Name of experiment

Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration in Vinegar Using Titration

Purpose of experiment
The purpose of this experiment is to accurately determine the concentration of acetic acid in
commercial vinegar.

Equipment used
The following materials were used:

Syringe, 10 mL
10-mL graduated cylinder 25-mL
Erlenmeyer flask
Electronic balance
Disposable pipet
Plastic cup, 1.25 oz
Vinegar, acetic acid solution
Phenolphthalein indicator solution, 1%
Sodium hydroxide solution, 1M
Plain sheet of white paper Vinegar sample

Detailed depiction of experiment

Activity 1: Titration of Vinegar with Sodium Hydroxide
The exact mass of ~5 mL of vinegar was measured and transferred into the clean 25-mL
Erlenmeyer flask. 2 drops of phenolphthalein to the vinegar was added. Approximately 10 mL
of 1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was added to the small cup, used to fill the syringe, and
recorded to the nearest 0.1 mL. The flask containing the 5.0 mL vinegar was placed on the
white sheet of paper. NaOH was added dropwise from the syringe, with constant swirling, until
a single drop of NaOH caused a color change that persisted for a few seconds after addition.
Once the endpoint had been reached, the total volume of NaOH that was required to reach the
endpoint was calculated and recorded. The same steps were repeated for Vinegar Sample 2
and 3.

Activity 2: Titration of an Unknown Vinegar Sample with Sodium Hydroxide

A different type of vinegar such as apple cider, rice vinegar, and balsamic vinegar were used in
Activity 2. The same steps were repeated as those in Activity 1.

Activity 3: Calculations of pKa from Sample Lab Data

The lab data found in Data Table 3 was reviewed. The pKa of acetic acid was calculated from
the midpoint data using the Henderson-Hasselbach equations. The average calculated
molarity, percent by mass concentration, and pKa for acetic acid were found based on the
provided data.

1
Data and calculation
Data Table 1: Titration of Vinegar with Sodium Hydroxide

Vinegar Sample 1 Vinegar Sample 2 Vinegar Sample 3

Mass of Vinegar
4.70 g 4.84 g 4.90 g

Volume of Vinegar
Density = 1.005 g/mL 4.68 mL 4.82 mL 4.88 mL

Initial NaOH volume in

8.4 mL 9.2 mL 9.0 mL
syringe

Final NaOH volume in

4.2 mL 4.6 mL 4.3 mL
syringe

Volume of NaOH
Delivered 4.2 mL 4.6 mL 4.7 mL

Moles of NaOH
Delivered 0.0042 moles 0.0046 moles 0.0047 moles

Moles of Acetic Acid in

Sample 0.0042 moles 0.0046 moles 0.0047 moles

Mass of Acetic Acid in

Sample 0.252 g 0.276 g 0.282 g

Calculated Molarity of
Acetic Acid in the 0.90 M 0.95 M 0.96 M
sampled vinegar

Calculated Percent
Mass
5.36 % 5.70 % 5.76 %
of Acetic Acid in
sampled vinegar

2
 Average Calculated
Percent Mass of Acetic (5.36 % + 5.70 % +
Acid in Sampled 5.76 %)/3 = 5.61 %
Vinegar

Moles of NaOH = 1.0 M X 4.2 mL x 1 L / 1000 mL = 0.0042 moles NaOH = 0.0042 moles of
Acetic Acid
12 g C x 2 +1 g H x 4 +16 g O x 2 = 60 g
60 g Acetic Acid / mol x 0.0042 moles Acetic Acid = 0.252 g Acetic Acid
0.0042 moles / 4.68 mL x 1000 mL / 1 L = 0.90 M
0.252 g / 4.70 g x 100% = 5.36 %

