LAB REPORT

Acid and Base Classifications

DECEMBER 3, 2018
Table of Contents
Objective ................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2
Buffer: -.................................................................................................................................. 2
PH: - ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Digital pH meter: - ................................................................................................................. 3
Lab Quest: - ........................................................................................................................... 3
Equipment/Materials ................................................................................................................. 3
Procedure ................................................................................................................................... 4
Results (Experimental data) ...................................................................................................... 4
Calculations ............................................................................................................................... 5
Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 6
Safety Precautions ..................................................................................................................... 6
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 7
References ................................................................................................................................. 7

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Objective
“To differentiate between acidic and basic solutions by measuring their PH.
This activity will introduce the students to differ between strong and weak acids on the base
of pH and how they can be used to determine whether a substance is a weak or strong acid.

Introduction
Acids and bases represent two important classes of chemical compounds. These compounds
play a significant role in many atmospheric and geological processes. In addition, acid-base
reactions affect many of the physiological processes that take place within the human body.
Acids and bases are important in atmospheric, geological, and physiological processes
because they have unique chemical properties. Acids and bases have unique chemical
properties because of the atomic composition of these compounds and how these compounds
interact with other atoms and molecules
Strong acids: -
A strong acid is any acid that ionizes completely in solutions. This means it gives off the
greatest number of hydrogen ions or protons when placed in a solution. Ions are charged
particles.
The following common acids are strong: HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, HClO4and H2SO4.
Weak acids: -
A weak acid is an acid that dissociates incompletely, releasing only some of its hydrogen
atoms into the solution. Thus, it is less capable than a strong acid at donating protons. These
acids have higher pKa than strong acids, which release all of their hydrogen atoms when
dissolved in water.
Some weak acids: HF, HNO2, HClO2, [H2SO3] = SO2+ H2O, HC2H3O2.

Buffer: -
An acid-base buffer is a solution that lessens the change in [H3O+] that would result when a
strong acid or base is added. A buffer is a concentrated solution of a weak acid (or base),
together with a salt containing the conjugate base (or acid). a weak acid and its conjugate base
or a weak base and its conjugate acid.

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PH: -
The pH is a measure of the number of hydrogen ions that are present in the solution. Solutions
that are neither acidic nor basic have a pH of 7. Basic solutions have pH values greater than 7,
and acidic solutions have pH values below 7. The following table depicts the pH scale with
the pH values of common acids. One way to determine the pH of an acidic solution is through
the use of an indicator.

Digital pH meter: -
Since hydrogen ions are released by acids, acidic solutions can conduct electricity. The ability
to cause electrical conductivity in solution classifies all acid solutions as electrolytes. The
electrical conductivity of an acidic solution allows for pH measurements to be made digitally
by a digital pH meter.

Lab Quest: -
Lab Quest is a standalone and computer interface for Vernier sensors. Use its color touch
screen to collect, graph, and analyze data in your classroom or in the field.

Equipment/Materials
 Safety goggles
 pH probe
 pH test paper
 Eye droppers
 Lab Quest
 Chemicals: -
o Hydrochloric acid, HCl
o Acetic acid, CH3COOH
o Sulphuric acid, H2SO4
o Nitric Acid
o Sodium hydroxide, NaOH.
o Sodium acetate
o DI Water

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Procedure
 I prepared about 100 ml solution of the acids that are given below:
a) 1M HCl b)1M H2SO4

c)1M HNO3 d) 1M CH3COOH

 Solutions are made in such a way that 10 ml acid and 90 ml DI water should be
mixed.
 I Calibrate the pH meter as given instructions below: -
a) The pH meter should already be plugged in. The FUNCTION switch should
be on standby and the electrode should be immersed in a soaking solution,
either distilled water or buffer.
b) Remove the pH probe from the storage solution and place in a beaker.
c) Press sensor on the menu bar and calibrate the pH.
 Now I pressed the “Calibrate”.
 I placed the probe in pH 4 buffer standard solution.
 When the voltage reading is steadies, I tapped the box under for reading which is
known and entered the pH of buffer.
 I rinsed the probe in clean tap water.
 I rechecked the value for two standard buffers by placing the probe in them.
 Now, I collected the data for the pH verses acetic acid.
 I found an acetic acid solution with a total concentration 1 M.
 I prepared a solution whose total concentrations are 0.1 M and 0.01M.
 I measured the pH of these two solutions by using calibrated pH meter.
 Now, I collected data H2C2H3O2(acetic acid) with Na C2H3O (sodium acetate).
 I weighed the 0.5g and 1.5gram samples of anhydrous sodium acetate.
 I measured exactly 500ml of sodium acetate solution in a distilled water with 0.5 and
1.5g sodium acetate.

