Name: Andrew Mills
PAG11.1
The aim of this investigation is to test the given solutions using various methods to determine the pH of each given
solution:
Risk Assessment:
Chemicals Identity Hazard Management
Phenolphthalein indicator 0.1% phenolphthalein Highly flammable, eye Goggles and lab coats.
solution (0.1%) indicator solution irritant and carcinogenic if Wash hands and wipe
ingested. surfaces after use.
0.4 moldm NaOH (aq) 0.4 mol dm3 aqueous Skin irritant and serious Goggles and lab coats.
sodium hydroxide, eye irritant. Wash hands and wipe
NaOH(aq) surfaces after use.
0.4 moldm HCl (aq) 0.4 mol dm–3 aqueous Low hazard (<0.6) but may Wear eye protection and
hydrochloric acid, cause irritation to eyes and lab coats. Wash hands and
HCl(aq) skin. wipe surfaces after use.
Solutions A-G 0.1 mol dm3 aqueous Skin and eye irritant. Wear eye protection and
ammonia, NH3(aq) lab coats. Wash hands and
wipe surfaces after use and
0.1 mol dm–3 ethanoic wear gloves.
acid, CH3COOH(aq), 0.1
mol dm–3
ethanoate buffer (0.1
mol dm–3 ethanoic acid
CH3COOH (aq) / 0.1 mol
dm–3sodium ethanoate,
CH3COONa(aq)
0.1 mol dm–3 aqueous
hydrochloric acid,
HCl(aq)
0.1 mol dm–3 aqueous
methanoic acid,
HCOOH(aq)
0.1 mol dm–3 aqueous
sodium hydroxide,
NaOH(aq)
0.1 mol dm–3 aqueous
sulfuric(VI) acid,
H2SO4(aq)
Apparatus Justification Hazard Management
pH meter Measure pH of
unknown solution
accurately
Glass beaker Wash and hold pH If broken can cause Keep away from shards of glass and
probe cuts. isolate area
Dropping pipette Transfer solution
Test tube Separates solutions for If broken can cause cuts Keep away from shards of glass
titration
Test tube rack Hold test tube Can get splinter Be attentive as to splinters of wood
Spot tiles Separates solutions
during phenolphalien
test
Distilled water in To wash pH probe Can spill and people can Isolate water from people and wipe up
wash bottle between use slip on distilled water water as quickly as possible.
To identify the solution
1) Ammonia – pH of 11-12
2) Ethanoic acid – pH of 3 (weak acid partially dissociates in water)
3) Ethanoate acid buffer – pH of 4.76 combining equal molar concentrations of ethanoic acid and sodium
ethanoate
4) HCl acid – pH 1.00
5) Sulfuric (IV) acid – pH 1.03
6) Methanoic acid – pH 2.4
7) Sodium Hydroxide – pH – 13
Procedure
1) Ensure each unknown solution is carefully labelled A-G in the table and carefully record each test result after
each procedure.
2) Use gentle wafting (take care not to inhale deeply) for unknown solutions A-G to identify ammonia/ethanoic
acid/ Ethanoic acid buffer.
3) Use the phenolphalien indicator test to identify a basic.
Applying using a pipette 2 drops of each unknown solution into 7 prelabelled (A-G) wells.
Add a drop of phenolphalien to each well.
4) If phenolphalien meets a basic (e.g. ammonia or sodium hydroxide) it will turn purple otherwise solution will
remains colourless. Test the pH of the solutions using indicator paper (universal paper)
5) Test the pH of the solutions using indicator paper (Universal paper)
6) Test the pH of the bases that tested basic using the pH meter (which should have been calibrated) and rinse
probe after use with distilled water in a beaker.
7) Complete table with analysis.
Solution Smell Colour with Colour with pH paper pH Identity
Phenolphalien Value
A No Colourless Orange 2.38 Methanoic acid
B No Pink Dark green 13.43 NaOH
C No colourless red 1.26 H2SO4
D Fish like smell pink Dark green 11.15 Ammonia
E Vinegar smell No change Yellow 4.42 Ethanoate buffer
F Vinegar smell Colourless Orange 2.67 Ethanoic acid
G Weak smell Colourless Red 1.01 HCl
Calculations
1) The expected pH values for the solutions can be calculated as follows:
a) 0.1 mol dm3 methanoic acid
ka = ¿¿¿
¿ +
[H ] = ka x [ H A ] = 3 mol dm3
√ 1.8 ¿ 10−4 ¿ 0.1= 4.24 × 10
pH = –log(4.24 × 103) = 2.37
b) 0.1 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide
kw = [H+][OH-] ⇒
[H+] = =1 × 1013 mol dm3
pH = –log(1 × 1013) = 13.0
c) 0.1 mol dm3 sulfuric(VI) acids
H2SO4(aq) > H+(aq) + HSO4–(aq) Ka = very large
HSO4–(aq) -- > H+(aq) + SO42–(aq) Ka = 1.0 × 10–2 mol dm-3
The sulfuric(VI) acid for the first dissociation is a stronger acid and is weak acid for the second
dissociation. So H+ is higher than 0.1 mol dm3 and therefore has a pH less than one
Ka = ¿¿¿
¿
[H+] =
[ k a ] ¿ ¿ ¿
¿
d) 0.1 mol dm3 ammonia
kw = [H+][OH-] ⇒ [H+] = = 1 × 1011 mol dm3
pH = –log(1 × 1011) = 11.0
e) 0.1 mol dm–3 ethanoate buffer
ka = ¿¿¿ =
¿
[H+] = Ka × = 1.8 × 105 × = 1.8 × 105 mol dm3
pH = –log(1.8 × 105) = 4.7
f) 0.1 mol dm3 ethanoic acid
Ka = ¿ ¿ ¿
¿
[H+] = 3 mol dm3
√ 1.8 ¿ 10−5 ¿ 0.1= 1.3 × 10
pH = –log(1.3 × 103) = 2.9
g) 0.1 mol dm3 hydrochloric acid
[H+] = 0.1 mol dm1
pH = – log(0.1) = 1.0
2) The measured pH values differed slightly from the calculated expected values for each solution. In that
methanoic acid’s measured value had the closest pH value to the calculated value with a difference of 0.02.
Whilst sodium hydroxide differed in pH value by 0.42. This may have been due to the calibration errors of the
pH probe or perhaps contamination or testing conditions such as temperature differences.
3) Discrepancies were observed in the measured and the calculated expected pH values for the respective
solutions, this was most probably caused by
a) Calibration errors in apparatus or instrumentation, such as pH probe
b) Inaccuracies in concentration levels at 0.1 moldm-3
c) Testing conditions such as temperature not 25 C.
Repeating the test at least 3 times will yield more accurate results.
4) Applying more tests certainly reduces errors and offers more accuracy in the identification of the solutions.
Such as for the identification of pH for solutions hydrochloric acid and sulfuric(VI) acid, the identification is
almost indistinguishable, as they both have a pH of around about 1
5) You could repeat the tests using titration which is more accurate as it involves volumetric pipettes and a
burette, providing a more consistent result in its accuracy to reproduce the same results.
6) When acids or bases are added the pH of the buffer solution changes. However the change in pH is very slow
when added to a weak acid or base, this is because a buffer does not maintain pH or keep the pH the same,
but minimises the change in pH.
