Notebook

Information needed before going to lab.

An unknown weak polyprotic acid will be given to titrate with 0.10 M NaOH using a pH probe.
From the titration curve the Ka values for each proton and the unknown acid concentration will
be determined. The possible unknowns are malonic, succinic, phosphoric, glutaric, and adipic
acids. Formulas mol HA = OH- soln * (mol OH-/L soln) *(mol HA/mol OH-), Ka = [H3O+]
2/[HA], and Ka = 10^-pH1/2
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Titration Curve of a Weak Acid

By

Misael​ ​Barradas Balderrama

Report submitted to Chemistry Faculty

November 14th, 2020

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Introduction

Titration is when a slow addition of a solution to a known concentration, this is called a titrant, to

a known volume of another solution with an unknown concentration until neutralization is

reached, which is usually when a color change is observed. In this experiment the titration curve

of an unknown weak polyprotic acid with a strong base from titration data will be drawn, the

concentration of the unknown acid from titration data will be determined, the Ka values for the

unknown acid will be determined and the identity of the unknown acid from the titration curve

will also be found.

Pre-lab Questions:

1. What is a diprotic acid?​an acid that yields two H+ ions per acid molecule ​ Triprotic acid?

an acid that has three dissociable protons that undergo stepwise ionization

2. Write the ionization equations for the protons of a triprotic acid.

3. Do you need to use an indicator when you are doing a pH titration? ​Yes, a pH meter needs

to be calibrated and used in a titration to record the pH of the titrated solution more precisely.

4. What is the pH of 0.10 M HCl? ​pH = - log to the base 10 of {H+} by definition.

As HCl is a strong acid, it is completely dissociated, {H+} = 0.10 mol/L, since 0.1 mole of HCl

dissociates into 0.10 mole of H+, and 0.10 mole of Cl-. Hence, pH = - log { 0.10 } = 1

0.10 M CH3CO2H?
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0.10 M H2SO4? ​𝐾𝑎,2=[0.1𝑚𝑜𝑙+𝑥]𝑥/0.1𝑚𝑜𝑙−𝑥=0.012 → the solution: x = 0.0099

hydronium concentration = x+0.1 = 0.1099 mol/L → 𝑝𝐻=−𝑙𝑜𝑔[𝐻3𝑂+]=−𝑙𝑜𝑔[0.1099]=0.96

5. How many trials of each titration should you carry out in order to obtain dependable

results? ​Three times to provide a statistically valid answer

Safety and Hazard information

Goggles were worn to prevent any foregin fluids from getting in contact with the eyes. Lab

aprons were worn to prevent clothes getting in contact with chemicals. Latex gloves were worn

to avoid direct contact with the chemicals. Reading the experiment before lab class to have an

idea of what the experiment was going to be like helped to organize and handle material

properly. Cleaning and disinfecting the lab glassware and table before and after use to prevent

contamination and spread of COVID-19.

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Materials and Methods

The chemicals used in this experiment were possible unknowns as malonic, succinic, phosphoric,

glutaric adipic acids, and NaOH. The materials used were pH probe, beaker, graduated pipette,

and burette.

Procedure​:

An unknown weak polyprotic acid will be given to titrate with 0.10 M NaOH using a pH probe.

From the titration curve the Ka values for each proton and the unknown acid concentration will

be determined. The possible unknowns are malonic, succinic, phosphoric, glutaric, and adipic

acids.

Results and Discussion

Volume NaOH
(mL) pH
0 1.55
2 1.58
4 1.71
6 1.76
8 1.85
10 1.96
12 2.14
14 2.17
16 2.32
18 2.51
20 2.73
22 3.07
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24 4.22
24.5 4.82
25 5.43
25.5 5.65
26 5.81
28 6.19
30 6.45
32 6.63
34 6.78
36 6.9

Equivalence Volume: 29.15 mL

Looking at the titration curve found the equivalence volume[HA] original = .01503 mol/L- The

moles of Ha was found using the formula: mol HA = L OH- soln * (mol OH-/L soln) * (mol

HA/mol OH-)o .02915 * (.1031/1) * (1/1) = .00300537- Mol HA then had to put into units of

mol per L to get the concentration of .00300537/.2 = .01503 mol/L Ka from pH of original

solution: 1.9188X 10-5- Ka was found by using the formula: Ka = [H3O+] 2/[HA]o [10-32.7] 2 /
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[.01503] = .000019188Ka from pH of half-neutralization point: .02317- Ka was found using the

formula: Ka = 10-pH1/2o 10^(-3.27)(1/2) = .02317

Conclusion

Ka was found for a weak acid using a pH probe. The calculations were done using the formulas

mol HA = OH- soln * (mol OH-/L soln) *(mol HA/mol OH-), Ka = [H3O+] 2/[HA], and Ka =

10^-pH1/2. Overall, the purpose of this lab was met by showing how Ka of a weak acid is

determined.

References

LibreTexts (june 5th, 2019). ​ Titration of a Weak Acid with a Strong Base ​Retrieved from:

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Ancillary_Materials/Demos_Techniques_and_Ex

periments/General_Lab_Techniques/Titration/Titration_of_a_Weak_Acid_with_a_Stron

g_Base