TITLE:

Preparation of buffer solution

OBJECTIVES:
i. To prepare the buffer solution at the specific pH
ii. To test the capacity of buffer
iii. To describe precisely good procedures in handling laboratory equipments
iv. To prevent large pH changes upon the addition of small amounts of either strong acid or
strong base

APPARATUS:
i. Beaker
ii. Volumetric flask
iii. Conical flask
iv. pH meter
v. pipette
vi. biurete

MATERIALS:
i. Sodium Acetate
ii. NaOH
iii. Acetic acid
iv. Standard buffer solution pH 4,7,10
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

i. Avoid spilling, skin and eye contact.

ii. Avoid inhalation of vapours and spray mists. 
iii. Store in tightly closed original container in a dry and cool place
iv. Beware of the strong acid use in this experiment.
PROCEDURES:
A.Calibration of pH meter:
1. Went to https://www.ncbionetwork.org/educational-resources/elearning/ph-meter-
calibration and launch activity selected.
2. Then, the full name entered and submitted.
3. After that, the calibration was began.
4. After finish with the 3 points of calibration, the certificate was screenshotted.
B. Preparation of buffer solution pH=4.57:
1. The amount of acetic acid needed to prepare 0.1M acetic acid was calculated.
2. The amount of sodium acetate needed to prepare 0.1M sodium acetate was calculated
3. Went to https://chemcollective.org/activities/autograded/127
4. The equipment needed were selected which is acetic acid, sodium acetate, erlenmeyer
flask, pipette and distilled water.
5. 50 ml of distilled water was added to a 250 ml erlenmeyer flask.
6. A volumetric pipette was used to add 5.0 ml of 0.10 M acetic acid to the erlenmeyer
flask.
7. The sodium acetate was added carefully until the pH reaches 4.57
8. The buffer solution quantitatively transferred to a 100ml volumetric flask.
9. The distilled water was added up to the mark.
10. Lastly, the procedure was repeated 3 times.
C. Preparation of solution pH=6.0:
1. 50 ml of distilled water was added to a to a 250ml of erlenmeyer flask.
2. A volumetric pipette was used to add 5.0ml of 0.10M acetic acid to a erlenmeyer flask.
3. The sodium acetate was added carefully until the pH reaches 6
4. Then the buffer solution was transferred quantitatively to a 100ml volumetric flask
5. Lastly, the distilled water was added up to the mark.
6. Then, the procedure was repeated 3 times
RESULT:
Phychomotor POC:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KBlDl0lfsaytlJUimmDK-ulPoBe97Wpu/view?usp=drivesdk

DISCUSSION:
(1) Calculation:
(A) The amount of acetic acid (CH3COOH) used.

Atoms Number of atoms Molar mass

C 2 24
O 2 32
H 4 4
TOTAL= 60
 The amount of acetic acid used = Molar mass x Molarity
= 60 x 0.1M
= 6 grams

(B) The amount of acetic acid (CH3COOH) needed.

The amount of acetic acid needed = Molar mass x Molarity
= 60 x 0.1M
= 6 grams
(C) The amount od sodium acetate (C2H3NaO2) needed

Atoms Number of atoms Molar mass

C 2 24
H 3 3
Na 1 23
O 2 32
TOTAL = 82
The amount of sodium acetate needed= Molar mass x Molarity
= 82 x 0.1
= 8.2 g

(2) Describe precisely good procedures in handling laboratory equipments in

preparation of buffer
Before using any apparatus, it is necessary to clean it up first. This is to ensure that the
apparatus is free contamination. The cleaning processes have to take charge while handling the
pH electrode as well. This is a must in order to obtain a desirable pH value. As for the deionised
water, try not to leave it exposed to the air in a long period of time
Other than that, Correct performance of pH meters. Checking the pH level of the buffer solution
is of vital importance. However, if the pH meter used is not calibrated and maintained correctly,
pH readings may be inaccurate. Using a buffer solution with an incorrect pH may seriously
impact subsequent analyses or product quality

(3) Describe briefly of buffer works with the aid of an equation

 Buffers work by neutralizing any added acid (H+ ions) or base (OH- ions) to maintain
the moderate pH, making them a weaker acid or base. Let’s take an example of a
buffer made up of the weak base sodium acetate (C2H3NaO2) and its conjugate
acid, NH4+. When HCl (strong acid) is added to this buffer system, the extra H+ ions
added to the system are consumed by the NH3 to form NH4+. Now, because all the
extra H+ ions are locked up and have formed a weaker acid, NH4+, thus the pH of
the system does not change significantly. Similarly when NaOH (strong base) is
added to this buffer system, the ammonium ion donates a proton to the base to
become ammonia and water thus neutralizing the base without any significant pH
change.

Now there is a term we call, ‘Breaking of the buffer solution’ which arises when the
entire base and its conjugate acid (in the above case NH3 and NH4+) are consumed
to neutralize the added acid or base. The further addition of an acid or base to the
buffer will change its pH quickly. Thus the breaking of the buffer is its capacity, or in
other words, it is the amount of acid or base, a buffer can absorb before breaking its
capacity. It is to be noted that a solution with a weak base has a higher buffer
capacity for addition of a strong acid and a solution of weak acid has higher buffer
capacity for the addition of strong base.

A conjugate acid is a species formed by the gain of a proton by a base while in reverse, a
conjugate base is a species formed by the  removal of a proton from an acid.
We can understand this by the following equation-
Acid + Base ⇌ Conjugate Base + Conjugate Acid
H2O (l) + NH3 (g) → OH− (aq) + NH4+ (aq)
In this equation H2O is the conjugate acid and its corresponding conjugate base is OH−
while NH3   and NH4+   represent the base and its conjugate acid pair. Here it is to be
noted that the stronger the acid or base, the weaker the conjugate, and the weaker the
acid or base, the stronger the conjugate.

(4) Explain buffer capacity

 Buffer capacity is the amount of acid that buffers are capable of absorbing prior to breaking
the capacity for adding strong acid. Solutions with a weaker base have more buffer capacity
when adding a strong acid. Solutions with higher amounts of weak acid have higher levels of
buffer capacity when adding a strong base. Increased buffer capacity within a constant level
of alkalinity within a pH range of 6.0 to 9.0 can reduce the rate of corrosion in steels,
especially the mild form. However, increased buffer capacity in different levels of pH due to
elevated alkalinity doesn't lead to reduced rates of corrosion as brought about by higher
conductivity and ionic strength. The main purpose of buffers is to maintain the pH of
solutions in a narrow range. In the buffer system, the higher the levels of HA and A-
molecules available, the less effect in the pH system when adding a strong base or acid.
Even though the pH buffer is identified by the ratio of HA and A-, the capacity of a buffer to
absorb a strong base or acid is identified by individual concentrations.

CONCLUSION:
The purpose of this experiment is to prepare the buffer solution at the specific pH. Other than
that, to determine the amount of acetic acid and sodium acetate needed to prepare two acidic
buffer solutions was fulfilled.
REFERENCES:
1. Westlabblogcanada, November 29,2017, what is a buffer and how it works,
retrieved from https://www.westlab.com/blog/2017/11/29/what-is-a-buffer-
and-how-does-it-work
2. Janalta, November 4, 2018, buffer capacity, retrieved from
https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/194/buffer-capacity
3. Candela, June 12, 2015, buffer solution, retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-chemistry/chapter/buffer-
solutions/#:~:text=The%20strength%20of%20a%20weak,A
%20%E2%88%92%20%5D%20%5B%20HA%20%5D%20