UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA

ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
(CHE485)

DETERMINATION OF THE Ka VALUE OF WEAK ACID

SEMESTER 3 AND 4 AUGUST 2008

Title
Abstract
Introduction
Aims
Theory
Apparatus
Methodology
Results
Calculations
Discussion
Questions
Conclusions
References
TOTAL

Allocated Marks
5

Marks

15
5
10
40

Student Names and Numbers

1. NUR SYAERA BT. HIDZIR
2. MUHAMAD SYAZREEN BIN YAZID
3.NURUL NAFISAH
4.WAN EDARLINA
5. SITI NOOR

Supervisor Grading (10)

2007286778
2007286904
2007286938
2007286854
2007286902

Checked by: Cik Suhaiza

Rechecked by:

TABLE OF CONTENT:

NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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TITLE
Abstract/Summary
Introduction
Aims/Objectives
Theory
Procedures
Apparatus & Reagent
Results
Calculations
Discussions
Conclusions
Recommendations
References
Appendices

PAGE
2
2
2
3
6
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Abstract:
The experiment is all about finding the value of Ka by using titration and
measuring the pH value of the weak acid. Acid-base reactions are neutralization
reactions between bases and protons donated by acids. The strength of an acid
is related to its ability to donate protons. Strong acids completely dissociate in
aqueous solutions. For example, the concentration of H + in 0.1 M hydrochloric
acid (HCl) is 0.1 M. By contrast, weak monoprotic acids only partially dissociate
in aqueous solutions, forming equilibrium with appreciable amounts of
undissociated acid. The purpose of this experiment is to measure the Ka value
for ionization of two unknown weak acids. Solutions containing equal molar
amounts of the weak acids and their conjugate bases are prepared by halfneutralization of the acid. Their pH values are measured and used to calculate
the Ka value for the unknowns and thus determine their identities.
INTRODUCTION:
1

The relative acidity of a substance or a system is of importance in many

situations, such as the quality of drinking water, food preservations, soil
conditions for agriculture, and physiological functions. One measure of the
strength of an acid is its ability to donate protons to a base. The acid ionization
constant, Ka is a quantitative measure of the strength of an acid. The ionization
of a generic acid, HA, can be represented by the following equation:

HA ( aq ) + H2O (l ) H3O

( aq )

+A

(equation 4-1)

( aq )

In which the weak acid donates a proton, H , to a water molecule, to form the

hydronium ion, H3O and the conjugate base of the weak acid, A . The
corresponding acid ionization constant expression, Ka, can be written as
Ka

H 3O A
HA

(equation 4-2)
The Ka value is characteristic of an acid and can be used to identify an unknown
acid. The Ka indicates the relatives strength of an acid. The larger the Ka value,
the stronger the acid. The smaller the Ka value the weaker the acid.
Objectives:
To determine the acid ionization constant, Ka, of a weak acid by titration
with sodium hydroxide and by measuring the pH of the weak acid.
Theory:
There are two methods to determine the Ka value of a weak acid, that is:
Titrating the weak acid with sodium hydroxide
Measuring the pH of the weak acid
Weak acid titrated with NaOH
A titration curve is produce 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 based required to completely neutralized 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 ].

2

[ HA] [ A ]

( equation

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

Ka H 3O

(equation

4-4)
Taking the negative of the algorithm of each side of equation 4-4, equation 4-5
can be deriving.
log( Ka ) ~ log[ H 3 O ]

pKa = pH

(equation 4-5)

equation 4-5 indicates that the pKa for the acid is equal to the pH of the solution
at half equivalence point. The Ka of the acid is determined from the pKa value as
follows.
Ka 10 pKa

Sample calculation using 1

(equation 4-6)

st

method

A weak acid is titrated with 0.10 M NaOH. The titration curve is shown in figure 41.
Equivalence point = 11.62mL, determine the titration curve.
Half equivalence point = 11.62/2 = 5.81mL
The pH value corresponding to 5.81 mL is 4.2, determine the titration curve.
pKa= pH = 4.2 at the half equivalence point
pKa
4.20
5
Ka = 10
= 10
= 6.3 10
Knowing the pH of the weak acid and initial weak acid concentration
From the pH of the acid solution (HA), we can determine the H
concentration is related to the pH of a solution by equation 4-7

H O 10

pH

Sample calculation using 2

and A

ion

(equation 4-7)

By substituting [HA], [H3O

Ka can be calculated.

