ABSTRACT

Acetic acid, CH3COOH is in a form of colourless solution. It is an organic compound

and classified as a weak acid. Apart from water, acetic acid also is the main component of
vinegar. In this experiment, the molarity of a solution and the percent by mass of acetic acid
contained in vinegar is determined by using titration with a standardized sodium hydroxide,
NaOH solution. The experiment is divided into two parts; first is standardizing the NaOH
solution, and the second part is proceeded with the determining the molarity of a solution and
the percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar. In standardizing the NaOH solution, distilled
water is used to dilute an amount NaOH solid in order to prepare 0.6 M NaOH solution. This
NaOH solution is then titrated with potassium hydrogen phthalate, KHC8H4O4 or KHP
solution which has been prepared by diluting some KHP granules in distilled water. Then, the
experiment proceeded to the next part, which was titrating standardized NaOH solution with
vinegar that has been diluted with distilled water. Both titration for part 1 and 2 are repeated
thrice to get more accurate results. Based on results, it can be conclude that the greater the
mass of solute in the acid solution, the more concentrated the solution becomes thus, the
higher the molarity and more volume of NaOH needed to neutralize the acid.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This experiment was carried out to determine the molarity of a solution and the
percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar by titration with a standardized sodium hydroxide.
Titration is a laboratory technique applied to study the acid-base reaction quantitatively.
Titration is typically used to determine the concentration of a solution. In most titration, a
standardized solution of base, with a known concentration, is added slowly to an acid
solution; whose concentration is to be determined. A known volume of the acid solution is
placed in a flask, then, the standardized solution of base is added slowly to the flask from a
burette.
Acid-base titration is a method of neutralization process which provides information
regarding the properties as well as nature of either acid or base applied during the process.
Likewise, it is useful to determine the molecular mass and pKa values of the substances. The
end-point of such titration can be monitored by using indicators or as what is used in this
experiment, a pH meter with electrodes. A titration curve is a graph of measured pH values
obtained from pH meter readings versus volume of titrant being added in millimetres.
Basically, the most important information that is supposed to be obtained from acid-base
titration is the equivalence point. The equivalence point is theoretically reached when the
number of moles of base being added into the Erlenmeyer flask is equal to the number of
moles of acid. It occurs in the titration curve in the region where there is a large
and noticeable change in pH with a relatively small change in volume of titrant.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

2.1 To determine the molarity of a solution

2.2 To determine the percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar by titration with a
standardized sodium hydroxide solution.

3.0 THEORY

In this experiment, the reaction above is carried out through an acid and base titration, which
in this case,

is the acid and

is the base. In a titration process, one solution

of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of another solution through a

monitored reaction. A measured volume of the unknown acid solution is placed in a flask
beneath a buret containing the known (standardized) base solution. The indicator (pH meter)
is put into the flask. After an initial buret reading, base is added slowly to the acid.
In a titration, there are two terms used;
i-

The equivalence point: it occurs when all the moles of H+ ions present in the
original volume of acid solution have reacted with an equivalent number of moles
of OH- ions added from the buret:
Moles of H+ (originally in flask) = moles of OH- (added from buret)

ii-

The end point: it occurs when a tiny excess of OH- ions changes the indicator
permanently to its colour in base (when using indicator such as phenolphthalein).

In calculation involving acid-base titration, regardless of the acid or base that takes part in the
reaction, keep in mind that the total number of moles H+ ions that have reacted at the
equivalence point must be equal to the total number of moles of OH- ions that have reacted.
The number of moles of an acid in a certain volume is given by
(

( )

The concentration of a solution is the amount of solute contained in a given amount of

solvent or solution, while molarity is the number of moles of solute in 1 litre of solution.
Molarity is also known as molar concentration. It is defined by

The percent by mass (mass percent, mass %) is the fraction by mass expressed as a
percentage. It can be defined as

4.0 APPARATUS

Figure 4.1: Apparatus set up

5.0 METHODOLOGY
5.1 Standardization of sodium hydroxide solution

5.1.1

In a beaker, a

of approximately

was prepared from

5.1.2

of solid

sodium hydroxide solution

In another empty beaker, a

of

was weighed. Then, 300mL of

distilled water was added into the beaker. The solution was stirred until the
had completely dissolved.
5.1.3

The

solution was titrated with

recorded with
5.1.4

addition of

solution and the

was

solution.

Steps 2 to 3 were repeated, and two more solutions for

standardization were prepared.

5.1.5

A graph of

versus

was plotted, and the volume of

solution required to neutralize the

solution in each titration was

determined from the plot.

5.1.6

The molarities of

solution for titration 1, 2 and 3 were calculated.

5.1.7

The average molarity of the

solution was calculated. The resulting

concentration used in the Part B of the experiment.

5.2 Molarity of acetic acid and mass percent in vinegar

5.2.1

of vinegar was transferred into a clean, dry

a

volumetric pipette. Sufficient water to cover the

during the titration,

5.2.2

of

to

After the

electrode tip

, was added.

solution was added into the vinegar solution. The

recorded. This step was repeated until the

5.2.3

beaker using

value reached neutral.

value reached a neutral reading, another

solution was added into the vinegar solution and the

5.2.4

Steps 1 to 3 were repeated twice more.

