Experiment 2: Acid Base Titration

Objective
1) To determine the concentration of acid and base solution through titration with standard
solution.
2) To apply the correct technique in titration.
3) To demonstrate the rapid change in pH that occurs during neutralization using the gradient of
a graph.

Introduction
Basic theory for neutralization is the reaction between hydrogen ions (H +) and
hydroxide ions (OH-) and forms water. Acidimetry is neutralization with acid base that involve
known that the concentration while Alcalimetry is neutralization of acid with base that involve
known that the concentration
In acid-base titrations acidic or basic analyte is neutralized with a strong base or Acid.
Acid or base solution that is run from is called titrant burette. When the all acid and base
neutralization reaction used up in this means it has been reached to the equivalence point. In
order to visualize pH change indicator is used. Indicator is a weak acid or base that gives
different color at different pH range or by using the pH meter. The point at which indicator
changes color is called end point. End point must match with equivalence point, the end point of
titration shows there's changing color of indicator that is match, where the equivalent happens in
the route region of pH indicator. According to the stoichiometry, acid or hydrogen ion (H +) and
base hydroxide ions (OH-) exactly used up reacted in equivalent point.
H+ + OH-

H2O

Acid Base equivalent = equivalent.

Standardization of titrants is very important for accuracy. Simply standardization is the
titration of standard solution with a primary standard solution. Primary standard compound must
have some properties. It must be pure, soluble, stable in pure form and in solution, and also must
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be easy to dry. Neutralization titrations are performed with standard solutions of strong acids or
bases. While a single solution (of either acid or base) is sufficient for the titration of a given type
of analyte, it is convenient to have standard solutions of both acid and base available in case
back-titration is needed to locate the end point more exactly. The concentration of one solution is
established by titration against a primary standard; the concentration of the other is then
determined from the acid / base ratio (That is, the volume of acid needed to neutralize 1,000 mL
of the base). Neutralization titration depends on a chemical reaction between the analyte and a
standard reagent. The point of chemical equivalence is indicated by a chemical indicator or an
instrumental measurement. The standard solutions employed in neutralization titrations are
strong acids or strong bases (because they react more completely with an analyte than their
weaker counterparts do and thus yield sharper endpoints). Standard solutions of acids or bases
are prepared by diluting a concentrated solution of acids (HCl, HClO4, H2SO4) and bases
(NaOH, KOH).Weak acids and bases are never used as standard reagents because they react
incompletely. The neutralization of a strong acid and strong base has a pH equal to 7. The
neutralization of a strong acid and weak base will have a pH of less than 7, and conversely, the
resulting pH when a strong base of a weak acid neutralizes will be greater than 7. When a
solution is neutralized, it means that salts are formed from equal weights of acid and base. The
amount of acid needed is the amount that would give one mole of protons (H +) and the amount
of base needed is the amount that would give one mole of (OH-). Because salts are formed from
neutralization reaction with equivalent concentrations of weights of acids and bases.
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Sodium Hydroxide
White vinegar
Glycine
Distilled water
Measuring cylinder
Buret
Support and clamp
Beaker
pH meter

Methodology
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1. 50 ml of 10 times dilution of vinegar solution was prepared and added into the beaker.
2. Approximately 50 mL of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution was prepared and the solution
was initially prepared in a beaker to make it easier to transfer into the burette for titration,
the level of NaOH was adjusted till reached zero. The beaker contain of vinegar solution
was put in the position as figure 2.
3. Setting the apparatus as in figure 2, the burette must be in straight position.
4. 0.5 to 1 ml volume of NaOH was slowly added into the beaker solution to be titrated. The
solution was stirred until it had dissolved completely. This solution of titrated with NaOH
and the pH with 1 mL additions of NaOH solution was recorded.
5. By using the pH meter, the pH solution of beaker was checked and recorded. Continue
the step 4 and 5 until the pH reach to 11. Plot the graph of pH against total volume of
NaOH added.
6. Repeat the step of the experiment by replaced using Vinegar Solution with pre-acidified
1.0 M glycine.

