Practical 12:

Acids, bases and indicators

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Day: Tuesday p.m.
Date: 25/02/14

Introduction:
Acid-base reaction occur because of proton transport form acids to bases. Acids are those
chemicals which donate protons, whereas bases are defined as those chemicals which accept
protons. This concept of acid-base reactions is called Bronsted-Lowry concept (Bready et al
2012). There is another theory which is called Arrhenius Theory, and it says that acids are those
which provide and produce hydrogen ions in solution, whereas bases are those which provide
and produce hydroxide ions in solution (Clark 2002).
Acids and bases can be weak or strong ones. Strong acids are those which donate proton
easily, and they fully ionize in solution. The examples of strong acids are: hydrochloric acid,
perchloric acid, nitric acid, etc. Strong bases are those which accept aproton easily, and they are
also fully ionized in solutions. The examples of strong bases are sodium, potassium, lithium
hydroxides (Lewis and Evans 2011). Strong acids have a weak conjugate base, whereas strong
bases have weak conjugate acids .Conjugate acid-base pars are known as the chemicals which
differ only by one proton. For example, H3O+ is a conjugate acid of H2O, because it can donate
one proton, whereas H2O is a conjugate base for H3O+, because it has 1 less proton, and can act
as an acceptor (Bready et al 2012).
It is better to consider by Bronsted-Lowry concept that all acid-base are at chemical
equilibrium, it means that forward and revers reactions can be done by them. For example:
CH3COOH (aq) + H2O CH3COO- + H3O+
In the forward reaction ethanoic acid donates proton to water, and becomes an ethanoate
ion CH3COO- . So, in this reaction ethanoic acid acts as a Bronsted acid (donates a proton),
whereas water molecule acts as a Bronted base (accepts a proton). In reverse reaction H3O+ acts
as a Bronsted acid, and ethanoate ion behaves as Bronsted base (Bready et al 2012).
Aim:
To observe proton-transfer reactions between acids and bases, to be able to distinguish the
strength of the acids by observing the reactions, and to distinguish the levels of acidity and
basisity by indicator.
Procedure:
Experiment 1: Proton-transfer reactions between acids and bases
A little hydrochloric acid was added to a little sodium ethanoate in the tube, the solution
was warmed. The solution was smelled cautiously.
A little ethanoic acid solution was added to a little sodium chloride in the tube, and this
solution was also warmed and smelled.
Experiment 2: Finding the position of benzoic acid in the table
1.0 g of sodium benzoate was dissolved in 10cm3 water, and the obtained solution was divided
equally into 3 portions, and these portions were poured into 3 tubes.
-2cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid was added to the first tube
-2cm3 dilute ethanoic acid was added o the second tube

-2cm3 ammonium chloride solution was added to the third tube.

Experiment 3: Acid Strength and hydrogen ion concentration
The four test tubes were prepared with the following substances:
Tube 1: 4 cm3 of ethanol
Tube 2: 4 cm3 of dilute ethanoic acid
Tube 3: 4 cm3 of water
Tube 4: 4 cm3 of ammonium chloride solution
Half a spatula load of magnesium powder was added to each tube. The reactions were observed,
and the observations were recorded. Tube 1 and Tube 3 were heated in a hot water bath for 1
minute.
Experiment 4: Acid-Base Indicators
2 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid was put in a test tube, and 2 drops of the indicator
bromophenol blue (HB). The tube was shaken and the observations were recorded. Then, excess
sodium hydroxide solution was added to this solution. The observations were also recorded.
The following tubes were prepared:
Tube 1: 2cm3 of ethanol
Tube 2: 2 cm3 of dilute ethanoic acid
Tube 3: 2 cm3 of water
Tube 4: 2 cm3 of ammonium chloride solution
2 drops of bromophenol blue were added to each tube (Tube 1- Tube 4) in turn, the tubes were
shaken, the observations were recorded.
Results:
Experiment 1
In the Experiment 1 the following reaction occurred:
CH3COONa(aq) + HCl(aq) CH3COOH(aq)+ NaCl(aq)
The product of the reaction had an acidic smell, according to this smell it was concluded that
ethanoic acid was obtained, and the electron transfer occurred.
Also, a little ethanoic acid solution was added to sodium chlorate, there was no specific smell
after the reaction.

