ACID-BASE TITRATION: Analysis of Vinegar

Question 1

In analytical chemistry or rather acid-base titration, a standard solution is the substance,

element or a solution with a precisely known concentration. The standard solution has a known

molarity, which is prepared by dissolving a known mass of solute to form a certain volume than

can be used to determine the concentration of the solution. A primary standard substance is used

to prepare the standard solution. A solution of exactly known strength of a solute is called

standard solution. The nature of solute in solution dictates the quality of the standard solution.

These solutions are commonly used to help identify and determine the concentration of a

substance whose concentration is unknown. Because these solutions contain accurate

concentrations of a chemical component, they will increase confidence regarding the

determination of substances with unknown concentrations. The strength factor of the solution is

equal accurate weight of a substance taken in gram in a given volume of the solution or Weight

to be taken in gram. To find its concentration known volumes of the standard solution and the

solution to be standardized are titrated against each other. Thereby the solution of unknown

concentration can be standardized. Use a Volumetric Flask, Burette & Pipette as the principal

equipment.

Use the equation

moles=conc ' n x volume /1000

Hence

conc ' n(1)x volume (1) /1000=conc ' n(x) x volume( 2)/1000
algebraically rearraanging .

conc ' n( x )=conc ' n(1) x volume (1)/volume(2)

Question 2

Molarity:

By definition, molarity is the number of moles that are present in a solute in one litre of

the solution. In particular, the measurements of the number of moles present in the total exact

volume of the solution, which is typically 1 litre.

Normality:

Like molarity, normality is also associated with the amount of solute and total volume of

the entire solution. However, normality, which is defined as the number or moles that are

equivalent to a litre of solution, is used for acids and bases analysis.

Question 3

Glassware used in this titration include the buret and a volumetric pipet. A buret

dispenses the portions of the acid while a pipet dispenses the portions of the acid in the part of

the experimental procedures.

Question 4

Vinegar can be obtained from oxidation of ethanol. Since it contains about 4% of acetic

acid, the concentration of acetic acid can be obtained from titration of vinegar with a strong base

such as aqueous sodium hydroxide. As such the solutions used in this titration include;

 Sodium Hydroxide solution

  Commercial vinegar

 pH buffers

 deionized water

 phenolphthalein solution

Question 5

Phenolphthalein solution is typically used in acid-base titrations as an indicator to

determine the end-point of the reaction. As such, the phenolphthalein indicator is colorless when

dropped in acidic solutions and pink in basic solutions. It is soluble in water and alcohols, which

makes it useful for this experiment.