Results:
Table 1:

Volume of NaOH (titration, ml)

pH reading of vinegar

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
13
13.5
14
14.5
15.0
15.5
16.0
16.5
17.0
17.5
18.0
18.5
19.0
19.5
20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
22.0
22.5
23.0
23.5
24.0
24.5
25.0
25.5

2.35
2.55
2.91
3.32
3.63
3.84
3.97
4.10
4.25
4.30
4.51
4.65
4.71
4.76
4.81
4.84
4.90
4.94
5.04
5.12
5.17
5.24
5.27
5.38
5.49
5.60
5.75
5.92
6.18
6.70
8.84
9.38
9.74
9.86
10.53
10.97
11.17

Volume of NaOH added (ml)

pH reading of Glycine

Table 2:

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
68
72
76
80
84
88
92

1.30
1.33
1.33
1.35
1.38
1.42
1.47
1.50
1.54
1.56
1.58
1.63
1.66
1.71
1.78
1.82
1.87
1.91
1.98
2.05
2.12
2.19
2.25
2.35
2.43
2.53
2.64
2.69
2.76
2.83
2.94
3.09
3.26
3.54
3.95
7.59
8.06
8.24
8.58
8.77
8.97
9.11
9.24
9.36
9.47
5

96
100
104
108
112
116
120
124

9.59
9.73
9.87
10.04
10.26
10.61
11.23
11.84

pH (Vinegar) vs volume of NaOH (ml)

Graph 1: pH reading of Vinegar vs. Volume of NaOH.

pH (Glycine) vs Volume of NaOH

Graph 2: pH reading of Glycine vs. Volume of NaOH.

Discussion
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The objectives of this experiment are to determine the molarity (concentration) of a

solution and the percent by mass of acetic acid and vinegar by a standardization titration with
sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, to apply the correct technique in titration and also to
demonstrate the rapid change in pH that occurs during neutralization using the gradient of a
graph. To determine the concentration of a particular solute in a solution, chemists often carry
out a titration, which involves combining a sample of the solution with a known concentration of
reagent solution, called standard solution. Titrations can be conducted using acid-base,
precipitation, or oxidation reactions. From the first experiment, the concentration of Sodium
Hydroxide solution through titration technique using vinegar (acetate acid) was determine. The
equation for the reaction between vinegar and sodium hydroxide was:
CH3COOH (aq) + NaOH (aq)

NaCH3COO (aq) + H2O (l)

The equation for the reaction between weak acid glycine and conjugate base Sodium Hydroxide
was:
CH3-CH(NH2)-COOH + NaOH CH3-CH(NH2)-COO-Na+ + H2O
pH is a method of expressing the acidity or basicity of a solution. Solution with pH<7are
acidic, pH=7 are neutral and pH>7 are basic. Based from table 1 and 2, the pH of the solution of
acid vinegar and glycine with conjugate base was recorded. As recorded in the table 1, the value
of pH increases gradually when the NaOH was added, from 1 mL to 21.0 mL and the pH reading
was 2.35 till 5.92 while the pH reach equivalence point at 21.5 mL to 22.5 mL and the pH
reading was 6.18 till 8.64, same goes to the table 2. The pH of Glycine gradually increased from
0 mL to 58 mL of NaOH added, the pH reading was 1.30 till 3.95. The sudden pH changed occur
at 60 mL of NaOH added in the glycine the pH obtained was 7.59. This shown when the volume
of NaOH (conjugate base) increase the pH reading of the weak acid will be increased. This was
because salts are formed from neutralization reaction with equivalent concentrations of weights
of acids and bases. The amount of acid needed for one mole of protons (H +) and the amount of
base needed for one mole of (OH-) was exchange, this means that the solution of weak acid of
vinegar had changed to the conjugate base gradually.
Based from the graph 1, shows the titration curve of the solution plotted for pH of the
vinegar and volume of NaOH added into the solution. The equivalence point noted value from
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the graph was 22 mL and the pH reading in neutralize condition when vinegar are equal to NaOH
was 6.70. The pKa value was 4.51 the pH was equal to pKa value. While for the graph 2, the
titration curve of pH Glycine versus volume of NaOH shown the equivalence point at 59 mL and
the pH reading was 7. The pKa value obtained from the graph was 2.10 at 29.5 mL of the NaOH
solution added. This means the pKa value noted the half of amount of the weak acid and another
half was conjugate base. In this experiment equivalence point occurs when chemically equivalent
amounts of acid and base are present. At this point, the pH will rapidly increase with a small
addition of NaOH. This means that equivalence point in this experiment is the point at which the
volume of NaOH required to neutralize the acid solution.
In this experiment, the molarity of acetic acid in titration solution was 0.051 M and the
percentage of acetic acid calculated was 5.1%. However there is some error noted at graph 2,
where the second value of pKa2 of the glycine is was unable to find and the pI value was 1.06.
The value of pI was widely different from the theory 5.97, this because of the error occur the
results obtained for table 2, and the pKa2 value was unable to find in the graph 2. While for
pKa1 shows not much different value of theory 2.12 and from the experiment which is 2.10. The
error during this experiment might cause from wrongly pipette the volume of NaOH into the
glycine and also large volume of NaOH added in between the experiment that might cause the
sudden change of pH value of the glycine.

