Introduction

There are millions of chemical substances in the world, some are acids, others are bases
and some are neutral. Acids are substances that produce free hydrogen ions (H+ ions) when
dissolved in water. Bases are substances that produce hydroxyl ions (OH- ions) when dissolved
in water. Acidic solutions are rich in hydrogen ions and basic solutions are poor in hydrogen ions.
Some acids dissociate only partly, releasing very small amounts of H+ ions, and are called weak
acids. Others dissociate completely, releasing large amounts of H+ ions, and are called strong
acids. In the same way, bases that dissociate partly are called weak bases and those that
dissociate completely are called strong bases.

The acidic or basic property of substances is measured in terms of pH. It is a measurement

of the hydrogen ion concentration. pH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of hydrogen
ion concentration. pH = -log [H+] or pH = log 1/[H+]. If the hydrogen ion concentration is very high,
the pH value is very low. This is determined using a scale ranging from 0-14 called the pH scale.
It was introduced by a Danish chemist Soren Peder Lauritz Sorensen. Substances with pH lower
than 7 are acidic, those with pH equal to 7 are neutral and those with pH greater than 7 are basic
in nature. The pH of pure water is 7. i.e. [H+] = [OH- ] ≈ 10-7 at 25℃. So pH ≈ 7.

pOH is used to measure the concentration of hydroxyl ions (OH- ions) or the alkalinity of
a solution. pOH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of hydroxyl ion concentration. pOH
= -log [OH] or pOH = log 1/[OH-]. pOH is derived from pH and are related by the equation, pH +
pOH = 14 at room temperature.

pH of a solution is measured using pH indicators. pH indicators are substances that

changes colour when in contact with acidic, basic or neutral solutions. pH paper is a strip of special
paper that is prepared by dipping the strip in different chemical compounds and then drying it. It
can be used to find the approximate pH of any solution. These paper changes colour when
immersed in acidic or basic solutions. To determine the pH, the pH paper is dipped in a given
sample solution and the colour developed in the paper is compared with the colour chart and the
approximate pH of the solution can be identified. It is commerically available as test papers.

1
 Universal indicator is a pH indicator composed of different chemical compounds. When
the indicator is poured in the sample solution, the mixture obtained exhibits a smooth colour
change over a pH value ranging from 1-14 that indicates the acidic or basic property of the
solution. It is commercially available as test solutions.

pH meter is an electronic instrument consisting of a special bulb that is sensitive to

hydrogen ions that are present in the test solution. The signal produced by the bulb is amplified
and sent to an electronic meter connected to the bulb, which measures and display the pH
reading. It gives more precise values than the pH papers. For very precise measurement, the pH
meter should be calibrated before each measurement. The calibration should be performed with
at least two buffer solutions with known pH. For general purposes, buffer solutions with pH 4 and
pH 10 are used. For more precise measurements, three buffer solution calibrations are preferred.
After each single measurement, the bulb is rinsed with distilled water or deionised water to remove
any traces of solution being measured. Then the bulb is blotted with a blotting paper to remove
remaining water that could dilute the sample and alter the reading. When not in use, the bulb must
be kept wet at all times to avoid dehydration of the pH sensing membrane.

2
 Objective
1. To determine the pH of the given sample using pH paper, pH meter and Universal indicator.

2. To acquire the skill to calculate the percentage of ionization of a solution at different

concentrations.

3. To determine the dissociation constant of the acid.

3
Methodology

4
5
 Results
Part A(1)

Different indicators 0.1M HCl 1.0M HCl

pH paper 2 1

Universal indicator 2 (orange-red) 1 (red)

pH meter 1.87 1.02

Part (A)2

Concentration of HCl Colour of Methyl violet

0.1M Blue-green

1.0M Green

Part (A) 3

Different Indicators 0.1M CH3COOH 1.0M CH3COOH

pH paper 3 2

pH meter 2.92 2.43

Methyl violet Dark purple Light purple

Methyl orange Orange Dark orange

6
Part A(4)

Indicators 0.1M NaOH 1.0M NaOH 0.1M NH3 1.0M NH3

pH paper 13 14 - -

Alzarin Dark red Light red Orange Red

yellow

Part B

Indicators 0.1M NaCl 0.1M NaOAc 0.1M NH4NO3

pH paper 7 5 10
Universal indicator Light green Green Dark blue

Part C

Initial reading of burette 30ml

Final reading of burette 17.2ml
Volume of 0.2M NaOH needed to each end 12.8ml
point

pH of the mixture = 8.36

CH3COOH CH3COO- H3O+

Initial 0.1M 0M 0M
Change -x +x +x
Equilibrium (0.1-x)M xM xM

x = [H3O+]
pH = -log [H3O+]
log [H3O+] = -pH
= -8.36
[H3O+] = 10-8.36
= 4.37 x 10-9

In the small x approximation, we say that x<<0.1M, i.e. 0.1-x ≈ 0.1. Therefore,

Ka of the mixture = [H3O+][CH3COO-]/ [CH3COOH]

= x2/0.1
= (4.37 x 10-9)2 /0.1
= 1.91 x 10-16

7
 Discussion

As we all know, the purpose of this lab was to determine the pH of several different salt
solutions through the use of acid-base indicators and then determining the value of the equilibrium
constant for each. The tables above contain all the observations and calculations made during
this lab including the colors and pH transitions of indicators that were determined by me and my
lab group. Part 1 table shows the result of 0.1M HCI and 1.0M HCI that tested by different
indicator. For universal indicator, solution changed from colorless to red colour solution indicates
6the acidity of the solution. Based on the result, 1.0M HCI has lower pH value than 0.1M HCI.
This is due to the number of H+ ion presence in 1.0M HCI is higher than 0.01M HCI.

