.

Dissociation between the acids and bases is very important in this experiment. Dissociation is the

separation of molecules in a solution. The pH consists of the amount of H+ ions in the solution.

In order for these to be accurate, dissociation between acid and bases must be present.

There is a lot of room for error in this experiment because there is a chance of adding too

much NaOH or HCl. There could also be error in the experiment because the lab equipment may

not be completely dried or cleaned out. In order to improve this experiment, lab equipment could

be more accurate while titrating to ensure proper amounts of the titrant are added to the titrand.

The lab procedures could also be more written more precisely to make the experiment more

accurate. The pH meter also must be completely accurate in order to have proper readings to

allow the experiment to be accurate as well.

Throughout the experiment, I learned many things that are beneficial to my learning

throughout this lab. First off, I learned how to complete a potentiometric titration. I also learned

how to complete the titrations using the pH reader using Logger Pro. I learned how to determine

equivalence point and pKa values using Exel. Finally, I learned how to work efficiently and

patiently in order to complete the experiment well.