Title: Plan and Design

Aim: To test the claim made in the hypothesis suggested for the observation below.

Problem statement: Marie had to determine the ethanoic acid content of a commercial brand of vinegar by
titration. The following indicators were available: methyl orange, bromothymol blue and phenolphthalein.
She used to titrate the ethanoic acid with standardized NaOH using methyl orange indicator. However, she
observed no colour change with the indicator. Propose a hypothesis for her observation and design an
experiment to test your hypothesis.

Hypothesis:
The endpoint of the titration was not reached due to the pH range of methyl orange not matching the
equivalence point of the titration.

Aim:
To investigate whether the lack of color change during titration of ethanoic acid with standardized NaOH
using methyl orange indicator is due to the indicator's unsuitability for detecting the endpoint.

Apparatus:
- Burette
- Pipette
- Conical flask
- Beaker
- Stirring rod

Materials:
- Commercial vinegar (containing ethanoic acid)
- Standardized NaOH solution
- Methyl orange indicator
- Bromothymol blue indicator
- Phenolphthalein indicator
Procedure:
1. Measure and record the volume of vinegar using a pipette and transfer it into a clean conical flask.
2. Add a few drops of methyl orange indicator to the vinegar in the conical flask.
3. Titrate the vinegar with standardized NaOH solution, swirling the flask continuously, until the endpoint
is reached.
4. Repeat the titration using bromothymol blue and phenolphthalein indicators separately under the same
conditions.
5. Record the volume of NaOH solution required to reach the endpoint with each indicator.

Variables:
Controlled: Concentration of NaOH, volume of vinegar used.
Manipulated: Type of indicator used (methyl orange, bromothymol blue, phenolphthalein).
Responding: Volume of NaOH solution required to reach the endpoint.

Chemical Principles:
Methyl orange, bromothymol blue, and phenolphthalein are acid-base indicators with different pH ranges
for color change. Methyl orange changes color in acidic conditions (pH 3.1-4.4), bromothymol blue in a
pH range of 6.0-7.6, and phenolphthalein in a pH range of 8.2-10.0. The endpoint of the titration
corresponds to the neutralization of the acid with the base.

Expected Results:
If the lack of color change observed with methyl orange is due to its pH range not matching the endpoint
pH, then color changes should be observed with bromothymol blue and phenolphthalein indicators.

Treatment of Results:
If color changes are observed with bromothymol blue and phenolphthalein indicators but not with methyl
orange, it supports the hypothesis that the methyl orange pH range does not correspond to the titration
endpoint.

Limitations, Sources of Error, and Assumptions:

Limitations: Potential impurities in the vinegar or experimental errors may affect the accuracy of the
results.
Sources of Error: Potential sources of error include inaccuracies in measuring volumes, incomplete
mixing, and variations in indicator sensitivity.
Assumptions: The experiment assumes that the indicators are not reacting with any other components
present in the vinegar and that the titration proceeds to completion.