Experiment # 2

“Aqueous Solutions and

Solution Stoichiometry”

Aya Sabry Safan

CHEM 117-501

29 September 2010

Lab partner: Varun Chauhan

Lab instructor: Layne Sarvela

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Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to understand the solutions chemistry through monitoring
the conductivity of solutions. The conductivity value depends on the species presents in the
solution. In part A, different solutions behavior will be examined to identify whether they are
electrolytes (strong or weak) or non-electrolytes. While in part B, the stoichiomerty of acid
treating with base (titration) was examined to find the equivalence point. Hence we were able to
find the concentration of base given the concentration the acid. As result, the type of electrolyte
depends on the ability of the solution to produce ions. Moreover, the number of moles of acid
and base is the same at the equivalence point during titration. This result is significant as in
electrolytes play an important role in our life. For instance, electrolytes are important in the
transmission o f electric impulses through our nerve cells, as well, maintains the osmotic cell
equilibrium.
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Results

Before the experiment was preformed, several assumptions were made. First, the jar contained
the solution was rose carefully up around the conductivity probe until the hole at the end of the
probe was submerged in the solution to be tested (the electrodes are situated on either sides of
the whole). Moreover, the solutions were swirled before measuring the conductivity.
Additionally, the probe was rinsed by distilled water contained in a wash bottle before testing the
next solution to insure that other substance will not affect the results. The probe’s end was dried
using tissue.

 Part A:

Table 1: Conductivity reading values

Conductivity Relative conductivity
Solution Electrolyte Type Dissociation Type
(𝝁S) (%)
0.1M HCl 23949 100.00 Strong Completely
0.1M CaCl2 16970 70.86 Strong Completely
0.1M NaCl 11788 49.22 Strong Completely
0.1 M CH3COOH 561 2.34 Weak Partially
0.1M CH3OH 31 0.13 Non-electrolyte No dissociation
Tap water 155 0.65 Weak Partially
Distilled water 28 0.12 Non-electrolyte No dissociation

The strong electrolytes dissociated and ionized completely whereas weak electrolytes dissociated
and ionized partially. However, non-electrolytes didn’t provide ions (or didn’t provide electron
to consider them weak electrolytes) and hence didn’t dissociate. Although the solutions have the
same concentration (0.1M), the conductivity value differs. The reason behind this difference is
the ability of dissociation. The more ions are provided, the greater the conductivity value.
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 Part B:

0.08M H2SO4: 39 mL were poured in the burette

Ba(OH)2: 50 mL in the beaker

Table 2: Conductivity values during Titration

Burette(mL) Volume(add)(mL) Volume(total)(mL) Conductivity(𝝁S)
14.39 0.00 0.00 4928
15.39 1.00 1.00 4276
16.41 1.02 2.02 3564
17.38 0.97 2.99 3154
18.41 1.03 4.02 2306
19.40 0.90 4.92 626
19.90 0.50 5.42 244
20.00 0.10 5.52 115
20.12 0.12 5.64 92
20.20 0.08 5.72 29
20.30 0.10 5.82 29
20.40 0.10 5.92 53
21.46 1.06 6.98 1316
22.41 1.05 8.03 2140

At equivalence point, the pink color of phenolphthalein (indicator) turned to milky /turbid color.
The milky color is due to the formation of barium sulfate salt as a precipitation. Moreover, the
moles of acid and base are equivalent; hence, the solution has neutral effect. The conductivity
values kept on decreeing because the number of free ions decreased (OH- changes to water, as
well Ba+ to BaSO4). When adding more acid (sulfuric acid) beyond the equivalent point, there
were increments in the ions present in the solution as the limiting reagent was used up. Thus, the
conductivity values increased again.

Table3: Values at equivalence point.

