RESULTS

Table 2.1: pH values obtained from titration process

Volume of

pH

pH

pH

Average

NaOH added

(Titration 1)

(Titration 2)

(Titration 3)

pH

(mL)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60

4.09
4.35
4.58
4.79
4.96
5.13
5.31
5.51
5.79
6.31
11.00
11.61
11.84

4.07
4.34
4.59
4.79
4.97
5.14
5.34
5.56
5.86
6.57
11.40
11.71
11.87

4.08
4.34
4.57
4.78
4.96
5.14
5.33
5.55
5.86
6.54
11.33
11.74
11.90

4.08
4.34
4.58
4.79
4.96
5.14
5.33
5.54
5.84
6.47
11.24
11.69
11.87

Table 2.2: Volume of NaOH, pH and Ka

Volume of NaOH at equivalence point (mL)
pH at half equivalence point pKa
Acid ionization constant, Ka

45.4
4.8
1.585 x 10-5

pH vs Volume of NaOH
14
12
10
8
pH

6
4
2
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Volume of NaOH (mL)

Figure 2.1: Graph off pH of unknown acid versus volume of NaOH added

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

First method: Titration of the unknown monoprotic acid with 0.1 M sodium
hydroxide, NaOH
By assuming a 1:1 molar ratio of acid: base, the volume as well as
concentration of sodium hydroxide, which is the base can be used to
determine the number moles of acid present:

Given 0.1 M NaOH solution,

Moles of NaOH = Molarity of NaOH solution x volume of NaOH

=0.1 mol/L x 1 L
= 0.1 mol
From the reaction equation, number of moles of base is equivalent to the
number of moles of acid. Thus,
Moles of acid = Moles of base
= 0.1 mol

pH at half-equivalence point = pKa,

pKa = 4.8

To calculate the acid ionization constant, Ka:

pKa = - log Ka
4.8 = - log Ka
Ka = arc lg -4.8
Ka = 1.585 x 10-5

Second method: Determination of percent ionization of the unknown

monoprotic acid from pH
From the reaction equation,
HA (aq) + H2O (l)

H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

By considering the following ICE table:

Table 2.3: Concentrations table

Components
Initial concentration (M)
Change in concentration

HA
0.1
0.1 x

H3O+
0
+x

A0
+x

(M)
Concentration at

0.1 x

equilibrium (M)

The concentration of H3O+ is calculated using the average value of pH

reading from the titration conducted in the earlier experiment.
pH = - log [H3O+]
4.08 = - log [H3O+]
[H3O+] = arc log (-4.08)
= 8.318 x 10-5

Thus, the acid ionization constant, Ka of the unknown monoprotic acid is

determined by using equation
Ka = [H3O+] [A-]
[HA]
=

( x )(x)
0.1x

=
1.1

(8.318 x 10-5)2
- (8.318 x 10-5)

= 6.92 x 10-8

Thus, the pKa is equal to:

pKa = - log Ka
= - log (6.92 x 10-8)
= 7.16

SAMPLE ERROR CALCULATIONS

The unknown monoprotic acid is identified to be acetic acid. However,
theoretically, the pKa value for acetic acid is 4.76, whereas the Ka values is
1.76 x 10-5. Thus, the percentage errors for each theoretical value to the
calculated value are:
Percentage error of pKa =

4.764.8
x 100 %
4.76

= 0.84 %

Percentage error of Ka= (1.74 x 10-5) (1.585 x 10-5) x 100 %

(1.74 x 10-5)
= 8.91 %

For the identifying the unknown acid using the pH value in order to
determine the Ka value, the value is slightly different from the one obtained
from the titration process. The percentage error is calculated to be:
Percentage error of pKa =

