HO CHI MINH INTERNATIONAL

UNIVERSITY

GENERAL CHEMISTRY
LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 2
pH AND BUFFERS

Group: 1
Group members: Nguyễn Xuân Bách BTBTIU18021
Đinh Phạm Bá Linh BEBEIU18050
Trần Ngọc Tú Uyên BTBTIU18270
Nguyễn Thị Trang BTBTIU18248

Date: 28/02/2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………….1
II. OBJECTIVE................................……………………………1
III. EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICA.………………………….7
IV. RESULTS AND EXPLAINATION…………….………..13
V. CONCLUSION…………………………………………..…
 I. Introduction:
- Experiment 2 will mainly focus on recording pH of solutions (record pH both before
and after adding other solutions into the basic solution). Here are some specific main
information from the experiment 2:
 In chemistry, pH is a logarithmic scale used to specify
the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. At 25 °C, solutions with a pH
less than 7 are acids and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are bases. In
other words, acids donate proton and bases accept proton. The pH value can
be less than 0 or greater than 14 for very strong acids and bases respectively.
 There is a special compound use in this experiment, it is pure water or
deionized water (hydrogen oxide: H2O).  Pure water is neutral, pH 7 at
(25 °C), being neither an acid nor a base.
 A Weak acid is an acid that is partially dissociated into its ions in an aqueous
solution or water. In contrast, A strong acid fully dissociates into its ions in
water. At the same concentration, weak acids have a higher pH value than
strong acids.
  A salt is an ionic compound that can be formed by the neutralization reaction
of an acid and a base. Salts are composed of related numbers of cations
(positively charged ions) and anions (negative ions) so that the product is
electrically neutral (without a net charge).
 A buffer solution (more precisely, pH buffer or hydrogen ion buffer) is
an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate
base, or vice versa. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of strong
acid or base is added to it. Buffer solutions are used as a means of keeping
pH at a nearly constant value in a wide variety of chemical applications.
 To dilute a solution is to reduce the concentration of that solution by adding
solvent into it.
 Some manual calculating method:
o For calculating pH: pH = -log (H3O+).
o For calculating acidity constant:
[ H  ][ A ]
Ka 
HA

o To indicate the strength of an acid by calculating pKa: pKa = -log

(Ka).

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 o Use the the Henderson-Hasselbach equation to calculate the changes in
pH of buffer solutions:
 [A - ] 
pH = pK a + lg  
 [HA]  .

o After a solution is diluted, the moles of the solute in the diluted

solution are equal to the moles of the solute in the initial solution: ni
= nf (ni is the moles solute before being diluted (mol), nf is the moles
solute after being diluted (mol)).
o Useful formula, the moles of solute = the solution volume x the
concentration of the solution: Mi x Vi = Mf x Vf (Mi is the initial
solution concentration (M), Vi is the initial solution volume needed for
dilution (mL), Mf is the final solution concentration after dilution (M),
Vf is the final solution volume after dilution (mL)).

II. Objective:
- By conducting experiments in the laboratory, we will understand clearer what is pH,
how to measure pH of solutions and its Importance as well as what is buffers and its roles
in our life. We will also have an opportunity to measure pH of some familiar solutions,
including: deionized water, weak acids, strong acids, salts and some new ones: buffer A,
buffer B; in order to increase our experience in measuring pH and calculate some related
terms (Ka, pKa,…).
- In addition, work with the experiment 2 in the lab along with following the lab safety
requirements will not only improve many working skills in the lab for students but also
help student to be more patient and higher responsibility.

III. Equipment and chemicals:

1. Equipment:
- 1 Volumetric Flask (The value of Volumetric Flask must be equal to Vf).
- 1 Pipette.
- A container containing the amount of known concentration.
- Solvent.
2. Chemicals:
- Deionized water
- 0.1M HCl - 0.01M CH3COOH
- 0.1M NaCl - 0.1M NaOH
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 - 0.1M CH3COONa - 0.01M NaOH
- 0.1M NH4Cl - 0.1M CH3COOH

