Acid-Base Equilibrium

Kent Benedict B. Perales, Mikaela Gabrielle L. Perez, Fatima Cythea C. Pumaren, Karch
Andrei D. Rafael
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, Españ a Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008,
Philippines

Abstract:
Acid-base equilibrium is a transactional process in which protons are exchanged between
two chemical species. A molecule or ion that loses or "donates" a proton is acting as an
acid; a species that receives or "accepts" that proton plays the role of a base. In this
experiment, the concept of acid-base equilibrium was explored through the transition of
pH range indicators by mixing buffer solutions of varying pH values with specified
indicators. Indicators such as methyl orange, bromcresol green, and thymol blue were
used in the experiment. Different concentrations of acetic acid were mixed the given
indicators, resulting to attain pH values of 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 respectively. These pH
values were used to calculate the acid dissociation constant (K a) of acetic acid, which
describes the equilibrium present in the reaction of water and an acid. The derived K a
values are 1.0 x 10-7, 1.0 x 10-8, 1.0 x 10-9, and 1.0 x 10-9.

KEYWORDS: pH, acid ionization/dissociation constant, buffer solutions, indicators

INTRODUCTION with more hydroxide ions than hydrogen

An acid is a substance that donates
hydrogen ions. Because of this, when an
acid is dissolved in water, the balance
between hydrogen ions and hydroxide
ions is shifted. Now there are more
hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions in the
solution. This kind of solution is acidic.
A base is a substance that accepts
hydrogen ions. When a base is dissolved
in water, the balance between hydrogen
ions and hydroxide ions shifts the
opposite way. Because the base "soaks
up" hydrogen ions, the result is a solution
ions. This kind of solution is alkaline.
Acidity and alkalinity are measured with
a logarithmic scale called pH. Each one-
unit change in the pH scale corresponds
to a ten-fold change in hydrogen ion
concentration. The pH scale is
theoretically open-ended but most pH
values are in the range from 0 to 14.
Since most acids are weak acids,
they are only partially ionized in an
aqueous solution. Ionization and
dissociation are two related terms that
express almost the same meaning but are
used at different occasions. Ionization
may refer to different types of
separations. It can be ionization of atoms
by removal of electrons or the formation
of ions in a liquid solution. Dissociation,
on the other hand, is the separation a
substance into smaller constituents such
as atoms, ions or radicals. The main
difference between ionization and
dissociation is that ionization always
forms electrically charged particles
whereas dissociation may or may not
form electrically charged particles.
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS
The students aim to determine the
transition of pH range indicators used in
the experiment, as well as the pH of
several solutions of weak acids. From
there, the dissociation constant (Ka) of the
acid will be calculated. Finally, the effect
of adding salt of the acid towards the pH
of the overall solution will be explored, as
will the effect of an acid or base on the pH
of a weak acid and salt mixture.
MATERIALS
In the experiment, three (3) 24-
well microplates were used to hold all
the sample solutions for all the
procedures. A test tube was used for
creating the mixture of two milliliters of
a 1.00 M solution of acetic acid and two
milliliters of a 1.0 M solution of sodium
acetate. The chemical indicators used
were methyl orange solution, bromcresol
green solution, and thymol blue solution.
Buffer solutions were also prepared with
the pH values of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5,
5.0, 5.5, 6.0. along acetic acid solutions
with concentrations of 1.0 M, 0.100 M,
0.010 M and 0.001 M. Different droppers
were used for each of the buffer solutions
and acetic acid solutions. Sodium acetate,
in solid form was used in the experiment.
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
Determination of the transition pH of
the indicators
In this procedure, the buffer
solutions (pH 2.0-6.0) were placed into
separate wells of the rows A, B, and C of
the microwell plate. Buffer solutions with
pH 2.0 up to 4.5 were placed in the first
microwell while the rest of the buffer (pH
5.0-6.0) were placed into rows A, B, and C
of the second microwell plate. Using a
dropper, a drop of methyl orange
indicator solution was added into all
wells along row A while a drop of
bromcresol green indicator solution was
added to all solutions along row B. Lastly,
three (3) drops of thymol blue indicator
solution were added to all solutions
along row C. The color produced at each
pH value was noted.
Determination of the dissociation
constant of a weak acid
In this procedure, only the rows A,
B, C and columns 4, 5, 6, of the second
microplate were used. Place ten (10)
drops of the 1.00 M acetic acid solution to
all column 4 wells. Place ten (10) drops Determination of the effect of an acid
of 0.10 M acetic acid to all column 5 or a base on the pH of a mixture of a
wells. Place ten (10) drops of 0.01 M weak acid and its salt
acetic acid solution to all column 6 wells.
Mix 3.0mL of a 1.00 M solution of
Lastly, place ten (10) drops of 0.001 M
acetic acid with 3.0mL of a 1.0 M solution
acetic acid into rows A, B, C of the column
of sodium acetate in a test tube.
1 in the third microwell plate.
Afterwards, place five (5) drops of this
Afterwards, add one drop of
mixture into separate wells along
methyl orange indicator solution in each
columns 2, 3, 4 and rows A, B, C of the
of the well solutions in row A and a drop
third microplate. Then, add one drop of
of bromcresol green in each of the well
methyl red solution to all wells in row A;
solutions in row B simultaneously. Lastly,
a drop of bromcresol green in row B, and
place three (3) drops of thymol blue
three (3) drops of thymol blue in row C.
indicator into each of the solutions in
Additionally, add one drop of 0.10 M of
row C. The colors produced in each well
HCl to each of the mixtures along column
per row were noted.
3. Lastly, note all the color produced at
each pH value in the microwell plate.
Determination of the effect of a salt on
the pH of a solution of a weak acid

