ABSTRACT

The knowledge about acid and base in one of the fundamental branch in chemistry. According to
the Brnsted-Lowry theory definition, acid is a substance capable of donating a proton while
base is a substance that capable of accepting proton. Every Brnsted acid has a conjugate base
and every Brnsted base have a conjugate acid. In this experiment, students will be introduced to
the concept of hydrolysis, acid-base indicator and the behaviour of buffer solutions. The
epxriment is divided into two parts. The first part (part A) is about pH solution and hydrolysis of
salt and part B is about the pH of buffer solution. In part A, students will start with unboiled
water and place the water in 5 separate test tubes and a few drops of pH indicator will be put into
the test tubes. The colour change of each indicator then will be matched with the pH scale that
will determine the pH of unboiled water. The experiment will be repeated with different
substance consisting of acid and base or as known as salt solution. For part B, students will
prepare acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer. The solution is poured into two different beakers and
will be pipeted with HCl and NaOH with given concentration and volume. The pH reading will
be taken after the procedure is done.
OBJECTIVE
After this experiment, students should be able to:
1. Determine pH values of salts solutions by using different indicators
2. Calculate the k
a
and k
b
of each cation or anion that hydrolyzes
3. Prepare acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer
4. Investigate the effect of acid and base on the buffer pH

MATERIAL AND APPARATUS
Apparatus
500 ml Erlenmeyer flask, 150 ml beaker, 10 ml measuring cylinder ,100 ml measuring cylinder,
test tube, test tube rack, stirring rod, pH meter, analytical balance, pipette, hot plate, plastic water
bottle
Chemicals
NaC
2
H
3
O
2
.3H
2
O, 0.1M ZnCl
2
, 0.1M NH
4
Cl, 0.1 M KAL(SO
4
)
2
, 0.1M Na
2
CO
3
, 0.1M NaCl,
0.1M NaC
2
H
3
O
2
, 3.0M HCl, 3.0M HC
2
H
3
O
2
, 3.0M NaOH, Methyl orange, Methyl red,
Bromothymol blue, Phenolphthalein, Alizarin yellow-R


PROCEDURE
Initial step ( prepared by lab technician)
1L of distilled water is boiled and allowed to be cool to room temperature before the experiment
is started.
Part A: pH solution and hydrolysis salt
1. 5 ml of unboiled distilled water is added into each separate five test tubes
2. Three drops of different indicators is added into each test tube. The indicator used are
Methyl orange, Methyl red, Bomothymol blue, Phenolphthalein, Alizarin yellow-R.
3. The colours obtained are recorded.
4. The approximate pH of unboiled distilled water sample is determined to the nearest pH
by using the provided indicator chart.
5. The test tubes are emptied and rinsed three times with 3 ml of boiled distilled water
6. 1-5 is repeated by replacing the unboiled distilled water with boiled distilled water, 0.1M
ZnCl
2
, 0.1M NH
4
Cl, 0.1 M KAL(SO
4
)
2
, 0.1M Na
2
CO
3
, 0.1M NaCl, 0.1M NaC
2
H
3
O
2
.
Part B : pH of buffer solution
i) Preparation of acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer
1. 3.50g of NaC
2
H
3
O
2
.3H
2
O is weighted.
2. The mass is recorded and put into a 150 ml beaker and is labeled as beaker 1.
3. 8.8 ml of 3.0 M acetic acid is measured and added into beaker 1.
4. 55.6 ml of distilled water is measured and added to the beaker 1.
5. The solution is stirred until sodium acetate is completely dissolved.
6. The pH of the solutions is measured using a calibrated pH meter.
7. The solution is saved for part B (ii)
ii) Effect of acid and base on buffer solution
1. 32 ml of prepared buffer solution is poured into two of 50 ml beakers. It is labeled as
beaker.
2. 1 ml 3.0M HCl is pipeted into beaker 2 and the pH of resultant solution is measured.
3. 1 ml 3.0M NaOH is pipeted into beaker 3 and the pH of resultant solution is
measured.