IV. RESULTS AND EXPLAINATION

1. pH OF DEIONIZED WATER
Observed pH
Time (second) 1st 2nd
(Group 1) (Group 5)
0 7.60 7.30
20 7.84 7.37
40 7.96 7.44
60 7.86 7.44
80 7.74 7.36
100 7.74 7.20
120 7.74 7.21
140 7.74 7.20
160 7.74 7.20
Explaination:
Theoretically, deionized water has the pH equal 7. While stirring water, it
is exposed to air and absorb more CO2 than usual that make it form carbonic
acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid separates to H+ and CO32-, thus pH of neutral
water drop less than 7.
However, observed pH seem not to be exact probably because of the pH
meter’s calculation. At least, the results show that pH trend to decrease
overtime.
2. pH OF STRONG ACID
Measured pH
Theoretical
Solution 1st 2nd
pH
(Group 1) (Group 5)
10 mL of 0.1M
1.00 1.16 1.38
HCl

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 Add 90 mL of
2.00 2.00 1.92
distilled water

Add 10 mL of
7.00 9.42 6.02
0.1M NaOH

Add 90 mL of
11.65 11.50 10.01
0.01M NaOH
Explaination:
* Calculating:
- 10mL of 0.1M HCl has pH= -log(0.1) = 1.00
0.1x0.01
- Add 90mL of distilled water, [H ] = 0.01  0.09 = 0.01M, then pH= -log(0.01) = 2
+

- Add 10mL of 0.1M NaOH

HCl + NaOH  NaCl + H2O
Initial 0.001 0.001
Equilibrium 0 0 0.001 0.001
There is no acid or base, so pH = 7
0.09 x0.01
- Add 90mL of 0.01M NaOH, at equilibrium, [OH-] = 0.01  0.09  0.01  0.09 = 4.5x10-3
Therefore, pOH = -log(4.5x10-3) = 2.35, pH = 14 – pOH = 11.65
* Comment:
The measured pH figures are not really exact to the theoretical pH. Nevertheless, the
error of data is close to the theorem.
3. pH OF WEAK ACID
Measured pH
Solution 1st 2nd Ka
(Group 1) (Group 5)
0.1M acetic acid 2.85 2.68 3.24x10-5

0.01M acetic acid 3.35 3.28 2.50x10-5

0.001M acetic acid 3.96 3.68 3.43x10-5

Explaination:
*Calculating:
CH3COOH + H2O → CH3COO- + H3O+
Initial aM
Equilibrium a-β M βM βM
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 [CH 3COO  ][ H 3O  ] 2
Ka = 1.76x10-5 = [CH 3COOH ] = a  

 0.1M acetic acid

[H3O+]pH=2.85 = β 1 = 10-2.85 M  Ka1 = 2.02x10-5
[H3O+]pH=2.68 = β 2 = 10-2.68 M  Ka2 = 4.49x10-5
2.02 x10 5  4.49 x10 5
 average Ka = 2 = 3.24x10-5
 0.01M acetic acid
[H3O+]pH=3.35 = β 1 = 10-3.35 M  Ka1 = 2.09x10-5
[H3O+]pH=3.28 = β 2 = 10-3.28 M  Ka2 = 2.91x10-5
2.09 x10 5  2.91x10 5
 average Ka = 2 = 2.50x10-5
 0.001M acetic acid
[H3O+]pH=3.96 = β 1 = 10-3.96 M, Ka1 = 1.35x10-5
[H3O+]pH=3.68 = β 2 = 10-3.68 M, Ka2 = 5.52x10-5
1.35 x105  5.52 x105
 average Ka = 2 = 3.43x10-5
In conclusion, with the same moles of H+, diluting an acid reduces the concentration of
H+ that lead to pH raise and Ka fall.
4. pH OF SALTS
Measured pH
Predicted
Solution 1st 2nd
pH
(Group 1) (Group 5)

0.1M NaCl 7.00 6.31 4.66

0.1M
8.88 7.05 7.01
CH3COONa
0.1M
5.13 5.65 4.38
NH4Cl
Explaination:
*Theoretical pH:
 NaCl dissolving in water is given by strong acid and strong base. It keeps pH of
solution equal 7.

