Experiment: #1
Title: Obtaining the pH curve for an acid-alkali titration
Aim: The purpose of this experiment is to obtain a curve which shows how pH changes during
the titration of a weak acid with a strong base. This curve can be used to determine the
equivalence point of the titration, the suitability of an indicator and the value of K for the weak
a
acid.
Materials/Apparatus:
safety spectacles
pH meter or narrow range pH papers to cover pH 3-11
pipette, 25 cm3, and safety filler
beaker (preferably tall form), 100 or 150 cm 3
conical flask, 250 cm 3
thin glass rod
magnetic stirrer (if available)
burette, 50 cm , and stand
3
funnel, small, for filling burette
2 beakers, 100 or 250 cm 3
distilled water
ethanoic acid solution, approx. 0.1 M CH CO H
3 2
sodium hydroxide solution,approx. 0.1 M NaOH
phenolphthalein indicator
indicator ‘A’
standard buffer solution, pH 4
Procedure:
Part A
1. Twenty-five cubic centimeters (25 cm3) of the ethanoic acid solution were pipetted into a
250 cm3 conical flask. Two to three drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added, and
the solution was titrated with the sodium hydroxide solution (in a burette) to reach a
permanent faint pink endpoint. The volume (V cm3) was recorded. This value was found
to be useful in judging the size of volume additions in the remainder of the experiment.
Part B
2. The pH meter was set up, and the combined electrode unit was fitted. The pH meter was
standardized using the provided buffer solution.
3. Twenty-five cubic centimeters (25 cm3) of the ethanoic acid solution were pipetted into
the beaker, and about three drops of indicator 'A' were added. The beaker was placed on
the magnetic stirrer. If a magnetic stirrer was unavailable, the beaker had to be swirled by
hand.
4. The electrode was carefully clamped so that the bulb was completely immersed in the
acid and clear of the stirrer follower. Distilled water was added to cover the electrode
when necessary.
5. The pH (to 0.1 unit), burette reading (to 0.05 cm3), and the color of the solution were
recorded in a copy of Results Table 1.
6. Sodium hydroxide solution was added from the burette in varying portions. After each
addition, the burette reading, pH, and the color of the solution were recorded. Five cubic
centimeter portions were added until approximately (V – 5) cm3, then one cubic
centimeter and finally 0.2 cubic centimeter portions in the region of the equivalence point
(where V is the volume determined in step 1).
7. The Sodium hydroxide solution was continuously added in suitable volumes until about 5
cm3 beyond the equivalence point, with pH, burette volume, and solution color being
recorded after each addition.
8. After completing the procedure, the combined electrode was removed and rinsed with
distilled water. It was not left in a solution of high pH.
9. A graph of pH (y-axis) against the volume of sodium hydroxide solution (x-axis) was
plotted. The graph clearly indicated where the color change of the indicator occurred,
showing the pH range, and also indicated the equivalence point.
Results Table 1 : Title to be added
Burette Readings pH Colour
0 2.8 Red -Orange
5 3.8 Light Orange
10 4.2 Light Orange
15 4.6 Yellow-Orange
20 4.9 Yellow-Orange
21 4.9 Yellow
22 5.1 Yellow
23 5.2 Yellow
24 5.2 Yellow
24.1 5.2 Yellow
24.3 5.2 Yellow
24.5 5.2 Yellow
24.7 5.2 Yellow
24.9 5.3 Yellow
25.0 5.3 Yellow
25.1 5.3 Yellow
25.2 5.3 Yellow
25.4 5.3 Yellow
25.6 5.3 Yellow
25.8 5.4 Yellow
26.2 5.4 Yellow
26.4 5.5 Yellow
26.6 5.5 Yellow
26.8 5.5 Yellow
30.0 8.8 Yellow
31 10.9 Yellow
Discussion:
The color of indicator ‘A’ was orange and the pH range of indicator A was 3.1 to 4.4. Indicator
‘A’ is not a suitable choice for this titration. In Indicator A, the color transitions within a
relatively limited and narrow which is not aligned well to the pH of the titration reaction. In this
titration reaction, the pH range was between 2.8-10.9 thus greater than 7 (basic). This reaction
involved the use of a strong base which was sodium hydroxide, and a weak acid, which was the
acetic acid or ethanoic acid CH3COOH and titrations involving the reaction between a strong
base and weak acid necessitate a abrupt and vivid color change to indicate the end point
accurately. The volume of the sodium hydroxide solution as shown by the graph at the
equivalence point was 30 cm3. The calculations for the molarity of the ethanoic acid solution
assuming that the sodium hydroxide solution was exactly 0.100M NaOH is as follows:
Vbase = 30.60 cm3
