Titration Curves, 1

Acid-Base Titration Curves Using a pH Meter

Lea Witt, Niza Lodin, Jeremy Andia, Ashley Straub

Section Number: CHM 152LL-0001/ 10130

Instructor: Jason Steward

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Data and Calculations:

Table 1: Titration Volumes and pH values

HCl-NaOH Titration Data CH3COOH-NaOH Titration Data

[HCl] = 0.1008 M [CH3COOH] = 0.1016 M

[NaOH] = 0.09983 M [NaOH] = 0.09983 M

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Results: Table 2:

Results of Titration:

Equivalence Equivalence Half Half Equivalence Point pH

Point Point pH Equivalence
Volume Point
(mL) Volume
(mL)
HCl-NaOH 9.88 mL 7.12 X X
CH3COOH- 10.30 mL 8.18 5.15 mL 4.70
NaOH

Discussion Questions:

1. Purpose:

The purpose of this lab was to use a pH sensor to collect volume and pH data, by

performing titrations with 0.1008 M HCl (aq) and 0.1016 M CH3COOH (aq) with

0.09983 M NaOH (aq). The recorded volume and pH values generated pH curves that

were used to compare features of the weak acid curve versus the strong acid curve. The

equivalence point volume and pH for both curves were determined by using the pH

probe. By using the titration from the weak acid, the pKa and Ka were calculated. The

computed values and actual pH values for certain volumes for each titration were then

compared to each other. Finally, the absolute percent difference for the weak acid

ionization constant was calculated.

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2. A student obtained a wet buret from the cart but failed to rinse it with a small

amount of the base before starting a titration. Will more or less titrant (base) be

required to neutralize the acid? Explain your answer.

If the student obtained a wet buret and failed to condition the buret, there

would’ve been an air pocket left in the tip meaning that there would need to be more base

required to neutralize the acid. The base must push through the air pocket first in order to

reach the solution, therefore there would be more volume of the base needed.

3. Compare the initial pH values for both titrations. Explain why the pH of the

HCl(aq) solution is initially lower, higher, or approximately equal to the pH of the

CH3COOH(aq) solution.

When the initial pH values of both titrations are compared, the initial pH of HCl

was 1.94 and the initial pH of CH3COOH was 3.23. HCl is considered as a strong acid

and CH3COOH is considered to be a weak acid based on their initial pH. One of the key

differences between the two are strong acids have a lower pH than weak acids. Due to the

pH of HCl being lower it will start off lower on the graph when compared to the starting

position of CH3COOH.

4. What is the pH at the equivalence point for your HCl(aq)-NaOH(aq) titration

curve? What is the pH at the equivalence point for your CH3COOH(aq)-NaOH(aq)

titration curve? For each titration, explain why the pH at the equivalence point is
 Titration Curves, 5

either acidic, basic, or neutral by indicating which substances are present in solution

that result in the observed pH.

At the equivalence point of HCl-NaOH the pH is 7.12; indicating that the solution

is extremely close to neutral. This is because the titration is between a strong acid and a

strong base. In the solution, there is an equal amount initial acid, HCl, and base, NaOH,

present in the solution. For acetic acid, the pH at the equivalence point was 8.18;

indicating that this solution is slightly basic. This is because the titration is between a

strong base and a weak acid. The solution contains an equal amount of acetic acid and

sodium hydroxide.

5. Compare the pH values for the HCl(aq) and CH3COOH(aq) titration curves past

the equivalence point. Explain why this region is similar or different for the two

acids.

The pH values for hydrochloric acid and acetic acid past the equivalence point are

similar at the end points on the titration curves. This is because HCl(aq) and CH3COOH

are very close in concentration so they require around the same amount of NaOH, (10

mL) to reach their equivalence points according to their stoichiometric calculations. At

the end point, there is more NaOH in the solution than the acid, so their pH levels will be

about the same; pH of 10. The pH probe is reading the pH of the excess of the base,

NaOH, more than the acids in the solutions at this point in the titration.

6. a) Using the estimated pKa value from your acetic acid-sodium hydroxide curve,

show your calculation of the experimental Ka value for acetic acid.

pKa=pH at the half-equivalence point

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pH at the half-equivalence point was 4.70 so the pKa was also 4.70.