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  CH3COONa
CH3COONa  CH3COO- + Na+
0.1 M 0.1M
CH3COO- + H2O → CH3COOH + OH-
Initial 0.1M
Equilibrium 0.1- β M βM βM
K aCH COOH
3
= 1.76x10-5
Kw 1014 [CH 3COOH ][ H 3O  ] 2
Kb [CH 3COO  ]
= K a = 1.76 x10 = 5.68x10-10 = = 0.1   .
5
CH 3COO 

β = [OH-] = 7.54x10-6 M.
pOH = -log(7.54x10-6) = 5.12.
pH = 14 – pOH = 8.88.
 NH4Cl
NH4Cl  NH4+ + Cl-
0.1M 0.1M
NH4+ +H2O → NH3 + H3O+
Initial 0.1M
Equilibrium 0.1- β M βM βM
[ H 3O  ][ NH 3 ] 2
Ka 
NH 4
= 5.56x10-10 = [ NH 4 ] = 0.1   .
β = [H3O+] = 7.46x10-6 M
pH = -log(7.46x10-6) = 5.13
*Comment:
The measured pH are unexpected and there is significant difference. The reason of this
may be that prepared water have been obsorbed too much CO2 leading to forming acidic
environment. However, the most possible reason is the pH meter’s calculation doesn’t go
right.
5. pH OF BUFFERS
Volume Volume Measured pH
Calculated
Buffer (mL) 0.1M (mL) 0.1M 1st (Group 2nd
CH3COOH CH3COONa pH
1) (Group 5)

A 10.0 40.0 5.36 4.85 5.02

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 B 40.0 10.0 4.15 4.01 3.92
Explaination:
*Calculating:
 Buffer A
nCH 3COOH
= 0.01x0.1 = 0.001.
nCH 3COONa
= 0.04x0.1 = 0.004.
After having mixed two solutions together
CH3COOH + H2O ↔ CH3COO- + H3O+
CH3COONa  CH3COO- + Na+
CH3COO- + H2O ↔ CH3COOH + OH-
K aCH COOH
3
= 1.76x10-5.
0.004
[CH3COO ] = [CH3COONa] = 0.01  0.04 = 0.08M.
-

0.001
[CH3COOH] = 0.01  0.04 = 0.02M.
[CH 3COO  ][ H 3O  ] [CH 3COOH ] 0.02

Ka = [CH 3COOH ] +
 [H ] = [CH 3COO ] x Ka = 0.08 x 1.76x10-5 = 4.4x10-6 M.
pH= -log(4.4x10-6) = 5.36.

 Buffer B
nCH 3COOH
= 0.04x0.1 = 0.004.
nCH 3COONa
= 0.01x0.1 = 0.001.
After having mixed two solutions together
CH3COOH + H2O ↔ CH3COO- + H3O+
CH3COONa  CH3COO- + Na+
CH3COO- + H2O ↔ CH3COOH + OH-
K aCH COOH
3
= 1.76x10-5.
0.001
[CH3COO ] = [CH3COONa] = 0.01  0.04 = 0.02M.
-

0.004
[CH3COOH] = 0.01  0.04 = 0.08M.
[CH 3COO  ][ H 3O  ] [CH 3COOH ] 0.08

Ka = [CH 3COOH ] +
 [H ] = [CH 3COO ] x Ka = 0.02 x 1.76x10-5 = 7.04x10-5 M.
pH= -log(7.04x10-5) = 4.15.

 Part I: Addition of 10 drops 0.1 M HCl

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 pH from pH after Total volume HCl
Buffer the start, adding 10 (drops) to change pH
pHo drops HCl by one unit (pHo-1)
A 4.86 4.81 82
B 4.01 3.93 81

 Part II: Addition of 10 drops 0.1 M NaOH

pH from pH after Total volume NaOH
Buffer the start, adding 10 (drops) to change pH
pHo drops NaOH by one unit (pHo+1)

A 4.86 4.91 122

B 4.00 4.02 322

V/ CONCLUSION
With measued pH number, we can determine the Ka and Kb of the solution. Dilluting a
solution makes the pH change because the moles of H+ and OH- is stable while the
concentration of them fall down. Thus, Ka or Kb may decrease. To keep pH at a nearly
constant value in a wide variety of chemical applications, buffer solutions are used.
Finally, measuring pH with pH meter calculation devices should be careful because the
inexactly chemical preparation may change the pH of solution that lead to unexpected
figures.

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