GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY REPORT

30 March 2022

By : BATOUL ALAKRAA
2021911024

Laboratory #2: Determination of Acetic Acid in Vinegar

Purpose:
 Master the skill of titration of weak acid with strong base, and the choice of indicator.
 Learn the method of measuring the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar

Principle:
 Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid. The molecular formula for acetic acid is
CH3COOH, which is the main composition in commercial vinegar. Both molarity and
percent by mass of acetic acid in a vinegar solution can be determine by performing a
titration.
HAc is a weak acid, when standard sodium hydroxide is used to titrate acetic acid solution,
the following reaction takes place:
HAc + NaOH = NaAc + H2O
 According to the equation above, at stoichiometric point, pH is 8.73, Phenolphthalein can
be chosen as the indicator because its pH change interval is 7.75 to 9.70. The concentration
of acetic acid in vinegar can be calculated according to the equation：
ρ(HAc) =c(NaOH)×V(NaOH )×M(HAc)
V '(sample)g/L-1

 Potassium hydrogen phthalate, the primary standard, reacts with sodium hydroxide as
shown below:

The final balanced chemical equation is :

NaOH(aq)+ CH3CO2H(aq)→NaCH3CO2(aq)+ H2O(l)

Apparatus & Reagents:

List of apparatus :
A. Burette
B. Volumetric pipette
C. Conical flask
D. Volumetric flask,100mL
List of materials :
a. Acetic acid (CH3COOH)
b. Vinegar, 10mL
c. Distill water
d. Vinegar sample
e. NaOH (sodium hydroxide) solution
f. HCl standard solution
g. Phenolphthalein indicator solution

Procedure

Part 1. Standardization of NaOH solution

a. Rinse the burette with water & NaOH solution.
b. Fill in NaOH solution to zero mark.
c. Add 1-2 drops of Phenolphthalein indicator.
d. Titrationg untill the color of solution changes to faint pink.
Notice: Half a drop may be necessary to avoid overdoses of NaOH.
e. Record the value of NaOH consumed.

Part 2. Determination of Acetic Acid in Vinegar

a. Rinse the pipette with diluted vinegar.
b. Transfer 10ml solution to a flask.
c. Add 1-2 drops of Phenolphthalein indicator.
d. Titrate with NaOH solution till the color changes to faint pink.
e. Wait for 30s to avoid fading.
f. Record the volume of consumed NaOH solution and repeat 2 times.

Results:

Part 1. Standardization of NaOH solution

No. Of experiments I. II. III.

Indicator Phenolphthalein
The end point color faint pink

V(HCl)/mL 10.00
c(HCl)/mol·L-1 0.1032
Vconsumed(NaOH)/mL 10.12 10.15 10.20

c(NaOH)/mol·L-1 ~0.10198 ~0.10168 ~0.10118

Caverage(NaOH)/mol·L- ~0.10161

Relative average ~0.0028 =

deviation/% 0.28%

Part 2. Determination of Acetic Acid in Vinegar

 No. Of experiments I. II. III.
Vsample （ original 10.00
vinegar)
V(diluted vinegar) 10.00
indicator Phenolphthalein
Color of end point faint pink
Vconsumed(NaOH)/ 22.10 22.15 22.06
mL
Caverage(NaOH)/ ~0.10161
mol·L-1
ρ(HAc)/g·L-1 ~134.73 ~135.04 ~134.50
ρaverage(HAc)/ g·L-1 ~134.76

Relative average ~1.869=

deviation/% ~187%

Discussion and conclusion:

I. Which kind of solution can be filled in an acid burette with glass stopcock?
Base solutions.

II. Which kind of solution can be filled in a universal burette with PTFE stopcock？
Acid, base, and oxidizing agent solutions.