Take photograph of all the

microwell plates. Then, add a crystal
(about a size of a rice grain) of sodium
acetate in each of the mixtures in Part B
and mix it well until it dissolve.
Afterwards, observe its effect on the pH
value of the solutions. Take photograph
of the final/current microwell plate to
compare the colors to the initial color
condition of Part B.
Figure 1. Experimental setup of microwell plates that was made and produced by groups
6, 7, & 8 of 1CHEM1 respectively..

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The color change of the indicators were demonstrated by adding buffer solutions
ranging from pH 2.0 to 6.0 in 0.5 increments per column, and adding the indicators methyl
orange, bromcresol green, and thymol blue for each row. For the row with the methyl
orange solution, the color changed from fuschia pink to pale urine yellow as the pH
increases. The color change was from dark yellow to dark blue for bromcresol green
while there was color change of pale yellow to golden brown.
 Buffer Indicator

Methyl Orange Bromcresol Green Thymol Blue

pH 2.0 Fuschia Pink Dark Yellow Pale Yellow

pH 2.5 Fuschia Golden Yellow Pale Yellow

pH 3.0 Pink-Orange Urine Yellow Light Yellow

pH 3.5 Peach Yellow Green Light Yellow

pH 4.0 Light Peach Green Yellow

pH 4.5 Pale Peach Dark Green Dark Yellow

pH 5.0 Pale Urine Yellow Blue Green Dark Yellow

pH 5.5 Pale Urine Yellow Blue Golden Brown

pH 6.0 Pale Urine Yellow Dark Blue Golden Brown

Table 1. Colors of microwells with indicator and buffer solutions

The color change of the acetic acid solution added with indicator solutions were
displayed by incorporating acetic acid solution with the concentrations 1.00 M, 0.10 M,
0.01 M, and 0.001 M in each column and indicators methyl orange, bromcresol green, and
thymol blue for rows A, B, and C, respectively.

Acetic Acid Indicator pH Ka

Concentration
[HAc] Bromcresol Thymol Blue
Methyl Orange
Green

1.00 M Light Peach Green Yellow 4.0 1.0 x 10-7

0.10 M Pale Peach Dark Green Dark Yellow 4.5 1.0 x 10-8

0.01 M Pale Yellow Blue Green Golden 5.0 1.0 x 10-9

0.001 M Pale Urine Yellow Blue Golden 5.5 1.0 x 10-9

Brown
Table 2. Colors of microwells with indicator solution and acetic acid solution
 Same process was made in Table 3. In addition to its process, the change in color of
the microwells with acetic acid and indicator solutions were identified after adding a
crystal of sodium acetate in each of the microwells.

Mixture Methyl Orange Bromcresol Green Thymol Blue pH

1.00 M HAc + Peach Yellow Green Light Yellow 3.5

NaAc

0.10 M HAc + Pale Yellow Blue Green Golden 5.0

NaAc

0.01 M HAc + Pale Urine Blue Golden Brown 5.5

NaAc Yellow

0.001 M HAc + Light Yellow Dark Blue Dark Yellow 6.0

NaAc
Table 3. Colors of microwells with indicator solution and acetic acid solution after adding
a crystal of sodium acetate

There were 4 mixtures that has 3.0 mL of 1.0 M acetic acid solution and 3.0 mL of
sodium acetate acid to be mixed with methyl red in a test tube. Each of the mixture have
different result.

Mixture Color with Methyl Red

1.00 M HAc & 1.00 M NaAc Pale Peach

1.00 M HAc & 1.00 M NaAc Mid-Pale Peach

w/ 0.1 M HCl

1.00 M HAc & 1.00 M NaAc Pale Yellow

w/ 0.1 NaOH

Distilled H2O Light Yellow

Distilled H2O w/ 0.1 M HCl Pink

Table 4. Colors of microwells with methyl red for different mixtures

CONCLUSION calculated with respect to their distinct

The acid dissociation constant of pH. Concentrations 1.00 M, 0.10 M, 0.01
acetic acid solution were successfully M, and
0.001 M obtained acid dissociation
constants of 1.0 x 10 -7, 1.0 x 10-8, 1.0 x 10-
9
, and 1.0 x 10-9 respectively. After some
set of experiments, it was found out that
adding crystals of sodium acetate
increased the pH level of the acetic acid
solution, allowing the solutions to have
lowered acidity and raised basicity.
Ionization and dissociation
basically express the same theory:
separation of constituents. The main
difference between ionization and
dissociation is that ionization always
forms electrically charged particles
whereas dissociation may or may not
form electrically charged particles.
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