Running head: EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 1

Experiment 1: Vinegar Analysis

Anchinges, David P.

Decastro, Lanzer P.

Garcia, Jhimver Lemuel B.

Reyes, Alleah F.

Villasor, Shawn Anthonie E.

Mapúa University
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 2

Abstract

Vinegar is a common household material for its many different uses around the house. It consists

mostly of water (H2O) and acetic acid (CH3COOH), the main source of the acidity in vinegar.

The experiment aims to determine the percent by mass acetic acid in a vinegar sample through an

analytical procedure known as volumetric analysis or titration. The experiment uses a

standardized sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) with known concentration as titrant to

neutralize the vinegar sample with known volume. The procedure was done several times until

the right color change appearance was obtained for accuracy and data were recorded for trials 1

and 2. Furthermore, the standard deviation and relative standard deviation was determined to

ensure the precision of the experiment. After calculation, the percent by mass of acetic acid

solved was 3.8% and 4% from the two trials, respectively. Additionally, the computed standard

deviation and relative standard deviation was 0.14 and 3.59%, respectively.
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 3

Experiment 1: Vinegar Analysis

Introduction

Household vinegar is a 4 – 5% (by mass) acetic acid, CH3 COOH, solution (4% is the

minimum federal standard). Generally, caramel flavoring and coloring are also added to make

the product aesthetically more appealing.

A volumetric analysis using the titration technique is the method used of determining the

percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar. A measured mass of vinegar is titrated to the

phenolphthalein endpoint with a measured volume of a standardized sodium hydroxide solution.

Since the volume and molar concentration of the standardized NaOH solution are known, the

moles of NaOH used for the analysis are also known.

mol NaOH
mol NaOH = L NaOH solution × L NaOH solution

From the balanced equation:

CH3 COOH(aq) + NaOH(𝑎𝑞) ⟶ NaCH3 CO2 (𝑎𝑞) + H2 O(𝑙)

mol CH3 COOH = mol NaOH

The mass of CH3 COOH in the vinegar is calculated form the measured moles of

CH3 COOH neutralized in the reaction and its molar mass, 60.5 g/mol:

60.05g CH3 COOH

Mass(g) of CH3 COOH = mol CH3 COOH × mol CH3 COOH

Finally, the percent by mass of CH3 COOH in vinegar is calculated:

mass (𝑔) CH COOH

3
% by mass of CH3 COOH = mass (𝑔) of vinegar × 100
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 4

Materials and Chemicals

Beaker Retort Stand

Burette White Sheet of paper

Burette Clamp Vinegar

250 mL Erlenmeyer Flasks Sodium Hydroxide

Funnel Oxalic Acid

Graduated Cylinder

Procedure

Sample of one or two vinegars are analyzed for the amount of acetic acid in the sample.

A titration setup is used for the analysis, using a standardized NaOH solution as the titrant and

phenolphthalein as the indicator.

A standardized NaOH solution was prepared. If that solution was saved, it is to be used

for this experiment. If the solution was not saved, you either must again prepare and standardize

the solution (Vinegar Analysis, Part A) or obtain about 150 mL of a standardized NaOH solution

prepared by stockroom personnel. Your instructor will advise you.

Be aware of the number of significant figures when recording data.

A. Preparation of Vinegar Sample

Check with your laboratory instructor to determine if you are to analyze one or two vinegars.

Either obtain 1.5 mL of a single vinegar or 10 mL of each of two vinegars in separate 10-mL

graduated cylinders. Clean at least two 125- or 250-mL Erlenmeyer flasks.

1. Calculate the volume of vinegar. Calculate the volume of vinegar that would be

needed for the neutralization of 25 mL of the standardized NaOH solution. Assume

EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 5

the vinegar has a density of 1 g/mL and a percent acetic acid of 5% by mass, and all

the standardized NaOH solution is 0.1 M NaOH. Show the calculation on the Report

Sheet.

2. Prepare the vinegar sample. Add the (approximate) calculated volume (from Part

A.1) of one brand of vinegar to clean dry 125- or 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask with a

previously measured mass (±0.01 g) or a flask that has already been tared on the

balance. Record and tared mass of vinegar sample. Add 2 drops of phenolphthalein

and rinse the wall of the flask with 20 mL of previously boiled, deionized water.

3. Prepare the burette and titration setup. Rinse twice a clean 50-mL burette with ~5

mL of standardized NaOH solution, making certain no drops cling to the inside wall.

Fill the burette with the standardized NaOH solution, eliminate all air bubbles in the

burettte tip, and, after 10 – 15 seconds, read and record the initial volume. Place a

sheet of white paper beneath the flask containing the vinegar sample.

B. Analysis of Vinegar Sample

Record the exact molar concentration of the NaOH solution.

1. Titrate the vinegar sample. Slowly add the NaOH solution from the burette to the

acid, swirling the flask (with the proper hand) after each addition. Occasionally, rinse

the wall of the flask with previously boiled, deionized water from your wash bottle.

Continue addition of NaOH titrant until the endpoint is reached. After 10 -15 seconds,

read and record the final volume of NaOH titrant in the burette.

2. Repeat with the same vinegar. Refill the burette and repeat the titration at least once

more with another sample of the same vinegar.

EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 6

3. Consult with your instructor. You are to complete Part A and B for a second

vinegar to determine its average percent acetic acid or complete a third and/or fourth

analysis of your original vinegar. For the additional analyses, revise the Report Sheet

accordingly.