5.2.5

A graph of

versus

was

of

was recorded.

volume was plotted. The volume of

required to neutralize the vinegar in each titration were determined from the
plot. The data was recorded.

5.2.6

The molarities of acetic acid in vinegar for titrations 1, 2 and 3 were

calculated.

5.2.7

The average molarity of acetic acid for each titration was calculated.

5.2.8

The percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar for titration 1, 2 and were
calculated.

5.2.9

The percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar was calculated.

6.0 RESULTS
6.1 Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide Solution.
Table 6.1.1: Volume of NaOH Solution Added into KHP Solution and pH Values of Solutions

volume of NaOH (mL)

pH
Titration 1

Titration 2

Titration 3

0.00

4.68

4.74

4.77

1.00

4.86

4.95

4.99

2.00

5.04

5.16

5.18

3.00

5.23

5.34

5.34

4.00

5.39

5.48

5.53

5.00

5.54

5.62

5.64

6.00

5.68

5.76

5.81

7.00

5.82

5.9

5.92

8.00

5.97

6.06

6.07

9.00

6.18

6.24

6.26

10.00

6.40

6.51

6.5

11.00

6.82

6.92

7.04

12.00

12.01

12.12

12.29

13.00

12.69

12.78

NA

Table 6.1.2: Mass of KHP and Volume of NaOH Solution needed to neutralize KHP Solution

Mass of KHP (g)

Titration 1

Titration 2

Titration 3

1.5013

1.5072

1.5020

12.0000

12.0000

12.0000

Volume of NaOH
needed to neutralize
KHP solution (mL).

6.2 Molarity of Acetic acid sand Mass Percent in Vinegar

Table 6.2.1: Volume of NaOH Solution Added into Vinegar and pH Values of Solutions

pH

Volume of NaOH to neutralize vinegar

(mL)

Titration 1

Titration 2

Titration 3

0.00

3.32

3.39

3.36

2.00

4.06

3.78

3.75

4.00

4.37

4.23

4.25

6.00

4.58

4.49

4.50

8.00

4.74

4.66

4.68

10.00

4.88

4.80

4.81

12.00

5.06

4.93

4.97

14.00

5.17

5.05

5.09

16.00

5.28

5.16

5.20

18.00

5.38

5.27

5.31

20.00

5.50

5.40

5.43

22.00

5.64

5.55

5.58

24.00

5.73

5.66

5.70

26.00

5.88

5.85

5.83

28.00

6.04

6.00

5.98

30.00

6.28

6.13

6.16

32.00

6.74

6.50

6.56

34.00

11.56

7.28

7.19

36.00

NA

12.71

12.53

Table 6.2.2: Volume of NaOH Solution needed to neutralize Acetic Acid Solution.

Titration 1

Titration 2

Titration 3

34.00

36.00

36.00

Volume of NaOH
solution required to
neutralize vinegar
(mL)

7.0 CALCULATIONS

Graph 7.1: pH VS Volume of NaOH

14
12
10

pH

8
6
4
2
0

10

Titration 1 4.68 4.86 5.04 5.23 5.39 5.54 5.68 5.82 5.97 6.18
Titration 2 4.74 4.95 5.16 5.34 5.48 5.62 5.76

5.9

11
6.4

12

13

14

6.82 12.01 12.69

6.06 6.24 6.51 6.92 12.12 12.78

Titration 3 4.77 4.99 5.18 5.34 5.53 5.64 5.81 5.92 6.07 6.26
Volume of NaOH added (mL)

6.5

7.04 12.29

Graph 7.2: pH VS Volume of NaOH added into

vinegar
14.00

12.00

10.00

pH

8.00

6.00

4.00

2.00

0.00

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

pH Titration 1 3.324.064.374.584.744.885.065.175.285.385.505.645.735.886.046.286.7411.5
pH Titration 2 3.393.784.234.494.664.804.935.055.165.275.405.555.665.856.006.136.507.2812.7
pH Titration 3 3.363.754.254.504.684.814.975.095.205.315.435.585.705.835.986.166.567.1912.5
Volume of NaOH added into vinegar (mL)

7.1 Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide Solution

The chemical equation for the reaction between KHP solution and NaOH solution is;

7.1.1

For Titration 1;
(i)
No. of moles of

From the balanced chemical equation; 1 mol of

produced 1 mole of
and 1 mol of

(ii)

and NaOH;

reacted with 1 mol of

. Then;

Molarity of NaOH solution;

(

(iii)

)
( )

Average molarity of NaOH solution;

Molarity of NaOH solution in Titration 2 = 0.697 M

Molarity of NaOH solution in Titration 3 = 0.707 M

7.2 Molarity of Acetic Acid and Its Mass Percent in Vinegar.

The chemical equation for the reaction between acetic acid and sodium hydroxide
is;

7.2.1

For Titration 1;
Graph 7.2 shows that 10.00mL of aliquot vinegar required 27.50mL of
0.698M standardized NaOH solution to reach equivalence point of titration.
Assuming that the density of the vinegar solution is 1.00gmol-1.
(i)

