1

1.0 ABSTRACT

The objective of this experiment is to determine the acid ionizations constant, Ka, of a weak acid
by titration with sodium hydroxide and by measuring the pH of the weak acid. In the first
experiment, 10mL of unknown acid was titrated with 0.1M of NaOH solution and the titration is
repeated twice. Based on the results, the Ka value of the unknown acid are 5.888x10
-5
and
3.981x10
-5
for the first and second titration. While in the second experiment, the initial pH of the
unknown acid is observed three times and recorded. The Ka values are 4.572x10
-9
, 2.939x10
-8
,
3.022x10
-8
as for the first, second and third trial. The second objective of this experiment is to
identify the unknown monoprotic acid solutions by comparing the average Ka values to the Ka
values for common acid. From the first experiment, the average Ka value is 4.935x10
-5
, therefore
the nearest Ka value is to the benzoic acid with Ka value of 6.3x10
-5
. As from the second
experiment, the average Ka value 2.139x10
-8
which is said to be nearest to Ka of Dihydrogen
phosphate ion with Ka value of 6.2x10
-8
.
2

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Acids and bases are often described as being weak or strong. While this
classification seems somewhat arbitrary, other more quantitative descriptors exist. For acids, Ka
values are commonly used. The ionization of an acid can be shown by the following equation:
HA
(aq)
H
+
(aq)
+ A
-
(aq)
(Eq. 1)
Since an equilibrium exists, an equilibrium constant, Ka, can be written:
K
a
= [H
+
] [A
-
] (Eq. 2)
[HA]

The K
a
value is an indication of acid strength. The smaller the value of the Ka, the
weaker the acid. This value shows the characteristic of the acid and can be used to help identify
an unknown acid. A similar system exists for bases (K
b
).
Two methods may be used to determine the K
a
value. Both methods require the use of a
pH meter. In the first method, a sample of acid is titrated with base. The pH values are plotted
vs. the volume of base added. The equivalence point is determined from the graph. Hence, the
volume of base halfway to the equivalence point is found, and the pH at this volume is noted.
The [H
+
] corresponding to this pH is equal to the K
a
for the acid. At a point halfway to the
equivalence point, [H
+
] = [HA] = [A
-
] for a monoprotic acid. Canceling out [A
-
] and [HA] in
Equation 2 gives K
a
= [H
+
].
The other method that we can use in this experiment is a half volume method. A
solution of the acid is prepared and divided in half as accurately as possible. One part is titrated
to its endpoint with phenolphthalein. The two parts are then recombined, and the pH of the
3

resulting solution is measured. Since half of the acid has been titrated, [H
+
] = [HA] = [A
-
].
Again, if [A
-
] and [HA] are canceled in Equation 2,
K
a
= [H
+
]. The pH value of the combined solutions can be converted to [H
+
] to give a K
a
value.

3.0 OBJECTIVES

i. To determine the acid ionizations constant, Ka, of a weak acid by titration with sodium
hydroxide and by measuring the pH of the weak acid
ii. To identify the unknown monoprotic acid solutions by comparing the average Ka values
to the Ka values for common acids.
iii. To determine the average Ka values from the two experimental methods used.

4

4.0 THEORY

There are two general methods used to determine the K
a
value of weak acid such as titrating the
weak acid with sodium hydroxide and measuring the pH of the weak acid solution.
For the weak acid titrated with NaOH, a titration curve is produced by plotting the pH of
the acid solution versus the volume of NaOH added. The equivalence point of the titration is
reached when all of the weak acid (HA) has completely reacted with NaOH. On the titration
curve, the equivalence point is read at the center of the region where pH increases sharply. The
half-equivalence point for the titration is reached when exactly one half of the base required to
completely neutralize the acid has been added. At this point of concentration of the acid in the
solution, [HA] is equal to the concentration of its conjugate base, [A
-
].