Results (Experimental data)

Sr Chemical pH
No. (0.1 M)

1 HCl 1.32

2 H2SO4 1.27

3 HNO3 1.43

4 CH3COOH 2.53

5 H2C2O4(H2O)2 1.42

6 HKC6H4(CO2)2 3.89

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 Calculations

o Conc. [H3O+] from pH of 0.1 M HCl.

0.1 M HCl 1 * 10-1 HCl 1 * 10-1 M H+ pH = 1
o [H3O+] from pH of 0.1 M HAc Weak acid
Suppose pH = 3.1. So [H3O+] = 10-3.1 10* function 7.9E – 4 = [H+]

o Equilibrium [Ac-] from 0.1 M HAc solution.

-
HAc H+ + Ac

So we have also a formula from which we can calculate pH

pH = - log [H3O+].
o Since at equilibrium [ H+] = [ Ac-]
o Ka from 0.1 M HAc solution
[ HAc] eq = [ HAc] ini - [ H+] eqilib
o So from the above equation we conclude that
= 0.1 – (7.9E – 4) = 0.09921
o We also know that the expression for the acid dissociate constant

[ H+] eq[ Ac−] eq

o 𝐾𝑎 =
[ HAc] eq
-
o Con. Ac in the 50 ml 0f 0.1 M HAc and add 0.5g Na Ac
NaCH3C+O2 82g/m and NaAc = 0.5g/82g/m = 6.1E – 3 mol NaAc

o Molarity of Ac- = 6.1E – 3 mol NaAc/ 0.05L = 0.0061/0.05

o By calculating the value from above equation

Molarity of moles of Ac- = 0.122M Ac-

o Now at equilibrium [H3O+]and [Ac-] =?
CH3COOH = 60 g/m and 0.5g/60g/m = 0.008333

Equilibrium [H3O+] = 0.1 - 0.008333 = 0.0916

Equilibrium [Ac-] = 0.099 + 0.122= 0.221

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Data Analysis
Interaction of acids with water

When an acid dissolve in water, a proton (hydrogen ion) is transferred to a water

molecule to produce a hydroxonium ion and a negative ion depending on what acid
you are starting from.

For example, when hydrogen chloride dissolves in water to make hydrochloric acid,
so little of the reverse reaction happens that we can write:

At any one time, virtually 100% of the hydrogen chloride will have reacted to produce
hydroxonium ions and chloride ions. Hydrogen chloride is described as a strong acid.
A weak acid is one which doesn't ionize fully when it is dissolved in water.
Acetic acid is a typical weak acid. It reacts with water to produce hydroxonium ions
and ethanoate ions, but the back reaction is more successful than the forward one. The
ions react very easily to reform the acid and the water.

At any one time, only about 1% of the acetic acid molecules have converted into ions.
The rest remain as simple acetic acid molecules. Acetic acid is described as a weak
acid
Effect of reaction of NaAc (sodium acetate) with acetic acid

The hydroxyl ion can react with acetic acid with so called "neutralization". As we
know, the neutralization reaction generally refers to the acid-base reaction of
generating salt and water. But strictly speaking, the reaction between sodium acetate
and acetic acid is not a neutralization reaction.

Safety Precautions
Follow all normal lab safety rules. All of the acids you will use are corrosive to eyes,
skin, and other body tissues. They are also toxic when ingested. Your teacher will
explain relevant and important information about working with the chemicals
associated with this investigation. In addition, take the following safety precautions:
•
Wear indirectly vented chemical-splash goggles and chemical-resistant gloves
and apron while in the laboratory.
•
Handle all glassware with care.
•
Wash your hands with soap and water before leaving the laboratory.

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Conclusion
First of all, I standardize the solution at standard buffer solutions. After that aqueous
solution of acids are formed and pH are calculated from formulas in calculations. I
conclude that concentration of H+ ions are comparatively very large in strong acid
solutions while in weak acid solutions.

References
 https://www.quora.com/If-I-put-sodium-acetate-and-acetic-acid
 Ch103\Handouts\StrongWeakAcids.PDF
 William L. Jolly "Modern Inorganic Chemistry" (McGraw-Hill, 1984), p.177
 Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G. (2004). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.)

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