Spectrophotometric Determination of The Acid Dissociation Constant of Methyl Red

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF THE ACID
DISSOCIATION CONSTANT OF METHYL RED
A. ARNOCO1, J. REYES2
1
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
2
DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METTALURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
DATE PERFORMED: November 16, 2016
INSTRUCTOR: INGUITO, J.N.
3. Explain the importance of using

matched cells in the experiment.
1. Discuss the application of Beer’s law on
the analysis of a multi-component system.
The absorbance of a species in a mixture Matched cells are composed of a

of diverse species is usually not affected by reference/blank cell and the sample cell. In
the other species present in the mixture. With the reference cell, all absorbing species
this, the Beer’s law can be used to analyze the present in the sample that are not to
solution. Beer’s law is given by the equation measured are contained while the sample cell
below. contains the sample.
A=ε bc (1) It is important to use matched cells in
In this equation, ε is the molar this experiment so that the absorbance of the
absorptivity of the species, b is the path length spectator species are accounted for in the
of the light and c is the concentration of measurement of the absorption of the species
solution. To get the total absorbance of the of interest. It is as if the absorbances of the
solution, absorbances of different individual spectator species are immediately subtracted
species are added. to the absorbance of the sample to get the
n
absorbance of the species of interest [2].
Atotal =∑ ε n b c n (2)
i=1
With this property of absorbance, the 4. Why is it right for the HMR solution to
individual species’ concentration and other have a pH of approximately 2, and for the
properties associated with absorbance can be MR- solution to have a pH of
examined[1]. approximately 8?
2. How do we determine the molar It is only appropriate that HMR has a

absorptivity of each component in a multi- lower pH since HMR is the protonated form of
component system? methyl red and it is dominant in the solwhich
From equation (1), molar absorptivity means that it is acidic in nature while MR - is
of each component can be determined by the deprotonated form of methyl red which
dividing the absorbance of the species with means that it is basic in nature [3].
the corresponding path length and its
concentration in the solution. Molar 5. Correlate the wavelengths of maximum
L [1]
absorption of HMR and MR- to their colors.
absorptivity has units of .
mol ∙ cm
The wavelengths of the maximum Possible sources of error may be from
absorption of the species are actually related the solution preparation. It was noticed that
to the colors absorbed by the species. In the the solutions used were more diluted than
case of HMR, its color is pink/magenta which expected therefore, measuring absorbances
means that it absorbs yellow-green light. On that are far lower than the expected values.
the other hand, for MR -, its color is yellow Also, instrumental errors may have occurred.
which means that it absorbs blue-violet light. Since most instruments in the laboratory are
From the experiment, the wavelength of of old age, then inaccuracies may have been
maximum absorption for HMR is relatively brought about. Other errors may have
higher than the wavelength of maximum occurred from the failure to calibrate the
absorption of MR-. This agrees to theory instruments properly and fingerprints and
since based in the visible light spectrum, it is other unnecessary particles that interfered
known that the wavelength of yellow-green is with the light transmitted [4].
larger than that of blue-violet [4].
REFERENCES:
6. Why do we measure the pH of the [1] Mathcad. Concentrations in Multi-
solutions 7 to 10? component systems.
http://www.pmif.ukim.edu.mk/PMF/Chemis
Solutions 7 to 10 pH’s were measured try/wmc-4c11.html (accessed Nov. 22, 2016).
to determine the relative concentrations of
HMR and MR- in the solutions. From [2] Clark College. Spectrophotometry.
spectrophotometry, the concentration of MR - http://web.clark.edu/nfattaleh/classes/135/
and HMR can be determined. From equation Sp06/SpecSp06.pdf (accessed Nov. 22, 2016).
[4] derived from equation [3], the K a of
methyl red can be calculated since all the [3] Colby College. pKa of Methyl Red.
other variable have already been measured http://www.colby.edu/chemistry/PChem/la
through the pH meter and the
b/pKaMethylRed.pdf (accessed Nov. 22,
spectrophotometer [1].
K = [H+] [MR-] (3) 2016).
[HMR]
pKa = pH – log ¿ (4) [4] Skoog, Douglas A., Donald M. West and F.
James Holler. "Fundamentals of Analytical
7. Account for the deviation or closeness of Chemistry 8th ed." Harcourt Brace College
the experimental acid dissociation Publishers. 1995.
constant of methyl red to its literature
value. What factors might cause the
discrepancy between the two values?
From the experiment, the pK a of

methyl red is . Compared to the literature
value of 5.00, it has a % deviation of % [3].
Since the solutions were noticed to be more
diluted than expected, errors may have
occurred from there, affecting the measured
pH and absorbances of the species.
8. Discuss possible sources of errors and

their effect on the calculated parameters.

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SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF THE ACID

DISSOCIATION CONSTANT OF METHYL RED

3. Explain the importance of using

The absorbance of a species in a mixture Matched cells are composed of a

2. How do we determine the molar It is only appropriate that HMR has a

From the experiment, the pK a of

8. Discuss possible sources of errors and

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