LAB 6

Determination of Ka
for a weak acid
General Chemistry II
Bezawit Wube

Abstract:

An acid is a substance that increases the concentration of hydrogen ion [H+]

in solution. A base is a substance that increases the concentration of
hydroxide ion, [OH-], in solution. Both acids and bases are electrolytes,
substances that conduct an electric current when in solution.
Students will have the opportunity to perform a titration of a weak acid against a
strong base. They will use the data to determine the Ka for the acid by constructing
the titration curve. Students will discuss and define pH valued and relate it to pKa.
Objectives:
To perform a titration of a weak acid against a strong base
To construct a titration curve
To use the data obtained to determine Ka for the weak acid
Materials:

Plastic knife or spoon

1 White paper
1 Toothpicks
From LabPaq 1 Beaker, 100 mL, plastic
1 Cylinder-25-mL
1 Well-Plate-24
Experiment Bag Determination of Ka
for a Weak Acid 3 pH Test Strips - High Range with Color Scale
in Bag 2"x 3"
3 pH Test Strips - Low Range with Color Scale
in Bag 2"x 3"
1 Phenolphthalein Solution, 1% - 0.5 mL in
Pipet
1 Pipet, Empty Short Stem
1 Sodium Hydroxide, 1 M - 15 mL in Dropper
Bottle
1 Unknown - 10 mL in Dropper Bottle
Procedure:

Part I: Determining the Volume of a Drop:

Before beginning, set up a data table similar to the Data Table 1: Determine the
Volume of a Drop in the Lab Report Assistant section.
1. Completely fill the empty pipet from the experiment bag with distilled water.

2. You are going to count and then calculate and record the average number of
drops of water in a milliliter and the average quantity of a mL represented by one
drop. To do this:
a. Hold the pipet and a graduated cylinder in front of your face so you can closely
watch your measurements.
b. With the pipet tip pointing down and its bulb held vertically up gently and
consistently squeeze the pipet bulb to add the water drop-by-drop into the
graduated cylinder.
c. Stop and record the number of drops when you reach the first, second, and third
mL lines.
d. From Step 2-C compute and record an average for the number of drops of water
per mL.
e. Also calculate and record an average for the quantity of a mL represented by one
drop.
3. Squeeze all of the distilled water out of the pipet and set aside to use later.

Part II: Titration

Note: The NaOH sodium hydroxide solution in your experiment bag is 1.0 M in
concentration. This will be your standard solution.
Before beginning, set up a data table similar to the Data Table 2: Trial Averages in
the Lab Report Assistant section.
1. Use your graduated cylinder to measure 2.0 mL of the unknown acid. Then pour it
into your beaker. Record the volume of acid added.
2. Transfer a drop of the acid via toothpick or paperclip onto a low range pH
indicator strip.
Compare the resulting color to the color key and record the pH of the acid before
titration.
3. Add 1 drop of phenolphthalein indicator to the acid. Record the color.
4. Place the beaker on a sheet of white paper.
5. Fill a well of the 24-well plate with NaOH (sodium hydroxide) solution and suck it
up into the empty pipet from Part I.
6. Holding the pipet vertically, slowly add, drop-by-drop, the NaOH to the unknown
solution in the beaker. Look for a change in color as you add the NaOH. You are
looking for a very light pink color that persists in solution. Remember to stir the
solution with a plastic knife or spoon handle after each drop. Make sure you count
the drops and that they are of a consistent size.
7. Stop adding NaOH when you see a very faint pink color that persists in solution
for at least 30 seconds. If you add too much the color will change to a beautiful,
vivid magenta and you will have to start all over again.
8. Record the number of drops of NaOH you added and the color of the solution.
This will be your equivalence point.
9. Transfer a drop of the acid via toothpick or paperclip onto a high range pH
indicator strip.
Compare the resulting color to the color key and record the pH of the acid before
titration.
10. Pour the solution in your beaker down the drain with running water. Rinse out
and clean your beaker. Use distilled water for the final rinse.
11. Repeat Steps 1 - 10 two more times.

12. Record your data to 4 decimal places for each trial in the data table.
13. For the average of the three trials, at 2-drop intervals, calculate the volume of
NaOH added in
mL. Remember, you calculated the volume of a drop (in mL) in Part 1.
Record your data in a table similar to the Data Table 2: Volume of NaOH in the Lab
Report Assistant section.
14. At the top of the pH column, enter the unknown acids starting pH value, before
titration.
15. Enter the pH of the acid after titration (the equivalence point from Step 8 at the
bottom of the pH column, opposite the equivalence point volume. Since you used
phenolphthalein as an acid-base indicator you know that it changes from colorless
to magenta at a pH of 8.3.
Hopefully the pH you recorded in Step 9 is close to 8.3.
16. After you have entered the starting and ending pH in the second data table you
need to calculate the appropriate pH value for each 2 drop interval as follows:
a. Count the total number of rows, including the 0 row and the very last row.
b. Subtract the initial pH from the final pH and divide the resulting difference by the
number of rows minus 1.
c. Then add this number to each previous pH value. For example, if your starting pH
was 3 and the ending pH was 8.3, and if you had a total of 21 volume rows you
would make the following computations:
8.3 3 = 5.3; 5.3/20 (21 rows minus 1 = 20 for the divisor); = 0.265
Then add the resultant 0.265 to each previous pH after the starting value and your
subsequent values would be: 3 + 0.265 = 3.265; 3.265 + 0.265 = 3.53; 3.53 +
0.265 = 3.795; etc.
d. Calculate and fill in all pH values in the pH column. Using a spreadsheet will make
this a very fast process.
17. Make a graph. Plot pH on the y-axis and plot the volume of NaOH added on the
x-axis. This is your titration curve. Locate the pH that corresponds to your
equivalence point. Note: This curve will be slightly different from a classical titration
curve since you did not actually take pH readings after every 2 drops and also did
not record pH values beyond the equivalence point.