] and [A

nd

] at equilibrium in to equation 4-2, value of

method

The pH of 0.10M weak acid solutions 2.52 at 25 C . Calculate the Ka of the

weak acid at 25 C .

Initially, only the weak acid HA molecules ionize, forming H3O and H3O . The

initial HA concentration decreases while the concentration of H3O

and A

increase until equilibrium attained. The equilibrium concentration of HA, H3O

and A are calculated as follows.

pH = 2.52
H 3 O 10 pH 10 2.52 3.0 10 3 M

HA + H 2 O

H3O + A

Initial
0.10M
Change
-3.010
Equilibrium (0.10-3.010)M

0
+3.010M
3.010M

H O A
3

Ka=

HA

0
+3.010M
3.010M

Ka

3.0 10 3.0 10 9.3 10

0.10 3.0 10
3

The calculated Ka value of the unknown acid is closest to that of benzoic acid,
5
6.310
Table1: Ionization constant (Ka) for some weak acids at 25oC

Procedures:

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

Approximately 40mL of unknown acid solution was obtained. Data was
recorded.
10.0mL of the unknown acid solution was added to dry 250mL beaker.
The solution was titrated with NaOH
The reaction mixture was poured into lab sink, and was flushed with
continuous water.
nd
Step 2-4 was repeated to perform 2 titration of the weak acid with 0.1M
NaOH solution
The titration curve was draw using excels.
From the titration curve, the volume of NaOH requiredto neutralizing the
weak acid solution in each titration was determined. Data was recorded.
The Ka value for titration 1 and 2 was calculated.
The average Ka value for the weak acid was calculated.
Using the Ka value calculated in step 10; the unknown weak acid from
table 1 was identified.
The molarity of the unknown acid solution for each titration was calculated.
Determination of Ka from the initial concentration and pH of a weak acid solution
20mL of the unknown weak acid solution (same unknown used in Part A)
was added to a dry beaker.
The pH electrode was removed from the pH 7 buffer solution. The
electrode was rinsed with distilled water and the tip of the probe was dried.
The electrode was inserted into the beaker containing the acid solution
from step 1. The solution was stirred. After the pH reading was stabilized,
the pH of the solution was recorded.
The weak acid solution was decanted into waste container.
Step 1-4 was repeated to perform second pH measurement
The pH probe was rinsed with distilled water
Using initial concentration (molarity calculated in step12, part A) the pH of
the unknown acid solution, the Ka for each trial was calculated.
Using the Ka value calculated in step 8, the weak acid was identified from
table 1

Apparatus:
6

Beaker
Burette
Pipette
Magnetic bar
Reagent:
Sodium hydroxide
Unknown acid 1 and 2
Distilled water

Results:
Part A:
mL of NaOH
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.50
8.00
8.50
9.00
9.50
10.00
10.50
11.00
11.50
12.00
12.50
13.00

Unknown acid 1
3.10
3.63
3.90
4.12
4.29
4.43
4.53
4.62
4.72
4.80
4.90
4.99
5.08
5.17
5.29
5.41
5.57
5.81
6.11
7.09
11.00
11.40
11.61
11.76
11.86
11.93
12.01
7

Unknown acid 2
2.66
6.09
8.51
8.99
9.28
9.43
9.58
9.68
9.77
9.85
9.92
10.01
10.10
10.17
10.26
10.36
10.46
10.56
10.69
10.87
11.07
11.26
11.44
11.56
11.68
11.75
11.83

13.50
14.00
14.50

11.88
11.93
12.00

Part B:
Unknown acid
1
2

Initial pH
3.24
3.21

Calculation:
Part A:
Unknown acid 1:
Equivalence point = 9.86mL
Half-equivalence point = 9.86/2 = 4.93mL
The pH value corresponding to 4.93mL is 4.60 from the titration curve
pKa = pH = 4.60 at the half-equivalence point
5
pKa
4.60
Ka = 10
= 10
= 2.512 10
5
The closest value Ka calculated is acetic acid that is 1.810
M1 V1 = M 2 V 2
(0.1)(9.86mL) = M 2 (10mL)
M 2 = 0.0986M
Unknown acid 2:
Equivalence point = 1.20mL
Half-equivalence point = 1.20/2 = 0.60mL
The pH value corresponding to 0.60mL is 4.80 from the titration curve
pKa = pH = 4.80 at the half-equivalence point
pKa
4.80
5
Ka = 10
= 10
= 1.58510
5
The closest value Ka calculated is acetic acid that is 1.810
M1 V1 = M 2 V 2
(0.1)(1.2mL) = M 2 (10mL)
M 2 = 0.012M

