Determining Disassociation Constant of Weak Acids

Brooke Rantas #17 Joshua Salita #18 February 23, 2012

Abstract

Procedure
Materials y y y y y Unknown Acids Phenolphthalein Solution, 1% Vinegar, Acetic Acid, to neutralize spills NaOH, approx. .1 M Baking soda, Sodiumhydrogencarbonate, to neutralize spills

Directions 1. Measure .2 g of acid to be tested. 2. Measure preciscly 50 mL of Distilled water into a beaker 3. Add acid 4. Stir to dissolve, and mix well 5. Pour 25 mL of acid solution into Erlenhymer flask 6. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein solution 7. Add NaOH, drop by drop, swirling, until solution retains pink solution for 5 seconds. 8. Pour contents of flask into beaker and mix solution 9. Use pH paper or pH meter, measure pH. 10. Repeat with all acids given.

Data
A B C D E Volume Used 11.5 mL 9 mL 3 mL 12.2 mL 9 mL pH 9.56 4.83 5.2 2.65 7.03 Ka 2.75E-10 1.5E-5 6.31E-6 2.2E-3 9.33E-8 Matching Acid NaHCO3 KHSO4 Benzoic Salicylic NaHSO4

Calculations and Questions

1. a.
NaHSO4 Na   HSO4 p
2  

b. HSO4  n H   SO4 2 p c. K a ! [ H  ][ SO4 ] /[ HSO4 ] d. When you find the concentration of the conjugate base (SO42-) and the weak acid (HSO4-) are equal the concentration of (H+), and by extension pH is equal to the pKa. 2. It is not necessary to know the exact mass of the acid to determine the Ka because only concentrations are important when you are finding the endpoint. 3. It is not necessary because the only thing that is important when finding the endpoint are the concentrations. As long as we know that they reach the end point and OH- and H3O+ concentrations are equal. It is required to mix the strong base with each acid in half the original acid. 4. Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation: pH ! pK a  log( A  / HA) When the concentration of the conjugate base and weak acid are equal the log of 1 is zero. So the pH = pKa.

Results and Discussion