Title: pH Titrations

Introduction:
An acid-base titration can be monitored with a pH meter to measure the pH value of
a substance. A titration is a controlled addition of one substance into another
substance. In an acid-base titration, a base of known concentration will be added to
an acid of unknown concentration or vice versa. The goal of the titration is usually to
use the substance of known concentration to trying to determine the equivalence
point of the reaction, with the help of the pH meter. The equivalence point is the point
at which there are equal amounts of H+(aq) and OH-(aq) in the titration flask. At this
point, the neutralisation is complete and neither the acid nor the alkali is in excess.
The end point is the point at which the indicator changes colour. A strong acid is one
that completely ionizes or dissociates in a solution, whereas a weak acid only
partially dissociates in a solution.
When HCl is titrated with NaOH, the shape of this titration curve should show the
characteristics of a strong acid- strong base titration since HCl is a strong acid.
When a strong acid is titrated with a strong base, the equivalence point will be
expected to be at a pH of 7, this is because the strong base will neutralize the strong
acid. The starting solution of the strong acid will be of a low pH value. When the
strong base is added to the strong acid the pH value will increase.
When CH3COOH is titrated with NaOH, the shape of the titration curve should show
the characteristics of a weak acid- strong base titration since CH 3COOH is an acetic
acid which is a weak acid. The pH value of the starting solution of the acid is initially
low. The equivalence point of the titration will now be at a pH higher than 7. Weak
acids only dissociate partly in solution.

Objectives:
To see how pH changes in an acid-base titration, and to see how the shape of the
titration curve depends on the nature of the acid.
Materials:
Burette stand, 50mL burette, magnetic stirrer, pH meter, 25mL pipette, pipette bulb,
standard 1.10M NaOH, 0.1M HCl, 0.1M CH3COOH(weak acid)
Methods:
(A): Titration of HCl with NaOH
1. 25.00mL of HCl was transferred to a clean 100mL beaker using a pipette. A
magnetic bar was placed in the beaker on the magnetic stirrer. The speed of the
stirrer was adjusted so that the bar was spinning steadily.
2. The pH electrode was placed in the beaker. The instrument was then turned on
and the initial pH measurement was taken and recorded. The small white pore of the
electrode was immersed in the solution in order to obtain a reading.
3. NaOH was from the burette was added to the acid solution in 1mL increments.
The burette and pH meter readings was recorded after each addition of NaOH. After
the first 20mL of NaOH have been added, NaOH was added drop wise instead of
1mL at a time.
4. As we approached the equivalence point, small increments in the volume of NaOH
resulted in large changes in pH. At this point, the measurement after each 1/2mL or
0.1mL, was recorded to see if there was a significant change.
5. Once past the equivalence point, we continued to add drop wise of NaOH until the
pH levels off at a final high value. The pH value was recorded with each addition.
The reaction mixture was disposed by pouring it down the sink and was rinsed with
lots of tap water
(B): Titration of CH3COOH with NaOH

The burette was refilled with NaOH and the procedure was repeated in Part B, using
acetic acid instead of hydrochloric acid.
Results: (A): Titration of HCl with NaOH.
Vol.
NaOH(m
L)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
15.0

pH

1.35
1.35
1.35
1.39
1.43
1.45
1.46
1.49
1.51
1.54
1.58
1.61
1.65
1.70
1.75
1.80

Vol.
NaOH(m
L)
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
22.0
22.5
23.0
23.5
24.0
24.5
25.0
25.5

pH

1.87
1.95
2.05
2.17
2.36
2.47
2.68
2.89
4.99
9.10
10.79
11.09
11.29
11.40
11.49
11.55

Vol.
NaOH(m
L)
26.0
26.5
27.0
28.0
29.0
30.0
31.0
32.0
33.0
34.0
35.0
36.0
37.0
38.0
39.0
40.0

pH

Vol.
NaOH(m
L)
26.0
26.5
27.0
28.0
29.0
30.0
31.0
32.0
33.0
34.0
35.0
36.0
37.0
38.0
39.0

pH

11.62
11.66
11.70
11.77
11.83
11.87
11.92
11.96
12.00
12.02
12.06
12.09
12.10
12.13
12.15
12.16

(B): Titration of CH3CHOOH with NaOH.

Vol.
NaOH(m
L)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0

pH

2.87
2.89
3.44
3.51
3.69
3.88
3.94
4.02
4.14
4.26
4.36
4.45
4.52
4.61
4.67

Vol.
NaOH(m
L)
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
22.0
22.5
23.0
23.5
24.0
24.5
25.0

pH

4.80
4.89
4.97
5.06
5.16
5.20
5.24
5.29
5.36
5.42
5.50
5.58
5.67
5.94
5.94

6.88
8.50
9.50
11.18
11.46
11.61
11.70
11.79
11.85
11.90
11.94
11.98
12.01
12.05
12.08

15.0

Discussion:
Conclusion:
References:

4.74

25.5

6.25

40.0

12.10