4. Calculations. Determine the average percent by mass of acetic acid in the vinegar(s).

Disposal: All test solutions and the NaOH solution in the burette can be
discarded in the Waste Bases Container.

CLEANUP: Rinse the burette twice with tap water and twice with deionized water, discarding

each rinse through the burette tip into the sink. Similarly, rinse the flasks.

Results and Discussion

A. Analysis of Vinegar Sample

Brand of vinegar or unknown no. Unknown Vinegar 1

Trial 1 Trial 2

1. Burette reading of NaOH, initial (mL) 50 mL 50 mL

2. Burette reading of NaOH, final (mL) 18.10 mL 17.10 mL

3. Volume of NaOH used (mL) 31.90 mL 32.90 mL

4. Molar concentration of NaOH (mol/L) 0.1 M NaOH

5. Moles of NaOH added (mol) 3.19 × 10−3 mols 3.29 × 10−3 mols

6. Moles of 𝐂𝐇𝟑 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐇 in vinegar (mol) 3.19 × 10−3 mols 3.29 × 10−3 mols
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 7

7. Mass of 𝐂𝐇𝟑 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐇 in vinegar (g) 0.19 g 0.20 g

8. Percent by mass of 𝐂𝐇𝟑 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐇 in vinegar (%) 3.8 % 4%

9. Average percent by mass of 𝐂𝐇𝟑 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐇 in 3.9 %

vinegar (%)

Calculation for Trial 1.

*for moles of NaOH added (mol)

0.1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of NaOH 0.0319 𝐿 of NaOH

𝑚𝑜𝑙 of NaOH = ( )( )
1 𝐿 of NaOH 1

= 3.19 × 10−3 mols

*for moles of CH3 COOH in vinegar (mol)

𝑚𝑜𝑙 of CH3 COOH = 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of NaOH

= 3.19 × 10−3 mols

*for mass of CH3 COOH in vinegar (g)

60.05 𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 of CH3 COOH = (3.19 × 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙) ( )
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙

= 0.19 g
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 8

*for percentage by mass of CH3 COOH in vinegar (%)

1𝑔
𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (5 𝑚𝐿) ( )
1 𝑚𝐿

=5g

0.19 𝑔
Percentage of CH3 COOH = ( ) × 100%
5𝑔

= 3.8 %

Calculation for Trial 2.

*for moles of NaOH added (mol)

0.1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of NaOH 0.0329 𝐿 of NaOH

𝑚𝑜𝑙 of NaOH = ( )( )
1 𝐿 of NaOH 1

= 3.29 × 10−3 mols

*for moles of CH3 COOH in vinegar (mol)

𝑚𝑜𝑙 of CH3 COOH = 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of NaOH

= 3.29 × 10−3 mols

*for mass of CH3 COOH in vinegar (g)

60.05 𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 of CH3 COOH = (3.29 × 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙) ( )
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙

= 0.20 g
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 9

*for percentage by mass of CH3 COOH in vinegar (%)

1𝑔
𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 = (5 𝑚𝐿) ( )
1 𝑚𝐿

=5g

0.20 𝑔
Percentage of CH3 COOH = ( ) × 100%
5𝑔

=4%

Commercialized vinegars must contain an average of 4-5% of acetic acid for it to be

approved and deemed safe for humans to utilize. One way to find out the percent by mass of

acetic acid in vinegar is through the volumetric analysis which is also known as titration. In this

process, a solution with a known concentration is moderately added to another solution without a

known concentration until it reaches neutralization which is often indicated by color change.

For our experiment, we used sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with known concentration to

neutralize the unknown vinegar we had in order to solve for the acetic acid (CH3COOH) it

contained. With the use of phenolphthalein as indicator, we very slowly and carefully poured the

standardized NaOH solution into the unknown vinegar until the clear liquid turned into a faint

color pink. We had to repeat the entire procedure three times just to get the right shade of pink

and to obtain a more accurate experimental finding. Furthermore, two trials were done for the

experiment to see the possible errors in the data recorded.

From the gathered data, we were able to calculate effectively for the percent by mass of

acetic acid in the unknown vinegar. Knowing the volume of the consumed standardized NaOH
EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 10

solution allowed us to find the moles it contained, which is equal to the moles of acetic acid

present in the vinegar as stated in the balanced equation of acetic acid reacting with NaOH. From

there, we could solve for the mass of the moles of the acetic acid easily by employing our

stoichiometric knowledge which is to convert the moles to mass with the use of the solution’s

molar mass. The results from trials 1 and 2 show that the unknown vinegar has 3.8 and 4 percent

by mass of acetic acid, respectively.

The average percent by mass of acetic acid is 3.9% which, when rounded off, is within

the limit of the accepted average percent acidity of standard vinegars. Moreover, the standard

deviation from the trials turned out to be 0.14, an extremely small value because of the close

range between the results. The precision of the experimental data could further be accounted for

by having a relative standard deviation (RSD) of only 3.59%.

Conclusion

From this experiment, it can be found that volumetric analysis or titration is an effective

method in getting the unknown concentration within a given solution. Through the neutralization

that occurred, the moles of the acid and the moles of the base had an equal value by the end of

the experiment. These values were then utilized to calculate for the percent by mass acetic acid

of the vinegar sample. The vinegar’s mass percent concentration of acetic acid was determined to

be 3.9% in average from the two trials.

EXP1: VINEGAR ANALYSIS 11

References

Chemistry122: Vinegar analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.chem.latech.edu/~deddy/chem122m/L04U00Vinegar122.htm