Experiment: Analysis of Vinegar Sample

Date: January 20, 2022

Aim:

Materials/Apparatus: Pipette, Burette, Pipette filler, Conical flasks, Beakers, Filter funnel,
Volumetric flask, Vinegar sample, Sodium hydroxide (0.1 moldm-3), Distilled Water,
Phenolphthalein indicator.

The active ingredient present in ethanoic acid (CH3COOH). It is a weak acid, and its
concentration can be determined by titrating with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide:

CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq)  CH3COONa(aq) + H2O(l)

The usual ethanoic acid content of vinegar is 5% which is about 1 moldm-3

Procedure: About 40cm3 of vinegar sample was collected in a clean dry beaker. 25cm3 of vinegar
sample was pipette in a 250cm3 volumetric flask. The burette was filled with sodium hydroxide
solution and the initial volume was recorded. 25cm3 of the diluted vinegar solution was pipette
into a conical flask and 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator was added. The solution was titrated
to the first permanent pale colour change. This was repeated until two readings differ by a
maximum of 0.1cm3.

Results: Titration Table showing the volumes of solution taken during the experiment.

Volume/cm3 Rough 1 2

Final 39 38.8 38.7

Initial 0.1 0.1 0.1

Used 38.9 38.7 38.6

Calculations:
1. Calculate the average volume of sodium hydroxide solution used

Average = (38.9 + 38.7 + 38.6) ÷ 3

= 38.7
= 0.0387 dm3

2. Calculate the number of moles sodium hydroxide used

Number of moles = 0.1mol/dm3 x 0.0387dm3

= 3.87 x 10-3 mol

3. Write an equation for the reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium hydroxide

CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq)  CH3COONa(aq) + H2O(l)

4. What is the mole ratio between ethanoic acid and sodium hydroxide

CH3COOH : NaOH
1 : 1

5. Calculate the number of mole ethanoic acid in 25cm3 of solution

CH3COOH: NaOH
3.87 x 10-3 : 1
Therefore, we have 3.87 x 10-3 moles CH3COOH in 25 cm3

6. Calculate the concentration of ethanoic acid solution

Molar Concentration = # of moles ÷ vol (dm3)

= 3.87 x 10-3 ÷ 0.025 dm3
= 0.1548 moldm3

7. What is the dilution factor?

Dilution Factor = 250cm ÷ 25cm3

= 10

8. What is the concentration of the original solution

 Concentration of original solution = Molar Concentration x Dilution Factor
= 0.1548 x 10
= 1. 548 mol/dm-3

9. What is the molar mass of ethanoic acid

Molar Mass of CH3COOH = 12 + (1x3) + 12 + (16x2)

= 60 gmol-1

10. What is the mass of ethanoic acid in the solution

Concentration = # of moles ÷ volume

= 1.548 moldm3 x 0.25dm3
= 0.387 mol

Mass = Molar Mass x Moles

= 60g x 0.387
= 23.22g

11. What is the percentage ethanoic acid in the vinegar

% = (23.22 ÷ 250cm3) x 100

= 9.3%

Conclusion: Based on the findings, a conclusion was reached.