Part B:
Unknown acid 1:
pH = 3.24
H 3 O 10 pH 10 3.24 5.754 10 4 M

HA + H 2 O

H3O + A

Initial
Change

0.0986M
4
- 5.754 10 M

4
Equilibrium (0.0986 - 5.754 10 )M
M

0
4

+ 5.754 10 M

5.754 104 M

5.754 104 M

5.754 104

H O A
3

HA

Ka=
Ka

5.754 10 5.754 10 3.378 10

0.0986 5.754 10
4

The closest value to the Ka calculated is Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate that the
6
Ka is 5.310
Unknown acid 2:
pH = 3.21
H 3 O 10 pH 10 3.21 6.166 10 4 M

HA + H 2 O

H3O + A

Initial
Change

0.012M
4
- 6.166 10 M

4
Equilibrium (0.012 - 6.166 10 )M

0
4

+ 6.166 10 M
6.166 104 M

6.166 104 M
6.166 104 M

H O A
3

Ka=
Ka

HA

6.166 10 6.166 10 3.340 10

0.012 6.166 10
4

The closest value to the Ka calculated is Benzoic Acid that the Ka is 6.310

Discussion:

10

This experiment is mainly about finding the Ka value for unknown acid 1 and
2. From the Ka value, we could estimate which acid is the unknown acid we used
from table 1. By using the first method that is the titration curve, the unknown
acid 1 was estimated to be acetic acid same as unknown acid 2. The molarity of
both unknown acid was different as the volume for the NaOH used to neutral the
acid.
From the titration curve, the unknown acid 1 curve was merely the same as
the theory titration curve. But the unknown acid 2 curve was totally different. This
is because at the beginning of the titration for the unknown acid 2, the pH value
nearly 7.0 that is the equivalence point that we need to obtained. This is because
the acid molarity was lower than the unknown acid 1.
By using the second method, we just used the initial pH value that we
obtained in the experiment. The pH value that obtained was used to calculate the
molarity for each unknown acid by using formula. The closest value to the Ka
6
calculated is Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate that the Ka is 5.310
for
unknown acid 1. And the closest value to the Ka calculated is Benzoic Acid that
5
the Ka is 6.310
for unknown acid 2.

Conclusion:
The experiment was mainly about finding the Ka value to obtain what acid is
the unknown acid. (By using titration with NaOH) The Ka value calculated for the
5
5
unknown acid 1 is 2.512 10 and for the unknown acid 2 is 1.58510 . The
5
closest value of Ka of acid in table 1 is acetic acid that is 1.810
. (By using
determination of Ka from the initial concentration and pH of a weak acid solution)
6
The Ka value calculated for the unknown acid 1 is 3.378 10 and for the
5
unknown acid 2 is 3.340 10 . The closest value of Ka of acid in table 1 is
6
Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate that the Ka is 5.310
for unknown acid 1 and
5
the closest value to the Ka calculated is Benzoic Acid that the Ka is 6.310
for
unknown acid 2.
From the experiment we could conclude that by using determination of Ka
from the initial concentration and pH of a weak acid solution is more accurate as
we just need to obtain the initial pH value and calculate the Ka by using formula.
This method is more accurate as it minimize the error occurs in the experiment.
Recommendation:
The experiment should include the indicator as we could see the changes
of the titration.
References:
11

 Brown, LeMay, and Bursten. Laboratory Experiments for Chemistry:

The Central Science. Fifth Edition. Experiment 21
http://icn2.umeche.maine.edu/genchemlabs/Equil_Const/equilcon1.
html
http://www.kwantlen.bc.ca/__shared/assets/ph1167.pdf
http://web.centre.edu/miles/che135/che135labs/pKa%20of%20a
%20weak%20acid.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~christylthomas/Kaweakacidlab10.pdf
http://faculty.kutztown.edu/vitz/limsport/LabManual/KAWeb/KA_DET
.htm
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/Chemistry/Courses/General/B
Lacidbase.html

Appendices:

12