Data Table 2: Titration of Second Vinegar Sample with Sodium Hydroxide

Name of Vinegar Apple Cider Balsamic Vinegar
Sample Rice Vinegar

Vinegar Sample 1 Vinegar Sample 2 Vinegar Sample 3

Mass of Vinegar
4.66 g 4.88 g 4.74 g

Volume of Vinegar
Density = 1.005 g/mL 4.64 mL 4.86 mL 4.72 mL

Initial NaOH volume in

10 mL 10 mL 10 mL
syringe

Final NaOH volume in

6.1 mL 6.6 mL 5.4 mL
syringe

Volume of NaOH
Delivered 3.9 mL 3.4 mL 4.6 mL

Moles of NaOH
Delivered 0.0039 moles 0.0034 moles 0.0046 moles

Moles of Acetic Acid in

Sample 0.0039 moles 0.0034 moles 0.0046 moles

3
 Mass of Acetic Acid in
Sample 0.234 g 0.204 g 0.276 g

Calculated Molarity of
Acetic Acid in the 0.84 M 0.70 M 0.97 M
sampled vinegar

Calculated Percent
Mass
5.02 % 4.20 % 5.82 %
of Acetic Acid in
sampled vinegar
Average Calculated
Percent Mass of Acetic (5.02 % + 4.20 % +
Acid in Sampled 5.82 %)/3 = 5.01 %
Vinegar

Data Table 3: Titration of Vinegar by Sodium Hydroxide

Vinegar Sample 1 Vinegar Sample 2 Vinegar Sample 3

Initial pH Reading pH = 3.211 pH = 3.102 pH = 3.105

Initial Buret Reading 2.89 mL 3.00 mL 1.61 mL

Midpoint pH Reading pH = 4.895 pH = 4.687

Midpoint Buret
12.92 mL 9.50 mL
Reading

Final pH Reading pH = 8.238 pH = 8.531 pH = 8.934

Final Buret Reading 20.12 mL 20.31 mL 19.00 mL

Volume of NaOH
17.23 mL 17.31 mL 17.39 mL
Consumed
Calculated Molarity of
Acetic Acid in the 5.96 M 5.79 M 10.80 M
Vinegar Sample
Volume NaOH
Consumed at Midpoint 9.92 mL 7.89 mL
Reading
Moles of NaOH
Consumed at Midpoint 0.00992 moles 0.00789 moles
Reading [A–]

4
 Moles of Acetic Acid
Remaining at Midpoint 0.00739 moles 0.00950 moles
[HA]

Calculated pKa 3.55 4.06

Moles of NaOH = 1.0 M X 17.23 mL x 1 L / 1000 mL = 0.01723 moles NaOH = 0.01723 moles
of Acetic Acid
12 g C x 2 +1 g H x 4 +16 g O x 2 = 60 g
0.01723 moles / 2.89 mL x 1000 mL / 1 L = 5.96 M
pH = pKa + log[A–]/[HA]
4.895 = pKa + log[0.00992]/[0.00739]
pKa = 3.55
0.01731 moles – 0.00992 moles = 0.00739 moles

Average calculated molarity of acetic acid (5.96 M + 5.79 M + 10.80 M)/3 = 7.52 M
Average acetic acid concentration expressed in percent by mass 5.07 %
Average value of pKa of acetic acid based on provided experimental data
(3.55+4.06)/2 = 3.81
Percent error for pKa of acetic acid [(3.81-3.55)/3.88 + (4.06-3.81)/3.81]/2 x 100 % = 6.70 %

Conclusion
The same kind of vinegar sample should have been used for 3 different trials in Activity 2.
Instead, three different kinds of vinegar sample, apple cider, rice vinegar and balsamic vinegar
were used. Therefore, the average of percent mass of acetic acid couldn’t be calculated
appropriately. Assuming one trial for each kind of vinegar was performed correctly, percent
mass of acetic acid of balsamic vinegar was close to that of white vinegar, while apple cider
and rice vinegar had lower percent mass of acetic acid.

Reference
Carolina Distance Learning Investigation Manual, Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration
in Vinegar Using Titration