No. of moles of NaOH reacted;

(

(ii)

No. of moles of

)(

)(

neutralized by moles of NaOH;

From the balanced chemical equation, 1 mol of

reacted with 1 mol of
NaOH produced 1 mol of
and 1 mol of H2O. Then;

(iii)

Molarity of

solution;
(

)
( )

(iv)

Average molarity of acetic acid;

Molarity of acetic acid in Titration 2 = 2.0 M
Molarity of acetic acid in Titration 3 = 2.0 M

7.2.2

Mass percent of acetic acid

(i)
(ii)

Mass percent of acetic acid in the solution;

( )
( )

(iii)

For titration 1;
(

(iv)

)(

)(

Average mass percent of acetic acid

Mass percent for Titration 2 = 12.0%
Mass percent for Titration 3 = 12.0%
(

8.0 DISCUSSIONS
The experiment was carried out to; first determine the molarity of a solution and;
second was to find the mass percent of acetic acid (
) in vinegar. The method used
in this experiment was titration between standardized NaOH solution and vinegar. But first,
the NaOH solution was standardized by titrating primary NaOH solution with KHP solution.
Through standardization, the molarity of the standard solution was known. The molarity of
the NaOH solution was determined through these steps;
iii-

Determine the equivalence point of the graph (graph 1.0)

From the volume at equivalence point, determine the no. of moles of
KHP used in the titration;

iii-

Through ratio of moles, determine the no. of moles of NaOH required to

neutralize KHP, then;

iv-

Calculate the molatiry of NaOH solution, by;

(
)
( )

( )

Then, second titration was held. This time it was between standardized NaOH
solution and vinegar. Standardized NaOH solution was added slowly into vinegar. From this
titration, the molarity of acetic acid and the amount of acetic acid contained in vinegar can be
calculated. The steps to find the amount of acetic acid in vinegar are;
i-

Find the equivalence point of graph 2.0

ii-

From the volume at equivalence point, determine the no. of moles of

NaOH reacted,
;
Through ratio of moles; determine the no. of moles of
neutralized by moles of NaOH;
Then, calculate the molarity of the
solution

iiiiv-

(
)
( )

( )

v-

Finally, calculate the mass percent of

in vinegar by;
( )
( )

During the experiment, there was a misunderstood of the procedure of the experiment.
It was supposed to be; the second titration had to be repeated for 3 (three) times to get 3 sets
of titrations. However, it was only done once; 1 (one) set of titration with 3 readings of
volume of NaOH and pH of solution. To solved this, the procedure for the second titration
had been redone; but with a new standard NaOH solution. Therefore, the final result of this
experiment could be doubted. This mistake should be avoided by understanding the
methodology of the experiment before carrying out an experiment.

9.0 CONCLUSION
9.1 The molarity of acetic acid solution is 1.97M
9.2 The mass percent of acetic acid in vinegar is 11.8%

10.0

RECOMENDATION
10.1 To ensure that there is no bubble trapped at the tip of the burette when filling it
with NaOH solution.
10.2 Avoid making parallax error.

11.0

APPENDIX
11.1

Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide Solution.

11.1.1 For Titration 2;

No. of moles of

and NaOH;

From the balanced chemical equation; 1 mol of

produced 1 mole of

and 1 mol of

reacted with 1 mol of

. Then;

Molarity of NaOH solution;

(

)
( )

11.1.2 For Titration 3;

No. of moles of

and NaOH;

From the balanced chemical equation; 1 mol of

produced 1 mole of
and 1 mol of

reacted with 1 mol of

. Then;

Molarity of NaOH solution;

)
( )

11.2 Molarity of Acetic Acid and Its Mass Percent in Vinegar.

11.2.1 For Titration 2;
Graph 7.2 shows that 10.00mL of aliquot vinegar required 28.00mL of
0.698M standardized NaOH solution to reach equivalence point of titration.
Assuming that the density of the vinegar solution is 1.00gmol-1.
(i)

No. of moles of NaOH reacted;

(

)(

)(

(ii)

No. of moles of

neutralized by moles of NaOH;

From the balanced chemical equation, 1 mol of

with 1 mol of NaOH produced 1 mol of
Then;

(iii)

Molarity of

solution;
(

)
( )

11.2.2 Mass percent of

reacted
and 1 mol of H2O.

for Titration 2;

)(

)(

11.2.3 For Titration 3;

Graph 7.2 shows that 10.00mL of aliquot vinegar required 28.50mL of
0.6142M standardized NaOH solution to reach equivalence point of
titration. Assuming that the density of the vinegar solution is 1.00gmol-1.
(i)

No. of moles of NaOH reacted;

(

(ii)

)(

)(

No. of moles of

neutralized by moles of NaOH;

From the balanced chemical equation, 1 mol of

with 1 mol of NaOH produced 1 mol of
H2O. Then;

(iii)

Molarity of

solution;
(

reacted
and 1 mol of

)
( )

11.2.4 Mass percent for Titration 3;

)(

)(