Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration in Vinegar

Using Titration

Pre-laboratory Question
1. Write the balanced equation for the neutralization of acetic acid by sodium
hydroxide.

CH3COOH + NaOH - CH3COONa + H20

2. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that all vinegar sold in the
United States must have a minimum concentration of 4% acetic acid by mass.
Calculate the minimum molarity of acetic acid in vinegar according to this
standard. Assume the density of vinegar is the same as for water.

40 g / 60.04g x 1 L = 0.666 mol/L

3. Calculate the mass of NaOH required to make 0.40 L of a 0.50 M solution.

0.400 L x 0.5 M NaOH = 0.2 mol NaOH

0.2 mol NaOH x (39.997 NaOH/1 Mol NaOH) = 0.8 NaOH

4. Read through the laboratory procedures and then make a list of the procedures
and/or a flow chart to describe the steps. Be sure to include quantities and
descriptions.

Tare the balance once the 10 mL graduate cylinder has been placed on the
electronic balance, dispense 5 mL of vinegar into the 10 mL graduated cylinder, add
two drops of phenolophthalein to the vinegar, transfer 10 mL of 1 M sodium
hydroxide to the small plastic cup, fill the syringe with the solution and try squeeze
out as much air bubbles as possible, add the syringe filled with NaOH drops to the
vinegar solution and swirl the flask as every pink drop turns clear and until it
reaches the pink solution. Record your data. Lastly, dispense and rinse the
materials.

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 Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration in Vinegar
Using Titration

Laboratory Questions
1. Based on the experimental data, what is the molarity of the vinegar tested? How
does this value compare with those determined in the pre-lab questions?

Mine was lower than the pre-lab questions. (0.95) But, I think it’s because of the
Molarity of the solution, considering this experiment contains 1 M instead of 0.5?

2. List at least two possible sources of error from the experiment. Would these
errors result in an overestimation or an underestimation of the concentration of
acetic acid in the vinegar.

1) NaOH could have been added to the solution way too quickly which could of
skewer the endpoint. The end result could come out to an overestimate of
concentration.
2) The amount of acetic acid may not have been accurate 5 mL (could have
been less or more).

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 Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration in Vinegar
Using Titration

Discussion Questions
1. Given the following experimental data, calculate the molarity of the acid analyte
(HA) in the titration, if the balanced neutralization reaction is
H3A + 3 NaOH à Na3A + 3 H2O.
The endpoint was achieved when 31.25 mL of 0.413 M NaOH had been added to
25.0 mL of the analyte. Show your work. You may do this either by typing using
the equation editor in Word, or by working the problem on paper, taking a photo,
and pasting the photo into the space below.

N1V1=N2V2
0.413 x 31.25 = N2 x 25
N2 = 0.516 M is the concentration of HA

When 13 mL NaOH is added total volume is 13+25 = 38 mL

Concentration of base is 0.413 x 0.013L/0.038L = 0.141 M
Concentration of acid is 0.516x0.025/0.038 = 0.339
pH = pKa + log base/acid
3.65 = pKa + log 0.141/0.339
3.65 = pKa – 0.381
pKa = 3.65 + -0.381
pKa = 4.03
Ka = 10-pKa
Ka = 10-4.03
Ka = 9.30 x 10-5

Data Tables
Data Table 1: Titration of Vinegar with Sodium Hydroxide
Vinegar Sample Vinegar Sample Vinegar Sample
1 2 3
Mass of Vinegar
5.50 4.91 5.01

Volume of Vinegar
Density = 1.005 g/mL
5.47 4.88 4.99

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 Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration in Vinegar
Using Titration

Initial NaOH volume in

9.9 10.0 10.0
syringe

Final NaOH volume in

5.2 5.6 5.1
syringe

Volume of NaOH
Delivered
4.7 4.4 4.9

Moles of NaOH
Delivered
0.106 0.111 0.123

Moles of Acetic Acid in

Sample
0.95 1.14 1.01

Mass of Acetic Acid in

Sample
57.05 66.06 60.65

Calculated Molarity of
Acetic Acid in the
0.08567 0.09455 0.98971
sampled vinegar

Calculated Percent Mass

of Acetic Acid in
5.7% 6.6% 6.1%
sampled vinegar

Average Calculated
Percent Mass of Acetic 6.13%
Acid in Sampled Vinegar

Data Table 2: Titration of Second Vinegar Sample with Sodium

Hydroxide
Name of Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Sample
Vinegar Sample Vinegar Sample Vinegar Sample
1 2 3
Mass of Vinegar
5.08 5.10 5.02

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 Determination of Acetic Acid Concentration in Vinegar
Using Titration
Volume of Vinegar
Density = 1.005 g/mL
5.05 5.07 4.99

Initial NaOH volume in

10.0 10.0 10.0
syringe

Final NaOH volume in

4.9 5.0 5.1
syringe

Volume of NaOH
Delivered
5.1 5.0 4.9

Moles of NaOH
Delivered
0.128 0.125 0.123

Moles of Acetic Acid in

Sample
1.10 1.05 1.02

Mass of Acetic Acid in

Sample
66.055 63.05 61.25

Calculated Molarity of
Acetic Acid in the
0.97534 0.91532 0.89263
sampled vinegar

Calculated Percent Mass

of Acetic Acid in
6.6% 6.3% 6.1%
sampled vinegar

Average Calculated
Percent Mass of Acetic 6.3%
Acid in Sampled Vinegar
Note: You may omit Activity 3. Woot!

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