RESULT
Part A: pH solution and hydrolysis of salt
1) unboiled distilled water
Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Orange Pale orange Pale Blue Colourless yellow
pH 4.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 7.0

2) 0.1M NaCl
Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Orange Light brown Pale green Colourless pale yellow
pH 3.0 5.0 5.0 3.0 5.0

4) 0.1 M NH
4
Cl
Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Orange Pale orange Pale yellow Colourless Light yellow
pH 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

5) 0.1 mol NaC
2
H
3
O
2

Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Orange Yellowish
brown
Blue Colourless Pale yellow
pH 3.0 4.0 8.0 6.0 6.0

6) 0.1M ZnCl
2

Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Pale orange Yellowish
brown
Pale green Colourless Light yellow
pH 6.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0


7) 0.1M KAl(SO
4
)
2

Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Light red Purple Pale yellow Colourless Yellow
pH 1.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

8) 0.1M Na
2
CO
3

Indicator Methyl
orange
Methyl red Bromothymol
blue
Phenolpthalein Alizarin
yellow-R
Colour Orange Light brown Blue Purple Brick red
pH 5.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 11.0

Part B
Mass of NaC
2
H
3
O
2
.3H
2
O = 3.5012 g
pH of buffer solution in beaker 1 = 5.327
pH of buffer solution added with 3.0 M HCl in beaker 2 = 5.002
pH of buffer solution added with 3.0 M NaOH in beaker 3 = 5.813
CALCULATION
The calculation of the average of pH
Average pH =



1. Average pH of the unboiled water = 4.0 + 5.0 + 7.0 + 10.0 + 7.0
5
= 6.6

3. Average pH of the 0.1M NaCl = 3.0 + 5.0 + 5.0 + 3.0 + 5.0
5
= 4.2

4. Average pH of the 0.1 M NH
4
Cl = 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0
5
= 4.0
5. Average pH of the 0.1M NaC
2
H
3
O
2
= 3.0 + 4.0 + 8.0 + 6.0 + 6.0
5
= 5.4
6. Average pH of the 0.1M ZnCl
2
= 6.0 + 5.0 + 5.0 +5.0 + 5.0
5
= 5.2
7. Average pH of the 0.1M KAl(SO
4
)
2
= 1.0 + 3.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0
5
= 3.2
8. Average pH of the 0.1M Na
2
CO
3
= 5.0 + 8.0 + 8.0 +8.0 + 11.0
5
= 8.0

To calculated the Hydrogen ion
pH = -log [H
+
]
So, [H
+
] = 10
-pH


1) pH unboiled distilled water = 6.6
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-6.6

= 2.512 X 10
-7



2) pH 0.1M NaCl = 4.2
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-4.2

= 6.3096 X 10
-5

3) pH 0.1 M NH
4
Cl = 4.0
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-4.0

= 1.0 X 10
-4

4) pH 0.1M NaC
2
H
3
O
2
= 5.4
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-5.4

= 3.981 X 10
-6

5) pH 0.1M ZnCl
2


= 5.2
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-5.2

= 6.3096 X 10
-6

6) pH 0.1M KAl(SO
4
)
2


= 3.2
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-3.2

= 6.3096 X 10
-4

7) pH 0.1M Na
2
CO
3


= 8.0
pH = -log [H
+
]
[H
+
] = 10
-pH

= 10
-8.0

= 1.0 X 10
-8

the concentration of hydroxide ion
[H
+
][OH
-
] = k
w

[H
+
] [OH
-
] = 1.0 x 10
-14

[OH
-
] =

]

1. unboiled distilled water, [H
+
] = 2.512 x 10
-7

[OH
-
] =

[ ]

= 3.980 x 10
-8

2. 0.1M NaCl, [H
+
] = 6.309 x 10
-5

[OH
-
] =

[ ]

= 1.585 x 10
-10

3. 0.1 MNH
4
Cl, [H
+
] = 1.0 x 10
-4

[OH
-
] =

[ ]

= 1.0 x 10
-10

4. 0.1 M NaC
2
H
3
O
2
, H
+
] = 6.310 x 10
-5
[OH
-
] =

]