For part 2 result, 0.1M HCI and 1.0M HCI were tested by methyl violet. However, 0.1M HCI
change from colourless to blue-green while 1.0M HCI change from colourless to green. For part
3 result, the readings of both pH paper and pH meter show that the 1.0M CH3COOH has slightly
lower pH value than 0.1M CH3COOH. This is due to the ionization of H+ in both 0.1M CH3COOH
and 1.0M CH3COOH. 1.0M CH3COOH has higher ionization of H+ in its solution compare with
0.1M CH3COOH. For the results of pH value of different molarity CH3COOH tested by indicator
methyl violet and methyl orange, both show the same result as pH paper and pH meter. The 1.0M
CH3COOH has slightly lower pH value than 0.1M CH3COOH. This indicates that 1.0M CH3COOH
is more acidic compare with 0.1M CH3COOH.

For part 4 result, 0.1M NaOH and 1.0M NaOH obtain pH value of 13 and 14 respectively.
This is due to the number of OH- ion presence in 1.0M NaOH is higher than 0.01M NaOH. For
alizarin yellow, 0.1M NaOH shows the colour change from colourless to light and dark red. While
1.0M NaOH shows the colour change from colourless to orange. The darker the orange colour
solution of NaOH indicates the more alkaline of the particular solution. At here, 1.0M NaOH is
more alkaline compare to 0.1M NaOH. 1.0M NaOH has more OH- ion to 0.1M NaOH base
solution. Hence, 1.0M NaOH shows the higher pH value. On the other hand, ammonia, NH3 for
both concentration of ammonia, 0.1 NH3 and 1.0 NH3, both undergoes colour change from
colourless to red and light orange. This indicates that both 1.0M NH3 are more basic than 0.1M
NH3. To conclude, NH3 is consider as a weak bases, hence, it shows the lower pH value in pH
testing compare to NaOH.

8
 Then, based on my determination in part B and part C results, it shows the salt solutions
that went through the hydrolysis reaction and the dissociation constant expression for each as
well as the values of the Ka. Bronsted-Lowry acids are species that donate the H + ion, while
Bronsted-Lowry bases are species that accept the H + ion. Some salts have acidic or basic
properties when added to water because they ionize with water to go through a process called
hydrolysis. The magnitude of Ka or Kb tells you that the primary species that is present in the
aqueous salt solution at equilibrium is mostly acidic, basic or neutral. For part B result, 0.1 M NaCI
and 0.1M NH4NO3 salt solution were tested by pH paper and universal indicator. 0.1 M NaCI
shows pH 7 from pH paper test and colour change to light-green colour solution from colourless
tested by universal indicator. 0.1M NaOAc shows pH of 5 and the colour of the Universal
indidcator tested is green. However, 0.1M NH4NO3 shows pH 10 from pH paper and colour
change from colourless to dark blue when tested by universal indicator. Undeniable, 0.1 M NaCI
appear to be more neutral, 0.1M NaOAc appear to be acidic while 0.1M NH4NO3 appear to be
more basic.

In part C, the volume of 0.2M NaOH needed to neutralize the 25ml of 0.1M CH3COOH is
12.8ml. The ph of mixture at the end point is 8.36 and the pKa value of phenolphthalein used is
9.3 over the pH range of 8.2-10.10. This shows phenolphthalein have a pKa value near the pH of
the titration’s endpoint. Using the value of pH value obtained using the pH meter, the Ka value
calculated is 4.37 x 10-9.

9
 Conclusion

After this lab session, we have learned the effect of concentration and temperature on
chemical equilibrium. Second, we have learned on how to determine the equilibrium constant.
The primary source of error in this experiment is due to the adding of the indicators to the wells
and the possibility of some contamination and mixture of different salt solutions which would alter
the pH levels of each of the salt solutions when the indicator is added. How to minimize this error
could be thoroughly rinsing the well after each use and conducting multiple trials of determining
what the color of the salt solution is after adding the indicator. It is important to use only a few
drops of indicator when testing solutions is because at a certain point when the color changes is
half of the indicator is in acid form and the other half is in basic form and if you go beyond that
point the pH of the salt solution could be determined not accurately. Because we are trying to
abide by the 12 principles of green chemistry it was very important to be precise and accurate
when performing this experiment because the large amount of waste produced and that is why
multiple trials for the testing of each salt solution would not be conducted. Thus this experiment
shows the importance of being precise and accurate as well as calculating correctly to try and
accomplish a true or accepted value of the pH and concentrations of the salt solutions.

10
 References

1. Books
Thomas Bond et. al., 2016. A-level Chemistry Complete Guide. Themis Publishing.

Mark S et al, 2014. Introductory Chemistry: An Active Learning Approach. 6th ed.
Cengage Learning

2. Internet

Foundation, C. (n.d.). CK-12 Foundation. Retrieved from: https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-

12-Chemistry-Concepts-Intermediate/section/21.12/

PH Measurement and its Applications - Santa Monica College. (n.d.). Retrieved from:
https://www.bing.com/cr?IG=EFFFDFA2159A4130BC3218437C8F0BF4&CID=15F2379
7475C6C1A08913CAF465A6DD3&rd=1&h=17HC4glf23oP5xbYrXzyx0g9sBnif50oBI5tjc
EzAY8&v=1&r=https%3a%2f%2fwww.smc.edu%2fAcademicPrograms%2fPhysicalScien
ces%2fDocuments%2fChemistry_12_Experiments%2fpH%2520Measurement%25203-
13.pdf&p=DevEx,5048.1

Acids and Bases: Ionization Constants. (n.d.). Retrieved from:

https://www.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/genchem/netorial/rottosen/tutorial/modules/acid_ba
se/03ionization/ion1.htm

11