[] [

] (Equation 3)
Equation 2 can be simplified to yield equation 4,

()
] (Equation 4)
Taking the negative of the algorithm of each side of Equation 4, Equation 5 can be deriving,

()
]

(Equation 5)

Equation 5 indicates that the pK
a
for the acid is equal to the pH of the solution at the half
equivalence point. The K
a
of the acid is determined from the pK
a
value as follows.
5

(Equation 6)

For knowing the pH of the weak acid and initial weak acid concentration from the pH of
the acid solution (HA), the H
+
and A
-
ion concentration can be determined, which is related to
the pH of a solution by equation 7,
[H
3
O
+
] = 10
-pH
(Equation 7)
By substituting [HA], [H
3
O
+
] and [A
-
] at equilibrium in to Equation 2 the value of K
a
can be
calculated.
Table 1 : Ionization constant (K
a
) for particular weak acids at 25
o
C.
Acid Formula K
a

Acetic acid CH
3
COOH 1.8 X 10
-5
Benzoic acid C
6
H
5
COOH 6.3 x 10
-5

Carbonic acid H
2
CO
3
4.2 x 10
-4
Formic acid HCOOH 1.8 x 10
-4
Hypochlorous acid HOCl 3.5 x 10
-6
Dihydrogen phosphate ion H
2
PO
4
-
6.2 x 10
-8
Hydrogen phosphate ion HPO
4
2-
3.6 x 10
-13
Hydrogen carbonate ion HCO
3
- 4.8 x 10
-11
Nitrous acid HNO
2
4.0 x 10
-4

Phenol C
6
H
6
O 1.6 x 10
-10
Potassium hydrogen phthalate KC
8
H
5
O
4
5.1 x 10
-6


6

5.0 PROCEDURES

Determination of the K
a
value of a weak acid by titration with NaOH
1. A 40mL volume of an unknown acid solution was obtained prior to the experiment
begun.
2. A dry 250mL beaker was prepared with 10.0mL addition of the unknown weak acid
solution.
3. The solution of unknown weak acid was then titrated with 0.1M NaOH solution while
stirring and the pH was taken by using a pH meter for each 1 mL additions of NaOH in
the solution. The pH was recorded in the table.
4. After the titration process, the reaction mixture was poured into the lab sink with
abundant of water.
5. The steps 2-4 was repeated twice more.

Determination of the K
a
from the initial concentration and pH of a weak acid solution

1. A dry 250mL beaker was prepared with 20.0mL addition of the same unknown weak acid
solution that was used in part A.
2. The pH electrode was removed from the pH 7 buffer solution. It was rinse with distilled
water before the dry the tip of the probe.
3. The probe was then inserted to the beaker that contained the 20.0mL of unknown weak
acid solution. While stirring, the pH was left to stabilize before the initial pH of the
unknown weak acid recorded.
7

4. The solution of unknown weak acid was poured out into the designated waste container.
5. Steps 1-4 was repeated twice more.
6. After finish reading the last pH, the pH probe was rinse with distilled water.

5.1 APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
APPARATUS
250mL beaker
pH meter
Dropper
50mL burette
Magnetic stirrer
MATERIALS
0.1M NaOH solution
40mL of unknown acid

8

6.0 RESULTS

a) Determination of the Ka value of the weak acid by titration with NaOH

Volume of NaOH
solution (mL)
Titration 1
(pH)
Titration 2
(pH)
0 4.24 4.24
1 4.48 4.51
2 4.73 4.77
3 4.94 4.97
4 5.14 5.13
5 5.32 5.31
6 5.50 5.51
7 5.76 5.80
8 6.13 6.22
9 10.53 10.94
10 11.63 11.66
11 11.74 11.86
12 11.85 11.95

Table 5.1: Volume of NaOH solution and pH of unknown acid.