= 1.585 x 10
-10


5. 0.1M ZnCl
2
, [H
+
] = 3.981 x 10
-6

[OH
-
] =

[ ]

= 2.512 x 10
-9

6. 0.1 M KAl(SO
4
)
2
[H
+
] = 6.3096 x 10
-4
[OH
-
] =

[ ]

= 1.58 x 10
-11

7. 0.1M Na
2
CO
3
, [H
+
] = 1.0 x 10
-8

[OH
-
] =

[ ]

= 1.0 x 10
-6

Net ionic equation
1) unboiled distilled water
H
2
O H
+
+ OH
-

K
c
=
[

][

]
[

]

K
c
= K
w
= 1.0 x 10
-14
2) 0.1M NaCl
NaCl Na
+

+ Cl
-
Initial 0.1 0.0 0.0
Change -0.1

0.1

0.1


Equilibrium

0.0

0.1

0.1

Equilibrium constant expression: no K
a
or K
b
for strong acid
Equilibrium constant value : no value
3) 0.1M NH
4
Cl
NH
4
Cl H
+

+ NH
3
Cl
-
Initial 0.1 0.0 0.0
Change -1.0 x 10
-4
+

1.0 x 10
-4
+

1.0 x 10
-4


Equilibrium

0.1-1.0 x 10
-4
1.0 x 10
-4
1.0 x 10
-4
Equilibrium constant expression: K
a
=
[

][

]
[

]

Equilibrium constant value : K
a
= 1.001 X 10
-7

4) 0.1 M NaC
2
H
3
O
2


NaC
2
H
3
O
2
+ H
2
O HNaC
2
H
3
O
2
+

+ OH
-


Initial 0.1 0.0 0.0
Change -6.310 x 10
-5
+

6.310 x 10
-5
+

6.310 x 10
-5

Equilibrium

0.1-6.310 x 10
-5
6.310 x 10
-5
6.310 x 10
-5

Equilibrium constant expression: K
b
=
[

][

]
[]

Equilibrium constant value : K
b
= 3.98 X

5) 0.1M ZnCl
2

Zn
2+
Zn(OH)
-

+ H
+
Initial 0.1 0.0 0.0
Change -6.3096 X 10
-6
+6.3096 X 10
-6
+

6.3096 X 10
-6

Equilibrium

0.1-6.3096 X 10
-6
6.3096 X 10
-6
6.3096 X 10
-6
Equilibrium constant expression: K
a
=
[

][

]
[

]

Equilibrium constant value : K
a
= 3.98 X 10
-10
6) 0.1 M KAl(SO
4
)
2

Al
3+
+ 3H
2
0 Al(OH)
3-

+ 3H
+
Initial 0.1 0.0 0.0
Change -6.3096 X 10
-4
+6.3096 X 10
-4
+

6.3096 X 10
-4

Equilibrium

0.1- 6.3096 X 10
-4
6.3096 X 10
-4
6.3096 X 10
-4
Equilibrium constant expression: K
a
=
[

]
[

]

Equilibrium constant value : K
a
=1.59. X 10
-12

7) 0.1 M Na
2
CO
3

CO
3
2-
+ H
2
0 HCO
3
+

+ OH
-
Initial 0.1 0.0 0.0
Change -1.0 x 10
-6
+1.0 x 10
-6
+1.0 x 10
-6

Equilibrium

0.1-1.0 x 10
-6
1.0 x 10
-6
1.0 x 10
-6
Equilibrium constant expression: K
b
=
[

][

]
[

]


Equilibrium constant value : K
b
= 1.00 X 10
-11

Part B: pH of buffer solution

Acetic Acid-Sodium Acetate Buffer:
i. Weight of NaC
2
H
3
O
2
.3H
2
O =3.50 g
ii. Volume of acetic acid = 8.80 mL
iii. Concentration of acetic acid = 3.0 M
iv. Volume of distilled water = 55.6 mL
v. pH of the prepared buffer = 5.222

