EXPERIMENT 1: pH MEASUREMENT & ITS APPLICATIONS OBJECTIVES : To use various method to measure the pH of acids. bases salts.

To determine the dissociation constant of acetic acid. INTRODUCTION: The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution is not expressed in moles or molarities but is expressed in terms of its pH. pH is defined as the negative logarithm or hydrogen ion concentration. [H+]. pH = - log [H+] ............. (1) Example: [H+] = 1x10 -4 mol/L pH = -log (1 x10-4) =4 The pH scale ranges from 1 to 14. A neutral solution has a pH of 7. An acidic solution has a pH value of less than 7 while basic solution has a pH value greater than 7. There are two methods of measuring pH in the laboratory. The first method involves the use of indicators. pH paper. litmus paper and universal indicator. The second method is using the pH meter. Acids or bases which ionize completely are called strong acids or strong bases. An example of a strong acid is HCI and a strong base is NaOH. Weak acids and weak bases do not ionize completely. An example of a weak acid is acetic acid. CH3COOH. and that of a weak base is ammonia. NH3. Consider the ionization of a weak acid. HA. HA (aq) => H+ + A............... (2)

The equilibrium expression for the above reaction is written as : Ka = [H + ][A 1]/[HA] Since [A-] = [HA],Ka = H+ The value of [H+] can be obtained by measuring the pH and from this; the value of Ka can be calculated. ............... (3)

EQUIPMENT/APPARATUS: Burette, pH meter, pH paper, test tubes, 25 ml pipette & 250ml conical flask.

REAGENT: NaCI 0.1 M, NaOH 0.2 M, metyl violet, NH4N03, 0.1 M, Alizarin yellow, methyl orange, phenolphthalein, universal indicator, CH3COONa0.1 M, NH3 0.1 M & 1.0 M, HCl 0.01 M & 1.0 M, CH3COOH 0.1 M & 1.0 M PROCEDURE: A. Determination of pH of Acidic and Basic Solutions. 1. i. The pH of 0.01 M, 1.0 M HCl were determined using a. pH paper. Refer to the pH colour chart of the pH paper. b. universal indicator. Refer to pH colour chart of universal indicator. The pH of 0.01 M, 1.0M HCl were determined using a pH meter.

ii.

2. i. Two test tubes with 2ml HCl 0.01 M and HCI1.0 M were filled in respectively. ii. Two drops of methyl violet added in both test tubes and note the colour change. 3. i. ii. pH paper was used with an acidic range and a pH meter, the pH of 0.1 M and 1.0 M CH3COOH were determined. Methyl violet and methyl orange were used, the colour of the indicator was determined in both solutions. pH paper with a basic range was used, the pH of 0.1 M and 1.0 M NaOH were determined. The colour of alizarin yellow in 0.1 M and 1.0 M NaOH were determined. The colour of alizarin yellow in 0.1 M and 1.0 M NH3 were determined.

4. i. ii. iii.

B. Determination of pH of Salt Solutions pH paper with appropriate range and universal indicator were used, the pH of the following salt solutions were determined; NaCI 0.1 M, NaOAc 0.1 M and NH4N03, 0.1 M. The salt solutions are acidic, basic or neutral also was determined. C. Determination titration for weak acid 1. 25 ml of 0.1 M CH3COOH pipetted into two conical flasks, labelling them X and Y. 2. Two to three drops of phenolphthalein added into the conical flask labelled X and with 0.2 M NaOH titrated it. (Titrate slowly base when the volume of base reaches 10 ml). The end point is reached when the solution becomes pink. The initial and the final reading of the burette were recorded.

3. The resulting solution in step (2) with 25 ml Of 0.1 M CH3COOH mixed in conical flask Y. The pH of this mixture determined using the pH meter. 4. Ka from the value of pH obtained in (3) was calculated.