Experiment 2

In the Experiment 2 the following reactions took place:

1) Firstly sodium benzoate was dissolved in water, and this aqueous solution was divided
into 3 tubes.
2) C6H5COONa(aq) + HCl(aq) C6H5COOH(aq) + NaCl (aq)
In this reaction a white precipitate was formed, hence benzoic acid was formed
3) C6H5COONa(aq) + CH3COOH (aq) C6H5COOH(aq) + CH3COONa (aq)
In this reaction benzoic acid was also formed, a white precipitate was formed
4) NH4Cl(aq) + C6H5COONa(aq) nothing happened, no precipitate was observed,
hence benzoic acid was not formed.
Experiment 3
1) 2C2H5OH+Mg(25)2Mg+H2 -this reaction should have happened, but nothing
happened, the Mg powder was laying in the bottom of the tube
2) CH3COOH(aq) + Mg(s) (CH3COO)2Mg(aq) + H2 (g)
The reaction occurred vigorously and bubbles released (H2 gas). The reaction was
exothermic.
3) H2O + Mg
The reaction did not happen with the cold water
4) Mg(s) + NH4Cl MgCl2.2NH4Cl + NH3 + H2
This reaction happened vigorously, the gas release was observed (H2)
After the warming of the first and the third solutions, nothing happened, Mg was not
dissolved. Perhaps, the temperature of water bath was not high enough.
Experiment 4:
1. When 2 drops of bromophenol blue was added to 2 cm3 of dilute HCl the pale yellow
color was obtained, hence yellow colour told about HCl`s being acid.
2. When the excess amount of NaOH was added to the solution of HCl+indicator the colour
of the solution changed from pale yellow to pale purple
3. 2 drops of indicator were added to ethanol, the green colour was obtained
4. 2 drops of indicator were added to dilute ethanoic acid, yellow colour was obtained
Yellow colour-for acids
Purple colour- for bases
Green colour was substance which are in the middle of acids and basess.
Discussion:
In the Experiment 1 the proton transfer reactions occurred. The equation of the first reaction of a
little hydrochloric acid and sodium ethanoate the following reaction occurred:
CH3COONa(l) + HCl(l) CH3COOH(aq)+ NaCl(aq)
The net equation is:
CH2COO- + H+ CH3COOH
The product of this reaction (excluding spectator ions) is acetic acid- CH3COOH
In this reaction HCl behaved as an acid and sodium ethanoate behaved as a base.
The evidence of proton transfer and the evidence of that the reaction occurred was a specific
acidic smell of acetic acid-the product of the reaction.

After the addition of ethanoic acid to sodium chloride no reaction occurred, no electron transfer
occurred, no smell change was noticed during the reaction, since NaCl is a neutral ion pair, so it
cannot be affected by a weak acid CH3COOH.
In the Experiment 4 the indicator bromphenol blue was used, this indicator is a liquid solution
which has a green-dark red colour. During this experiment firstly, how the indicator dyes an acid
was found out. Bromphenol blue was added to HCl ( which is acid) and the obtained colour was
pale yellow. So, it was concluded that the solution is acidic if it obtains a yellow colour.
Secondly, the indicator was added to NaOH, and the solution became purple, hence it was
concluded that the indicator dyes more basic solutions to purple colour. Bromphenol blue has a
ph range between 3.0-4.6, and in the table of acids it will present as a weak acid.
Conclusion:
Proton-transfer reactions were observed, also acidity and basisity were identified by using
indicator bromophenol blue. In terms of acidity the following trend was observed:
CH3COOH> dilute HCl> ethanol> NH4Cl>water
CH3COOH was the most acidic, and water was the most basic
References:
1) Brady, James E., Neil D. Jepersen, Alison Hyslop. 2012. Chemistry. International
Student Vision. 6th edition. Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.
2) Lewis, Rob and Wynne Evans. 2011. Chemistry 4th edition. Palgrave Macmillan. UK.
3) Clark, Jim. 2009. www.chemguide.co.uk