7.217.16
x 100 %
7.21

= 0.69 %

Percentage error of Ka = (6.2310-8) (6.92 x 10-8)

x 100 %

(6.23 x 10-8)
= 11.08 %

DISCUSSION
A lot of information is required in order to ascertain that the identity of the
unknown acid is conclusive. From the titration procedure, one equivalence
point is obtained, therefore one pKa value. After analyzing it as well as the Ka
value, it is concluded to be remarkably similar to acetic acid. From the
titration method, the unknowns Ka value is 1.585 x 10 -5 whereas the Ka of
acetic acid is merely different which value is 1.74 x 10 -5 as for the pKa value
of the unknown acid is calculated to be 4.8 whereas acetic acids pKa value
is 4.76.
From the second method, for determination of acid ionization constant
of the unknown monoprotic acid from the pH showed that the Ka obtained is
6.92 x 10-8. Whereas, the pKa obtained from the calculation of Ka is 7.16.
Compared to Table 1, acid that has near pKa and Ka values with the unknown
acid is phosphoric-2 acid. Phosphoric-2 acid has pKa and Ka values of 7.21
and 6.2310-8, respectively.
The different result value obtained from both methods could be due to
a few mistakes or lack of awareness of the precautions when conducting the
experiments. First error that might affect the calculated values is done during
taking the readings of pH meter. The pH meter that has been used has never

given the definite readings, as the values that are shown are always
changing rapidly. Thus, one can never tell the accurate readings of pH value.
Besides, addition interval of the NaOH is 5mL where pH change would be
greater with higher amount of NaoH addition. Therefore, these will also affect
the titration curves as well as pKa values which correspond to the values at
half equivalence point. For an accurate result, smaller addition interval
should be used
Besides that, the equivalence point is not necessarily being a pH of 7
as it occurs just when the concentration of acid is equal to the concentration
of base reacted in solution. Therefore, the final pH depends on the major
species of ions left in the solution after the reaction.
In addition, the pH electrode might have come into contact with the
magnetic stirrer. Therefore, a problem might be encountered during the
readings of pH values on the pH meter. Besides that, during the experiment
we encountered with slightly changes of colour in the titrated solution. The
solution turned pink from colourless. This may due to the reaction between
the acid and the base solutions. This problem occurs because the beaker or
pH electrode might come in contact with acid solution that contain colour
indicator from previous experiment. Therefore, when we run the experiment
the residue from the previous experiment mixed with our acid solution.
However, this problem did not influence the reaction between acid and base
solutions. Thus, the Ka still can be calculated and the unknown acid still can
be determined.
Based on the percentage error for the first method, the percent error of
Ka value is 8.91% while for the second method is 11.08%. First method has
smaller percentage error compared to the second method. So it can be
concluded that titration method is more accurate and the unknown weak
acid is acetic acid.

CONCLUSION
The experimental values of pKa and Ka of the unknown acid are 4.8
and 1.585x 10-5 respectively. Whereas, the pKa and Ka values obtained from
using the initial pH of the unknown acid are 7.16 and 6.92 x 10 -8 respectively.
Theoretically, the pKa and Ka of the unknown monoprotic acid, which is
believed to be of acetic acid are 4.76 and 1.74 x 10 -5. Therefore, an error of
0.84 percents of the pKa and 8.91percents of the Ka value from the titration
process are calculated. Therefore, there is only a slight difference between
the theoretical values compared to the values from the titration process.
Hence, the unknown monoprotic acid is identified as acetic acid and the
value determined from titration of the unknown monoprotic acid with 0.1M
sodium hydroxide is a more accurate method.

RECOMMENDATIONS
A few recommendations is suggested on the procedure employed during the experiment
is taken place. First, students should wash all the apparatus with soap and then rinse it with
distilled water before and after experiment so that the apparatus are free from any contaminants.
After that, students should make sure that pH meter is in good condition to avoid measuring
wrong pH value. Before dip the tip of pH meter in solution, make sure the tip is dip in buffer
solution to get the neutral reading first. Third, student should make sure the tip of pH meter is not
too close with magnetic stirrer during taking pH reading. Then, students should make sure that
the pH reading is constant before take noted. Lastly, during titration, an indicator can be dropped
into the acid solution so that student will be more aware on when the neutralization process is
occurs. Therefore students can measure the pH value during the colour changes.

REFERENCES

Chiral Publishing Company (2013). Weak Acid Equilibrium. Retrieved on

November 10, 2013, from
http://preparatorychemistry.com/bishop_weak_acid_equilibrium.htm
Chemtutor (1997).Acids and Bases. Retrieved on November 10, 2013, from
http://www.chemtutor.com/acid.htm