9


Graph 5.1: Titration curve of the first trial




0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
p
H

Volume oh NaoH solutiom (mL)
titration curve
10


Graph 5.2: Titration curve of the second trial

b) Determination of the Ka value from initial concentration and pH of a weak acid

Trial 1 2 3
pH of the
unknown acid
4.267 4.266 4.260

Table 5.2: Initial pH of the unknown acid




0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
p
H

Volume of NaoH solution (mL)
Titration curve
11

7.0 CALCULATIONS

a) Calculation in part A

Trial 1 Trial 2
Volume of bases at
equivalence point


8.40 mL

8.30 mL
Volume of bases distance
to equivalence point


4.20 mL

4.15 mL
pH at equivalence point
8.45

8.8
pH at distance to
equivalence point


4.23

4.4
Ka of acid


5.888 x 10
-5

3.981 x 10
-5



12

Calculation of Ka of acid for Trial 1
pKa = pH = 4.23 (at distance to equivalence point)
pKa = - log Ka
4.23 = - log Ka
Ka = 10
pKa

= 10
-4.23
= 5.888 x 10
-5


Calculation of Ka of acid for Trial 2
pKa = pH = 4.40 (at distance to equivalence point)
pKa = - log Ka
4.40 = - log Ka
Ka = 10
pKa

= 10
-4.40
= 3.981 x 10
-5


Average of Ka value for part A

Average Ka = (5.888 x 10
-5
) + (3.981 x 10
-5
)
2
= 4.935 x 10
-5

Therefore the value of Ka of acid is 4.935 x 10
-5
which is said to be nearest to Ka of benzoic acid
with Ka value 6.3 x 10
-5
13

b) Calculation in part B
Based on reaction equation of the experiment
HA
(aq)
+ H
2
O
+

(liq)
H
3
O
+

(aq)
+ A
-

(aq)

By considering the ICE table
Components HA H
3
O
+
A
-

Initial concentration 0.1 0 0
Change in equilibrium -X +X +X
Concentration at
equilibrium
0.1- X X X

The ICE table is used to calculate the value of Ka in the experiment Part B. The initial pH of
unknown acid was recorded without adding any bases solution in the acid.

TRIAL 1
Initial pH value of unknown acid = 4.267
pH = - log [H
3
O
+
]
4.267 = - log [H
3
O
+
]
[H
3
O
+
] = 10
Ph

= 10
-4.67
= 2.138 x 10
-5
14

According to ICE table

HA + HO HO + A
Initial 0.1 0 0
Change -2.138 x 10
5
M +2.138 x 10
5
M +2.138x10
5
M
Equilibrium (0.1 2.138 x 10
5
)M 2.138 x 10
5
M 2.138 x 10
5
M

Thus, the value of acid ionization constant, Ka of the unknown acid was determined by

][

]
[]


(

)(

)
() (

)

4.572 x 10
9

TRIAL 2
Initial pH value of unknown acid = 4.266
pH = - log [H
3
O
+
]
4.266 = - log [H
3
O
+
]
[H
3
O
+
] = 10
pH

= 10
-4.266


= 5.42 x 10
-5
15

According to ICE table

HA + HO HO + A
Initial 0.10 0 0
Change -5.42 x 10
5
M 5.42 x 10
5
M +5.42x10
5
M
Equilibrium (0.10 5.42 x 10
5
)M 5.42 x 10
5
M 5.42x10
5
M

Thus, the value of acid ionization constant, Ka of the unknown acid was determined by

][

]
[]


(

)(

)
(

)


(

16

TRIAL 3
Initial pH value of unknown acid = 4.260
pH = - log [H
3
O
+
]
4.260 = - log [H
3
O
+
]
[H
3
O
+
] = 10
pH

= 10
-4.260



According to ICE table

= 5.495 x 10
-5
HA + HO HO + A
Initial 0.10 0 0
Change -5.495 x 10
5
M 5.495 x 10
5
M +5.495 x10
5
M
Equilibrium (0.10 5.495 x 10
5
)M 5.495 x 10
5
M 5.495x10
5
M

Thus, the value of acid ionization constant, Ka of the unknown acid was determined by

][

]
[]


(

)(

)
(

)

17


(

Average Ka value in part B
Average Ka = (

) + (

) + (

)

3
=

Therefore the value of Ka of the unknown acid is

which is said to be nearest to Ka
of Dihydrogen phosphate ion with Ka value 6.2 X 10
-8
.