18. Locate the pH that corresponds to your half-equivalence point. Remember that
the volume at the half-equivalence point is half the volume used to reach the
equivalence point.
19. Determine the pKa for your unknown acid. Recall that at the half-equivalence
point, pH = pKa.
20. Determine Ka from your pKa by taking the inverse log of the pKa.( 10 pka )
21. Send your plots, data tables, pKa, and Ka values to your instructor.
Cleanup: Dispose of all chemicals by washing them down the sink with lots of
water and throw the used pipets, bottles, and indicator strips into the trash.

Data/Observation:

Data Table 1: Determine the Volume of a

Drop
1
mL
2
mL
3
mLDrops \ mL
Average
Average mL \ Drop

Number of
Drops
27
51
77
25.8
0.039

Data Table 2: Trials and Average

Trial 1
Volume acid (ml)
Color of acid
Volume NaOH
(drops)
Color final
solution

2.0
colorless
42

Trial 2
2.0
Colorless
51

pink

Pink

Trial 3
2.0
colorless
61
pink

The ph of the unknown acid is 3.5.

The color of the unknown acid after one drop of phenolphthalein is still colorless.
First trial: The ph of the unknown after titration is 8.5 and the color is pink.
Second trial: the ph is 8.0
Third trial: the ph of the unknown after titration is 8.0

Data Table 3: Volume of

NaoH
NaOH
NaOH
added
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32

added
0
0.0779
0.1558
0.2338
0.3117
0.3896
0.4675
0.5454
0.6234
0.7013
0.7792
0.8571
0.9351
1.0130
1.0909
1.1688
1.2467

pH

3.5
3.68
3.86
4.05
4.24
4.42
4.61
4.79
4.98
5.16
5.35
5.53
5.71
5.90
6.08
6.27
6.45

Average
2.0
colorless
51.3
pink

34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52

Calculations:
To calculate the ph :
Number of rows: 27,
Final ph initial ph = 4.8
4.8/(27-1) = 0.1846

1.3247
1.4026
1.4805
1.5584
1.6364
1.7143
1.7922
1.8701
1.9480
2.0260

6.64
6.82
7.01
7.19
7.38
7.56
7.75
7.93
8.11
8.3

Titration Curve
Using excel, the equation of the graph is y= 2.3703x+3.4978.
The red mark on the graph is where the equivalence point is ; Ph = 8.0 and using
the equation ,
When y=8.0, x= 1.899
The yellow lines indicate where the half equivalence point is:

1.899
=0.949
2
0.949 indicates the half equivalence point volume of NaOH.
Y : pH value; x: volume of NaOH
Y= 2.3703 X + 3.4978
If volume, that is x=0.949, y= 5.7489
pH=5.7
pKa= 5.7
pka= - logka

log-1(-pka) = ka
ka =1.99*10-6

Questions:
A. What is the relationship between Ka and pKa?

Ka is an indication of acid strength. And the relationship between these

two is:
pKa = - log Ka

B. What are the potential sources for errors in this experiment?

Potential sources of errors can be:
1. While dropping distilled water from pipet in cylinder, student should read
eye level to have accurate reading. Also the cylinder should be properly
calibrated by manufacturer.
2. While reading the ph of the unknown acid before titration, student can
have difficulty matching it to the right color.
3. While adding Na OH in the unknown using the pipet, student should be
careful with the drop so that it is consistent throughout the trial; that is
student should be careful not to make the drops too big or too small.
C. If your experimental Ka is 5.3 and the actual Ka of your unknown acid is 4.7,
what is your % error?

(experimental value) (true value)

% error = 100 = 12.8 %
true value

Analysis:
Student pours 2 mL of unknown acid in beaker. Then 1 drop of
Phenolphthalein solution should be added to indicate the color. Then the
student is going to add NaOH one drop at a time. Student should make sure
to count the drops and stir the mixture at the same time with a plastic knife
or spoon.
As the student is titrating the acid, because it is a weak acid in a reaction
with a base it wont completely dissociate. As the student adds the NaOH, the
base is reacting with the acid. The color light pink comes from the reaction.

Once its been completely titrated, the color becomes brilliant.

Conclusion:
At the end of this lab, student should see that weak electrolytes dissociate
only partially. Ph is an indicator of acid strength.
Student must be careful while determining the equivalence point because
accuracy is important factor. For this lab a ph of around 8.3 should be
recorded as equivalence point.