To solve for Ka=10-pKa

Ka=10-4.70 = 1.9953x10-5

Ka=2.0x10-5

b) Given the theoretical Ka value for CH3COOH(aq) is 1.8x10-5 , calculate the

absolute percentage difference between the experimental and theoretical values.

experimental Ka -theoretical Kb
Absolute % difference = ! theoretical Ka
!x100%

1.9953x&'() - 1.8x&'()
Absolute % difference = ! 1.8x&'()
!x100% = 10.85%

Absolute % difference= 11%

7. Use the concentrations of HCl (10.00 mL) and NaOH used in this experiment to

calculate the pH at each of the following volumes of base in your titration. Assume

no change in concentrations with the added water. a. 0.00 mL b. 5.00 mL c.

equivalence point (at the calculated volume) d. 14.00 mL

On separate sheet of paper.

8. Discuss how each of the calculated values above compares to your measured pH

values.

The initial pH of the calculated value was 0.9965 however the initial pH from the

experiment for the HCL graph was 1.94. Moreover when 5 mL were added to the

solution experimentally, the pH became 2.19 while the calculated value was 1.470. While

these first two values were close, the pH determined at the equivalence point that was

calculated turned out to be much less than the actual pH found. The calculated pH was
 Titration Curves, 7

2.96 while the actual pH was 7.12. This could because the theoretical volume calculated

to neutralize the solution was 10.10 mL while the volume for the actual equivalence point

was only 9.88mL. This caused the moles of OH- and H3O+ to be different when they

should be the same at the equivalence point. The pH theoretically determined at 14.00mL

of NaOH was 12.210 while a pH was not experimentally determined at this volume.

However, the pH rose to 14.55 at a volume of 11.63 meaning that the pH would have

read much higher at 14.00mL than what was theoretically calculated.

9. Use the concentrations of CH3COOH (10.00 mL, Ka = 1.8x10-5 ) and NaOH used in

this experiment to calculate the pH at each of the following volumes of base in your

titration. Assume no change in concentrations with the added water.

a. 0.00 mL b. 5.00 mL c. equivalence point (at the calculated volume) d. 14.00 mL

On separate sheet of paper.

10. Discuss how each of the calculated values above compares to your measured pH

values

The calculated pH values and the measured pH values differed. The calculated pH

values were 2.87 for 0.00mL NaOH added, 4.73 for 10.00mL NaOH added, 10.77 for

10.30mL added, and 12.20 when 14.00mL NaOH was added. The measured pH value at

0.00mL was 3.23 which is higher than the calculated value. The pH at 10.00mL was 6.46

which was also higher than the calculated value of 4.73. The pH at the equivalence point

was 8.18, however the calculated pH at this point was 10.77 which was higher. Finally, a

pH was not measured for 14.00mL but for 15.00mL it was measured at 11.50. Thus, the

calculated volume would have been higher since it was 12.20 and at 14.00mL, the
 Titration Curves, 8

measured pH value would have been around 11.

11. Discuss at least 2 sources of error in this experiment. How did they affect your

results and how would you correct them if you were to repeat the experiment?

One source of error could be from obtaining the smaller increment data points too

late with the assumption that the equivalence point would happen later. For example, the

stoichiometric calculation for the amount of NaOH (aq) required to neutralize the HCl

(aq) was 10.10 mL and it was assumed that is where the equivalence point would happen.

However, the equivalence point was actually reached with 9.85 mL which led to not

enough data points near equivalence point. This could be corrected in the future by

testing single small drops at a time of NaOH starting at 9mL.

Another source of error could happen if the pH probe was not cleaned properly in

between titrations with HCL and CH3COOH. This means that the initial reading for

CH3COOH may have a false high reading since the pH may be reading the pH leftover

from NaOH on the previous titration. This could be improved in the future by properly

cleaning the pH probe before inserting it into a different solution.

Conclusion:

The purpose of this lab was to use a pH sensor to collect volume and pH data by titrating

0.1008 M HCl (aq) and 0.1016 M CH3COOH (aq) with 0.09983 M NaOH (aq). The weak acid

curve and strong acid curve were compared to each other by analyzing the recorded volume and

pH values. For the strong acid titration, HCl-NaOH, the equivalence point volume was at
 Titration Curves, 9

9.88mL where the corresponding pH was 7.12 at this point. For the weak acid titration,

CH3COOH-NaOH, the equivalence point volume measured 10.30mL with a coinciding pH of

8.18. By dividing the equivalence point by two, the half equivalence point for acetic acid was

calculated to have a volume of 5.15mL with a corresponding pH of 4.70. The Ka value was

calculated by taking the pka, 4.70, and plugging it into 10 -pka. So, 10-4.70 equals 1.9953x10-5

which when rounded to the correct significant figures, it equals to 2.0x10-5. Given that the

theoretical value for Ka/Kb was 1.8x10-5 and the experimental value for Ka/Kb was 1.9953x10-5,

the percent error for acetic acid equals 11%. Overall, within the experiment, a strong base-strong

acid titration and strong base-weak acid titration were performed.