18

8.0 DISSCUSSION
Table 5.1 shows the volume of NaOH solution (mL) titrated with the unknown acid and
also the pH of unknown acid for the first and second titration. From the information obtained,
graph 5.1 and 5.2 were plotted. Graph 5.1 shows that the pH keep increasing from 1mL to 8mL
of NaOH and a sudden change of pH at the next point, which from 6.13 to 10.53. The
equivalence point was then calculated from the graph which result in 8.40mL of NaOH solution.
While graph 5.2 shows an increment of pH from 1mL until 8mL of NaOH but a sudden change
of pH at the next point, from 6.22 to 10.94. The equivalence point was then calculated using the
graph which result in 8.30mL of NaOH. The equivalence point of the titration is reached when
all the unknown acid has completely reacted with NaOH. On the titration curve, the equivalence
point is read at the center of the region where the pH increases sharply.
The Ka of the unknown acid was calculated using the half-equivalence point which result
in 5.888 x 10
-5
for the first titration and 3.981 x 10
-5
for the second titration. The average of the
Ka of the unknown acid was calculated to be 4.935 x 10
-5
. The half-equivalence point for the
titration is reached when exactly one half of the base required to complete the neutralization of
the acid has been added. At this point, the concentration of the acid in the solution is equal to the
concentration of its conjugate base. Therefore, the nearest Ka value of the unknown acid was to
the benzoic acid which is 6.3 x 10
-5
.
As for the second experiment, the initial pH of the unknown acid was observed three
times. The initial pH of the unknown acid was recorded as 4.267, 4.266, and 4.260 for the first,
second and third trial respectively. From the pH obtained, then the Ka value of the unknown
acid was determined by considering the ICE table and the Ka value for the first, second and
19

third trial were 4.572 x 10
-9
, 2.939 x 10
-8
, 3.022 x 10
-8
respectively. Therefore, the average of the
Ka value was 2.139 x 10
-8
which is said to be nearest to the Ka of Dihydrogen phosphate ion
with Ka value of 6.2 x 10
-8

20

9.0 CONCLUSIONS

The main objective of this experiment is to find the Ka value to obtain what acid is the unknown
acid. At the end of the experiment, the average of the Ka value in part A is 4.935 x 10
-5

.Therefore the value of Ka of acid is 4.935 x 10
-5
which is said to be nearest to Ka of benzoic
acid with Ka value 6.3 x 10
-5
.The result average of Ka value in part B is

. The
value of Ka of the unknown acid is

which is said to be nearest to Ka of
Dihydrogen phosphate ion with Ka value 6.2 X 10
-8
.Therefore, it can be concluding that the
objective of this experiment was achieved.


10.0 RECOMMENDATION

Experimental error and human error might be happen every time we did an experiment.
Regarding this determination of the Ka value in weak acid experiment, we found that
experimental error may occur due to some reason such as the acid is not fully dissolved into the
water that would result in no effect of pKa value because the NaOH would neutralize the amount
of the acid present. Next, if the pH meter is not calibrated properly it will show an imprecise
reading of pKa value. Apart from the errors that happened while conducting the experiment, it
can be avoided by preparing the apparatus and equipment correctly by following the procedure.
Properly calibrating the pH meter will help you to get the precise reading as you expected. Other
than that, we must not take every experiment for a granted, follow the instructions of the lecturer
so it can help you to get a fair and good experiment.
21

11.0 REFERENCES

1. Thomas, G.G, Lyman, H.R and Gerald S.W, (2005), Experiment in General Chemistry,
Principles and Modern Application, ninth edition.p.56.

2. Raymond C., (2007) , Chemistry, Ninth edition, McGrow-hill, pg. 150-152.

3. Spring, (2008), Determination of unknown weak acid, retrieved date August18, 2010,
from www.titrations.info/acid-base-titration-acetic-unknown-weak-acid

4. Spring, (2004), Determination of identifying an unknown weak acid, Retrieved date
August 21, 2010 from www.apsu.edu/robertsonr/chem1110-20/
044%20Unknown%20Acid%20

22

12.0 APPENDICES