Name: Leung Man Ying Student no.

: 50928191
Date of lab.: Feb 6, 2007 Date of report: Feb 11, 2007
Title: BCH2008 Expt-5: Chemical Equilibrium

Objective:
This experiment is set up to find out the acid dissociation constants (Ka) of Formic
acid and Mandelic acid.

Results and data analysis:

For Formic acid,
1.
Total volume of base added(cm³) pH Burette readings(cm³)
0 2.49 0.13
1.82 2.67 1.95
3.59 2.84 3.72
5.52 3 5.65
8.37 3.2 8.5
10.99 3.35 11.12
13.4 3.49 13.53
15.96 3.63 16.09
18.22 3.76 18.35
20.24 3.88 20.37
21.57 3.97 21.7
22.97 4.08 23.1
23.6 4.13 23.73
24.27 4.19 24.4
25.08 4.27 25.21
25.97 4.37 26.1
26.42 4.43 26.55
27.15 4.54 27.28
27.72 4.65 27.85
28.09 4.73 28.22
28.47 4.83 28.6
28.89 4.96 29.02
29.17 5.07 29.3
29.55 5.29 29.68
29.67 5.41 29.8
29.87 5.56 30
30.07 5.77 30.2
30.39 6.2 30.52
30.49 6.35 30.62
30.56 6.44 30.69
30.62 6.56 30.75
1
 30.77 6.85 30.9
30.84 7.13 30.97
30.89 7.63 31.02
30.99 8.28 31.12
31.07 8.52 31.2
31.2 8.83 31.33
31.42 9.13 31.55
31.77 9.44 31.9
31.97 9.62 32.1
32.22 9.82 32.35
32.89 10.28 33.02
33.17 10.49 33.3
34.12 10.95 34.25
34.42 11.08 34.55
35.11 11.25 35.24
35.77 11.36 35.9
37.39 11.54 37.52
39.67 11.68 39.8
43.19 11.82 43.32
49.07 11.95 49.2
2.

3. The equivalence point in the titration is the spot on the above graph.
4. The volume of base added to reach this point, i.e. the equivalence volume, is 31
cm³.

2
5. Number of moles of base used = molarity × equivalence volume
= (0.1 M) × (31/1000 dm³)
= 0.0031 mol
Ratio of no. of moles of Formic acid and no. of moles of base = 1:1
∴Number of moles of Formic acid = 0. 0031 mol
The concentration of Formic acid = Number of moles ÷ volume
= 0. 0031 mol ÷ (25/1000 dm³)
= 0.124M
6. Method 1:
The concentration of Formic acid = 0.124M
Initial pH of Formic acid = 2.49
The concentration of H3O+ at equilibrium = ㏒ˉ¹( -2.49)
= 0.003236 M
The concentration of HA at equilibrium = 0.124 – 0.003236
= 0.120764 M

At equilibrium 0.120764 0.003236 0.003236

= (0.003236) × (0.003236) ÷ (0.120764)

= 8.671×10ˉ³ mol dmˉ³
Method 2:

By ,

when concentrations [A¯] and [HA] are equal, the log([A¯] / [HA]) term
becomes zero.
∴ pH½ = pKa
From the graph, pH at the half-equivalence point (31/2 = 15.5 cm³) is 3.7.
Then pH½ = pKa = -log Ka = 3.7
∴Ka = 1.995×10ˉ³ mol dmˉ³
7. From the curve, the pH color change of indicators suitable for use in titration of
Formic acid is 5.5 – 9.0.
Therefore, Phenol red and Neutral Red could be used in titrating Formic acid.

3
For Mandelic acid,
1.
Total volume of base added(cm³) pH Burette readings(cm³)
0 2.34 0
3 2.58 3
6.1 2.83 6.1
8.1 2.98 8.1
11.1 3.17 11.1
12.9 3.28 12.9
18.5 3.66 18.5
19.9 3.78 19.9
22.8 4.09 22.8
25.6 4.82 25.6
26.7 6.07 26.7
27.1 6.34 27.1
27.4 7.33 27.4
27.5 7.7 27.5
28.1 9.17 28.1
28.2 9.27 28.2
28.3 9.4 28.3
28.4 9.5 28.4
28.5 9.6 28.5
28.6 9.69 28.6
28.9 9.81 28.9
29 9.9 29
29.1 9.98 29.1
29.3 10.08 29.3
29.4 10.13 29.4
29.6 10.27 29.6
29.7 10.32 29.7
29.8 10.41 29.8
30 10.52 30
30.1 10.6 30.1
30.3 10.7 30.3
30.6 10.84 30.6
30.8 10.94 30.8
31.6 11.16 31.6
34.6 11.55 34.6
39.7 11.79 39.7
44.5 11.91 44.5
49 11.98 49

4
2.

3. The equivalence point in the titration is the spot on the above graph.
4. The volume of base added to reach this point, i.e. the equivalence volume, is
27.5 cm³.
5. Number of moles of base used = molarity × equivalence volume
= (0.1 M) × (27.5/1000 dm³)
= 0.00275 mol
Ratio of no. of moles of Mandelic acid and no. of moles of base = 1:1
∴Number of moles of Mandelic acid = 0.00275 mol
The concentration of Mandelic acid = Number of moles ÷ volume
= 0.00275 mol ÷ (25/1000 dm³)
= 0.11 M
6. Method 1:
The concentration of Mandelic acid = 0.11 M
Initial pH of Mandelic acid = 2.34
The concentration of H3O+ at equilibrium = ㏒ˉ¹( -2.34)
= 0.004571
The concentration of HA at equilibrium = 0.11 – 0.004571
= 0.1052429

At equilibrium 0.1052429 0.004571 0.004571

5
 = (0.004571) × (0.004571) ÷ (0.1052429)
= 1.982×10ˉ³ mol dmˉ³
Method 2:

By ,

when concentrations [A¯] and [HA] are equal, the log([A¯] / [HA]) term
becomes zero.
∴ pH½ = pKa
From the graph, pH at the half-equivalence point (27.5/2 = 13.75 cm³) is 3.3.
Then pH½ = pKa = -log Ka = 3.3
∴Ka = 5.012×10ˉ³ mol dmˉ³
7. From the curve, the pH color change of indicators suitable for use in titration of
Mandelic acid is 6 – 9.5.
Therefore, Bromthymol Blue and Cresol Purple could be used in titrating
Mandelic acid.

Conclusion:
By method 1, the acid dissociation constants (Ka) of Formic acid is 8.671×10ˉ³ mol
dmˉ³ and that of Mandelic acid is 2.417×10ˉ³ mol dmˉ³.
By method 2, the acid dissociation constants (Ka) of Formic acid is 1.982×10ˉ³ mol
dmˉ³ and that of Mandelic acid is 5.012×10ˉ³ mol dmˉ³.