 Purpose of the experiments:

+ To apply Henderson-Hasselbach equation, the moles of solute=the solution volume x the concentration
of the solution to caculate pH of buffer and determine the volume of intial solvent needed.
+ To distinguish between strong and weak acids
+ To determine each level of pH of acids, bases and salts through each experiment (>7: basic solution, <7:
acid solution, =7: neutral solution)
 Experiment methods:
DEIONIZED WATER:
+ Applicances: cylinder,beaker and three stirring rods.
+ 5 steps:
Step 1: Pouring 50mL deionized water (measuring by cylinder and containing by breaker)
Step 2: Next, stir in 20 seconds. Then, stopping stirring and record pH
Step 3,4: the same as step 2
Step 5: complete step 2,3,4 until pH value is no significant adjustment
STRONG ACID:
Preperation:
+ Applicances: 2 breakers and cyinders, volumetric flask and pipette
+ 3 steps:
Step 1: Take 10mL 0.1M HCl (measuring by cylinder and containing by breaker)
Step 2: Take 20mL 0.1M NaOH (measuring by cylinder and containing by breaker)
Step 3: Prepare 100mL 0.01M NaOH solution (10mL 0.1M NaOH: 90mL H2O). Using pipette to take
NaOH and then containing NaOH in volumetric flask.
Attention: check the dilution process
pH measurement:
4 steps: using breaker and piette
Step 1: take 10mL 0.1M HCl (using piette to take HCl and breaker to contain). Then completing, record Ph
Step 2: Adding 90mL distilled water. Then, recording pH
Step 3: Adding 10mL 0.1M NaOH. Then, recording pH
Step 4: Adding 90mL 0.01M NaOH. Then, recording pH
WEAK ACID:
Preparation: Using pipette and volumetric flask
0.1M CH3COOH, 0.01M CH3COOH(dilute 0.1M CH3COOH 10 times), 0.001M CH3COOH(dilute 0.1M
CH3COOH 100 times or dilute 0.01M CH3COOH 10 times)
Attention: check the dilution process above
pH measurement: 3 Steps:
Step 1: Take 20mL 0.1M CH3COOH
Step 2: Take 20mL 0.01M CH3COOH

Record pH, Ka

Step 3: Take 20mL 0.001M CH3COOH

SALTS:
Preparation: Using 3 breakers and cylinders
A: 0.1M NaCl
B: 0.1M CH3COONa
C: 0.1M NH4Cl
pH measurement: 3 Steps:
Step 1: Take 20mL A
Step 2: Take 20mL B
Step 3: Take 20mL C

Record pH, Ka

BUFFERS:
Preparation
Appliances: 4 breakers and cylinders
4 steps:
Step 1: 50mL 0.1M CH3COOH
Step 2: 50mL 0.1M CH3COONa
Step 3: 40mL 0.1M HCl
Step 4: 40mL 0.1M NaOH
Buffer A
Steps:
Adding 10mL 0.1M CH3COOH and 40mL 0.1M CH3COONa. Then, having 50mL buffer A(record pH(2
times)). Next, buffer A is divided equally into A1 and A2. About A1(record pH), adding 10 drops 0.1M
HCl(record pH) and then, adding more drops 0.1M HCl unti the pH changes by one unit from the start,
record VHCL(in drops). With A2(record pH), adding 10 drops 0.1M NaOH(record pH) and then, adding
more drops 0.1M NaOH unti the pH changes by one unit from the start, record VNaOH(in drops)
Buffer B
Steps:
Adding 40mL 0.1M CH3COOH and 10mL 0.1M CH3COONa 50mL buffer B(using breaker B)
record pH(2 times)
Devide buffer B equally:
25mL buffer B1(using breaker B1) record pH

Adding 10 drops 0.1M HCl record pH

Adding more drops 0.1M HCl

Until the pH changes by one unit from the start, record VHCl(in drops)
25mL buffer B2(using breaker B2) record pH

Adding 10 drops 0.1M NaOH record pH

Adding more drops 0.1M NaOH

Unit the changes by one unit from the start, record VNaOH(in drops)
 Safety precautions:
+ Wearing protective gear(googles, long-sleeved clothes)
+ Do not allow acids or base to come in contact with skin or eyes
+ Cap the bottles of acid and base cleaners tightly
+ Do not mix acids and bases together without first finding out their compatibility.
+ To dilute acid, add the acid TO water
+ Clean equipment after usage
 Suggested questions:
1. What is the dissociation process? Write down the dissociation constant for CH3COOH+H 2O↔
CH3COO-+ H3O+ ?
Dissociation in chemistry and biochemistry is a general process in which molecules (or
ionic compounds such as salts, or complexes) separate or split into smaller particles such as
atoms, ions, or radicals, usually in a reversible manner.
Ka = [H3O+] x [CH3COO-] / [CH3COOH]
2. What are the concentrations of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) and hydroxyl ions ([OH-]) of pure
water?
The concentration of hydronium ions we can understand as the concentration of H+ions in water.
We have pH of pure water is 7, pH=-log(concentration of H+)=-log(concentration of H3O+).So the
concentration of H3O+ is 10-7. Next, about the hydroxyl ions, we have the concentration of H+=the
concentration of hydroxyl ions=10-7
3. What is the product of the concentration of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) and hydroxyl ions ([OH-]) in
any aqueous solution?
[H3O+] x [OH-]=10-14
4. What is pH? How do we define/calculate the pH value of a solution?
pH is the negative base 10 logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution. To
calculate it, take the log of a given hydrogen ion concentration and reverse the sign. pH=-log[H+]
5. If [H3O+] = 0.001 M. What is the pH value?
pH=-log[H3O+]=-log[10-4]=4. The pH value is 4
6. What equipment can you use to measure the pH of prepared solutions?
The pH scale is used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution. The scale ranged from 0
to 14, pH is essentially the measure of free hydrogen ions in solution.
7. Please give the definitions of an acid and a base according to Ahrrenius classification?
According to Arrhenius, the acids are the hydrogen-containing compounds which give H+ ions
or protons on dissociation in water and bases are the hydroxide compounds which give OH− ions
on dissociation in water.
8. What is the conjugate base of CH3COOH?
CH3COO- is basic and we call CH3COO- the conjugate base of CH3COOH.
9. What is a buffer? What is its main characteristic?
A buffer is a solution that can resist pH change upon the addition of an acidic
or basic component. It can neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus
maintaining the pH of the solution relatively stable.
10. Calculate the initial concentration of each substance when mixing 40.0 mL of 0.1 M
CH3COOH and 10.0mL of 0.1 M CH3COONa?
nCH3COOH=4x10-3(mol); nCH3COONa=10-3(mol).
Total volume= 0.05l
CM CH3COOH= 0.08M; CM CH3COONa= 0.02M
11. If the original pH of buffer A is 4, if we add enough HCl to change pH by one unit, what is the
final pH value?
If we add enough HCl, the concentration of [H+] increases then the pH decreases.
If the original pH of buffer A is 4, if we add enough HCl to change pH by one unit, the final
pH value is 4 – 1 = 3
12. If the original pH of buffer A is 4, if we add enough NaOH to change pH by one unit, what is the
final pH value?
pH final = 5