Lab 6 Determination of Ka
Lab 6 Determination of Ka
Lab 6 Determination of Ka
Determination of Ka
for a weak acid
General Chemistry II
Bezawit Wube
Abstract:
2. You are going to count and then calculate and record the average number of
drops of water in a milliliter and the average quantity of a mL represented by one
drop. To do this:
a. Hold the pipet and a graduated cylinder in front of your face so you can closely
watch your measurements.
b. With the pipet tip pointing down and its bulb held vertically up gently and
consistently squeeze the pipet bulb to add the water drop-by-drop into the
graduated cylinder.
c. Stop and record the number of drops when you reach the first, second, and third
mL lines.
d. From Step 2-C compute and record an average for the number of drops of water
per mL.
e. Also calculate and record an average for the quantity of a mL represented by one
drop.
3. Squeeze all of the distilled water out of the pipet and set aside to use later.
12. Record your data to 4 decimal places for each trial in the data table.
13. For the average of the three trials, at 2-drop intervals, calculate the volume of
NaOH added in
mL. Remember, you calculated the volume of a drop (in mL) in Part 1.
Record your data in a table similar to the Data Table 2: Volume of NaOH in the Lab
Report Assistant section.
14. At the top of the pH column, enter the unknown acids starting pH value, before
titration.
15. Enter the pH of the acid after titration (the equivalence point from Step 8 at the
bottom of the pH column, opposite the equivalence point volume. Since you used
phenolphthalein as an acid-base indicator you know that it changes from colorless
to magenta at a pH of 8.3.
Hopefully the pH you recorded in Step 9 is close to 8.3.
16. After you have entered the starting and ending pH in the second data table you
need to calculate the appropriate pH value for each 2 drop interval as follows:
a. Count the total number of rows, including the 0 row and the very last row.
b. Subtract the initial pH from the final pH and divide the resulting difference by the
number of rows minus 1.
c. Then add this number to each previous pH value. For example, if your starting pH
was 3 and the ending pH was 8.3, and if you had a total of 21 volume rows you
would make the following computations:
8.3 3 = 5.3; 5.3/20 (21 rows minus 1 = 20 for the divisor); = 0.265
Then add the resultant 0.265 to each previous pH after the starting value and your
subsequent values would be: 3 + 0.265 = 3.265; 3.265 + 0.265 = 3.53; 3.53 +
0.265 = 3.795; etc.
d. Calculate and fill in all pH values in the pH column. Using a spreadsheet will make
this a very fast process.
17. Make a graph. Plot pH on the y-axis and plot the volume of NaOH added on the
x-axis. This is your titration curve. Locate the pH that corresponds to your
equivalence point. Note: This curve will be slightly different from a classical titration
curve since you did not actually take pH readings after every 2 drops and also did
not record pH values beyond the equivalence point.
18. Locate the pH that corresponds to your half-equivalence point. Remember that
the volume at the half-equivalence point is half the volume used to reach the
equivalence point.
19. Determine the pKa for your unknown acid. Recall that at the half-equivalence
point, pH = pKa.
20. Determine Ka from your pKa by taking the inverse log of the pKa.( 10 pka )
21. Send your plots, data tables, pKa, and Ka values to your instructor.
Cleanup: Dispose of all chemicals by washing them down the sink with lots of
water and throw the used pipets, bottles, and indicator strips into the trash.
Data/Observation:
Number of
Drops
27
51
77
25.8
0.039
Trial 1
Volume acid (ml)
Color of acid
Volume NaOH
(drops)
Color final
solution
2.0
colorless
42
Trial 2
2.0
Colorless
51
pink
Pink
Trial 3
2.0
colorless
61
pink
added
0
0.0779
0.1558
0.2338
0.3117
0.3896
0.4675
0.5454
0.6234
0.7013
0.7792
0.8571
0.9351
1.0130
1.0909
1.1688
1.2467
pH
3.5
3.68
3.86
4.05
4.24
4.42
4.61
4.79
4.98
5.16
5.35
5.53
5.71
5.90
6.08
6.27
6.45
Average
2.0
colorless
51.3
pink
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
Calculations:
To calculate the ph :
Number of rows: 27,
Final ph initial ph = 4.8
4.8/(27-1) = 0.1846
1.3247
1.4026
1.4805
1.5584
1.6364
1.7143
1.7922
1.8701
1.9480
2.0260
6.64
6.82
7.01
7.19
7.38
7.56
7.75
7.93
8.11
8.3
Titration Curve
Using excel, the equation of the graph is y= 2.3703x+3.4978.
The red mark on the graph is where the equivalence point is ; Ph = 8.0 and using
the equation ,
When y=8.0, x= 1.899
The yellow lines indicate where the half equivalence point is:
1.899
=0.949
2
0.949 indicates the half equivalence point volume of NaOH.
Y : pH value; x: volume of NaOH
Y= 2.3703 X + 3.4978
If volume, that is x=0.949, y= 5.7489
pH=5.7
pKa= 5.7
pka= - logka
log-1(-pka) = ka
ka =1.99*10-6
Questions:
A. What is the relationship between Ka and pKa?
Analysis:
Student pours 2 mL of unknown acid in beaker. Then 1 drop of
Phenolphthalein solution should be added to indicate the color. Then the
student is going to add NaOH one drop at a time. Student should make sure
to count the drops and stir the mixture at the same time with a plastic knife
or spoon.
As the student is titrating the acid, because it is a weak acid in a reaction
with a base it wont completely dissociate. As the student adds the NaOH, the
base is reacting with the acid. The color light pink comes from the reaction.