Effect of Acid and Base on the buffer pH
i. pH of solution in beaker 1 = 5.222
ii. pH of solution in beaker 2 = 5.222
iii. pH of solution in beaker 3 = 5.222
iv. pH values after the addition of the HCl = 4.896
v. pH values after the addition of the NaOH = 6.544

HCl H
+

+ Cl
-
Initial 3.0 0.0 0.0
Change -3.0

3.0

3.0


Equilibrium

0.0

3.0

3.0
Buffer action : CH
3
COO
-
+ H
+
CH
3
COOH
Initial 3.0M x 0.032L =
0.096 mol
3.0M x 0.032L =
0.096 mol
Addition 3.0 x 0.001L =
0.003mol

Change -0.003 mol -0.003 mol +0.003 mol
After
Neutralization
0.093 mol 0 mol 0.099 mol
Final
Concentration


=
2.82M
0M


= 3M

pH = pK
a
+ log
[

]
[

]

= - log (1.8 x

) + log



= 4.71
When NaOH is added to the solution
NaOH Na
+

+ OH
-
Initial 3.0 0.0 0.0
Change -3.0

3.0

3.0


Equilibrium

0.0

3.0

3.0
Buffer action : CH
3
COOH + OH
+
CH
3
COO
-

Initial 3.0M x 0.032L =
0.096 mol
3.0M x 0.032L =
0.096 mol
Addition 3.0 x 0.001L =
0.003mol

Change -0.003 mol -0.003 mol +0.003 mol
After
Neutralization
0.093 mol 0 mol 0.099 mol
Final
Concentration


=
2.82M
0M


= 3M

pOH = pK
b
+ log
[

]
[

]

= - log 5.6 x 10
-10
+ log



= 9.25 - 0.0269
= 9.2231
pH = 14 - pOH
pH = 4.78

Theoretical value Actual (experiment) value
Beaker 2 4.71 4.896
Beaker 3 4.78 6.544

DISCUSSION
In part A, the colour indicator showed inconsistence with some of the substances. Some
indicators give a reading that is higher than the pH limit of acid or base. The resultant colour
is important for pH determination and there are few reasons why the indicator give different
colour. First of all, the test tubes are not thoroughly washed before another substance are put
into it. This will result the substance to mix up with the previous substance and will affect
the colour change of the indicator. To overcome this problem, students need to rinse the test
tubes thoroughly with boiled distilled water for at least three times to remove any remaining
substances thus give a better result. The second problem is there are some student who put
too much colour indicator into the test tubes. This will lead the colour of indicator to
overcome the resultant colour of the pH scale. To avoid this problems, students need to put
the indicator with the amount mentioned in the manual and watch the colour carefully so
they can obtain a consistent result
The observation that can be made after part B is done is the experimented pH values is
not the same with the theoretical values. The difference of the pH value may be caused by a
few factors. First of all, The pH meter may did not cleaned completely and it have been been
immersed multiple times simultaneously which may cause the buffer solution from another
group mixed together and may affect the reading. To resolve this problem, students need to
immersed the sensor in the rinsing solution and let it stay for a while to rinse any substance
that left on the sensor from previous solution. There are also some students who did not
measure the volume of acetic acid with precision. If the observers are not parallel with the
meniscus, it will show a different reading thus affecting the volume of acetic acid. The
difference maybe small, but it will result a different pH reading
CONCLUSION
The results and calculations show that students have managed to determine pH values of salts
solutions by using different indicators. The calculations of calculate the k
a
and k
b
of each
cation or anion that hydrolyzes are also shown. Students also have learnt how to prepare
acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer. Besides, students also managed to investigate and analyse
the effect of acid and base on the buffer pH. All the objectives for this experiment have been
achieved thus conclude the experiment
REFERENCE
Raymond Chang. ( 2006 ). Chemistry. (9
th
ed.). Mc Graw Hill
Faculty of Chemical Engineering. (2011). Chemical Laboratory Manual CHE 235. UiTM
Dungun, Terengganu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base_(chemistry)