Data
Volume (mL) Moles (mol) Molarity (M)
Substance
H2SO4 5.82 4.66x10-4 0.08
Ba(OH)2 50.00 4.66x10-4 ≈ 0.01

There are two volume’s records have the same conductivity value (lowest value) in Table 2,
however, the equivalence point is when 5.82 mL of sulfuric acid was added to barium hydroxide.
This was supported by changing in color that occurred. The similar value could be an error
while using the loggerPro program or the solution wasn’t swirled well (human error).
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Questions

According to the conductivity values, equation for the dissociation can be written.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a molecular compound and it is a very strong electrolyte. Hence, it
dissociates completely and the following reaction takes place:

HCl(aq) ⟶ H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

The same goes for Calcium chloride (CaCl2) and Sodium chloride (NaCl) which is an ionic
compound that dissociate completely and they are considered as strong electrolytes:

CaCl2 (aq) ⟶ Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

NaCl(aq) ⟶ Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Acetic acid is a weak electrolyte as it dissociates partially. The same compound is formed back
as the formed ions combine together and thus, it is in a state of equilibrium.

CH3COOH(aq) ⇋ H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)

For the non-electrolyte, methanol, its molecular formula is written for its solution in water as
CH300OH(aq). On the other hand, tap water is considered as a weak electrolyte, although
hydronium and hydroxide ions won’t take place in conductivity. There are mineral as salts in it
that dissociates. Therefore, distilled water that is ions free water will not conduct as much as tap
water. Hence, it considered as non-electrolyte.

At equivalence point, 5.82mL of sulfuric acid was added to barium hydroxide. Hence, the
solution at this point contains 4.656 x 10-4 mol of sulfuric acid. In the following reaction:

Ba(OH)2 (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) ⟶ BaSO4 (s) + 2H2O (l)

The ration of sulfuric acid to barium hydroxide is 1:1. Therefore, number of moles of barium
hydroxide will be the same as sulfuric acid at the equivalence point which is equal to 4.66x10-4
mol. From the volume and the moles of barium hydroxide, the concentration (molarity) will be
9.312 x 10-3 M that is almost 0.01 M. If the procedure is carried on again the values gained
would be similar to these values.

Tap water relatively has higher conductivity value than distilled water. Tap water contains
soluble salts that are considered as electrically charged particles, ions, in water. Hence, tape
water has the tendency to provide ions. When water undergoes various treatments, it results in
water in its purest form (distilled water). Hence, it contains none or few salts, thus it is non-
electrolyte and doesn’t provide ions, and the conductivity value is much less than tap water’s
conductivity value.
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Calculations and In-lab Printouts

Part A:

Relative conductivity:
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = × 100%
ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
16970𝜇S
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2 = × 100%
23949𝜇S
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 70.86%

Part B:

Volume added into the beaker (of H2SO4):

𝑉𝑎𝑑𝑑 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑉𝑎𝑑𝑑 = 15.39 𝑚𝐿 − 14.39𝑚𝐿
𝑉𝑎𝑑𝑑 = 1.00 𝑚𝐿

Total volume added:

𝑽𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 + 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 1.00 𝑚𝐿 + 1.02 𝑚𝐿
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 2.02 𝑚𝐿

Moles at equivalence point:

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑦 × 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

5.82
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒H2 SO4 = 0.08 𝑀 × ( )𝐿
1000
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒H2 SO4 = 4.66 × 10−4 𝑚𝑜𝑙
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Number of moles of Ba(OH)2:

Ba(OH)2 (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) ⟶ BaSO4 (s) + 2H2O (l)

According to the equation:

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 Ba(OH)2
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒Ba(OH)2 = 4.66 × 10−4 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 H2 SO4 ×
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 H2 SO4

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒Ba(OH)2 = 4.66 × 10−4 𝑚𝑜𝑙

Molarity of solution:

𝑛(𝑚𝑜𝑙)
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝐿)

0.000466 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦𝐵𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 =
50
(1000)𝐿

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦𝐵𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 = 0.00932 𝑀

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦𝐵𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 ≈ 0.01 𝑀