Lab report

Determination of ethanoic acid

content in vinegar by volumetric
analysis

Student: Katarina Lalovi

Professor: Jasminka Omerovi

Date: 21. 11. 2012.

Aim
The aim of this experiment was to deteermine the percentage of ethanoic
acid, by volume, in vinegar by titrating with standardized sodium
hydroxide, NaOH.

Materials
1. Materials: burette 50 cm3 (0.1 cm3)
pipette 25 cm3 (0.1 cm3)
pipette filler
small pipette
volumetric flask 250 cm3 (0.15 cm3)
conical flask 250 cm3
beaker 250 cm3
filter funnel
2. Chemicals: 250 ml of sodium hydroxide 0.1 mol/dm3
supermarket vinegar
distilled water
250 cm3 of standardized acid
phenolphtalein

Procedure
First, standardized acid was made by dilluting vinegar in distilled water.
With pipette, 25 cm3 of vinegar was transfered carefuly to the volumetric
flask, where we dillute up to 250 cm 3 mark by adding accurately deionised
water. That was our titrant and 50 cm3 was put in the burette and that is
our initial reading. In conical flask, with pipette, we transfered 25 cm 3 of
NaOH and put ,in first trial, 3 drops of phenolphtalein, so our base changed
the colour to dark pink. When everything is prepared, we start with
titration, and titre against the base until it has became colourless. Now, we
repeat the procedure, but in 4 other trials, one change was made: number
of drops of phenolphtalein. In the second trial, two drops were put, and in
others only one, but the colour was the same.

Safety
To reduce the posibility of injuring ourselves in the lab, lab coat, glovess
and eye glasses were used. NaOH and CH3COOH are corrosive even in
dillutions and they can cause, for example, eye damage.

Results
Data collection
Qualitative data
Sodium hydroxide and vinegar are both colourless. When we put
phenolphtalein in a base it changes colour to dark pink because pH is
bigger than 7. When the titre reached its end point, pink colour becomes
colourless. Both chemicals have got a specific smell.

Quantitative data
1. In this table, reading from burette after titration are collected:
Trials

Volume in cm3 (0.1

cm3)
Initial
readings/
cm3)
Final
readings/
cm3)
Volume of
cm3 (0.1

Avera
ge
value

Unc/
%

burette
cm
(0.1

50.0

50.0

50.0

50.0

50.0

50.0

0.2

burette
cm
(0.1

37.4

33.0

33.4

34.0

34.0

34.4

0.3

14.6

17.0

16.6

16.1

16.0

16.0

0.6

titre used/
cm3 )

2. In this table, we have collected other measurements reqired for

titration:
Volume / cm3
Vinegar
without
water
Vinegar dilluted in
the water
Volume of NaOH
*Unc=error/value * 100

Data processing

Value / cm3

Error / cm3

Unc. / %

25.0

0.1

0.4

250

0.15

0.06

25.0

0.1

0.4

From table 1, we can see the average value of the standardized acid used
to neutralize the base, and it is 15.6 cm3 .
From the eqation of chemical reaction of dilluted vinegar solution (ethanoic
acid CH3COOH) and sodium hydroxide,
CH3COOH + NaOH CH3COONa + H2O
we can see that one mole of CH3COOH is needed to neutralize one mole of
NaOH.
From this equation we can conclude that the number of moles of base that
was neutralised is the same as the number of moles of acid that was
needed to neutralise the base:

na=nb
In order to know how many moles of the acid were used, first we have to
know how many moles of the base we had with the formula:
Cb=nb/Vb nb=Cb*Vb
where Cb is molar concentration of acid, Cb=0.1 mol/dm3 and Vb is the
volume of the base, Vb=25.0 cm3=0.03 dm3 .
nb=0.1 mol/dm3 * 0.025 dm3
nb=0.0025 mol
Since nb=na, the number of moles of acid used is 0.0025 mol.
Now when we have the number of moles, we can calculate the mass of the
acid with the formula for amount of substance,
n=m/M m=n*M
where m is the unknown mass of the acid used in titration, and M is molar
mass which is 60.06 g/mol.
m=0.0025 mol * 60.06 g/mol
m=0.15 g
The value we have got is the number of moles in 25.0 cm3 of vinegar, but
in order to get the number of moles in 250.0 cm3 we have to multiply this
value with 10, to get the mass in diluted vinegar:
m1 = m * 10
m1 = 0.15 * 10

m1 = 1.5 g
Now, when we have the mass of the acid in diluted vinegar, we can
calculate the mass of that vinegar if we have , which is =1.045 g/cm3 .
= m/Vv m = * Vv
where is the density of vinegar and Vv is the average volume of acid
used.
m = 1.045 g/cm3 * 16.0 cm3
m = 16.7 g
For the end, in order to calculate the percentage of ethanoic acid in 1 l of
vinegar, we use formula:
% CH3COOH =

mass of ethanoic acid

mass of vinegar

% CH3COOH =

1.5 g
16.7 g

* 100

* 100 = 8.9 %

Conclusion
The percentage of ethanoic acid in vinegar is 8.9 % , and theoretical value
is 9 % . Even thought my result is smaller, it is not a big
difference,considering all errors and possible mistakes.
Total % error=

theoretical valueexperimental value

100
theoretical value
98.9
=
*100
9

0.1
100
9

=1

Total % error is 1 %.
Random error= of all uncertanities = 0.2 + 0.3 + 0.6 +0.4 +0.4 + 0.06
=2
Random error is 2 % .
Systematic error=total error random error = 1

Systematic error is 1 %.
So the final result is 8.9 % 2%.

Evaluation
Even thought the result obtained is close to the theoretical value, there
could have been some mistakes that eventualy affected my result, so I
didn't get the expected one.

Possible mistakes
There were many ways to make a mistake during this experiment. For
example, first mistake that could occure is when measuring the amount of
substances. This could happen because of my left handedness when
manipulating the pipettes, so I took smaller or bigger amount than needed
or some of the substance left in the pipette when transfering to conical
flask.
Also, when putting the water in the vinegar, I could have put more,
because measurements were not precise. That bigger amount of vinegar
and distiled water could eventually cause different percentage than the
book value which is 9 % .
Next problem was broken burette so I had problems with letting the stream
of the acid from the burette to conical flask and the result is bigger volume
used for neutralisation of the base.

Improvements
First thing I did to improve my experiment is choosing a better burette and
repeat the whole experiment. Also I would use more precise instruments to
measure the volume of substances and I could be more accurate in
recording the measurements.
Also, I would practise more in order to improve my manipulating skills and
to have more trial to have more accurate and precise results.