Conclusion
9

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the molarity (concentration) of a

solution and the percent by mass of acetic acid and vinegar by a standardization titration with
sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. For the first experiment, the NaOH was titrate and added
into the vinegar. While for the second experiment, the concentration of NaOH was added into the
Glycine and the used of stirrer to mixed the solution well. The molarity of acetic acid (vinegar)
was 0.051 M was found. The pKa value was 4.51 and the equivalence value was 22 mL and the
pH was 6. 70. While for the glycine the pKa1 was 2.10, the equivalence point was 60 mL at 7.59
of pH reading. To conclude the experiment was successfully done.
However due to some error during the experiment done, the value of pKa2 of the glycine
is was unable to find as noted in discussion. As recommendation the skills to use the pipettes
must be improved so that the amount of the NaOH added in the solution will be more accurate
while for, besides that we need to monitor the pH reading and the differences between the
volume of NaOH added must not too wide for example 0.5 mL to 1 mL. This is to prevent rapid
changes of the pH during the experiments and easier to plot and the data recorded will obtained
accurately.

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Question
1) Chemical equation for NaOH (strong base) and Vinegar (weak acid).
NaOH + HC2H3O2 NaC2H3O2 + H2O
Chemical equation for Glycin (amino acid) and NaOH (base).
R-CH (NH2)-COOH + NaOH R-CH (NH2)-COO-Na+ + H2O
2) The term "equivalence point" means that the solutions have been mixed in exactly the
right proportions according to the equation. Based from reaction above the hydrogen of
acid and hydroxide of base are equal when the compound reach the equal amount H+ and
hydroxide which means NaOH = HC2H3O2, same goes to the Glycin and NaOH.
3) Mol NaOH = M NaOH VNaOH
= 0.1 mol/L 0.0255 L
= 2.55 10 -3 mol
MCH3COOH = 2.55 103 / 0.05 L
= 0.051 M
Percentage = 0.051 M 100% = 5.1%
4) pH = pKa + log [base/acid]
= 4.51 + log [0.1 M NaOH/ 0.051 M HC2H3O2]
= 4.80
pKa = 4.51
ka = 10-4.51 = 3.090 10-5

5) Based from the theory, the pKa1 value of the glycine is was 2.12 while for the pKa2 was
9.60. The pI value was 5.97. Based from the experiment the pKa1 value was 2.12 while
pKa2 was 0 as the value unable to find in the graph and the pI value was 1.06. The value
of pI was widely different from the theory 5.97, this because of the error occur the results
obtained for table 2. While for pKa1 shows the same value of theory and from the
experiment which is 2.12. The error during this experiment might cause from wrongly
pipette the volume of NaOH into the glycine and also large volume of NaOH added in
between the experiment that might cause the sudden change of pH value of the glycine.
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pI = pKa1 + pKa2 / 2

Reference
Brown, TL, LeMay, HE, Bursten, Belanda Murphy, CJ (2009). "Chemistry: the centralscience,"
11th edition / Ed. Prentice Hall. 673 - 675.
Chang, R. (2007). "Chemistry," 9th edition / Ed. McGraw-Hill. 150 - 709.
Stanton;, B., Zhu;, L.and Atwood, CH (2009). "Experiments in General Chemistry: measureNet,"
2nd edition / Ed. Cengage Learning. 155-157.
Scharf, W.and Malerich, C. (2010). Determination of Acetic Acid Content of Vinegar.
BaruchCollege.

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