Determination of Ka of Weak Acids

After Vonderbrink, Laboratory Experiments for AP Chemistry

Introduction
Acids are substances which provide hydrogen ions. They vary in their ability to ionize from strong acids,
which give up 100% of their hydrogen ions, to extremely weak acids which hardly ionize at all. The dissociation
constant is the value of the equilibrium constant which indicates their acid strength.

Background
The modern Bronsted definition of an acid relies on the ability of the compound to donate hydrogen ions to
other substances. When an acid dissolves in water, it donates hydrogen ions to water molecules to form H+ ions.
The general form of this reaction, called an ionization reaction, is shown in Equation 1, where HA is the acid
and A its conjugate base after loss of a hydrogen ion. The double arrows represent a reversible reaction.
HA(aq) + H2O(l) A(aq) + H3O+(aq) Equation 1

Equation 2

Not all acids, of course, are created equal. The strength of an acid depends on the value of its equilibrium
constant Ka for Equation 1. Strong acids ionize completely in aqueous solution. The value of Ka for a strong
acid is extremely large and Equation 1 essentially goes to completion -- only H3O+ and A are present in
solution. Weak acids, in contrast, ionize only partially in aqueous solution. The value of Ka for a weak acid is
much less than one and Equation 1 is reversible -- all species (HA, A, and H3O+) are present at equilibrium.

Polyprotic acids contain more than one ionizable hydrogen. Ionization of a polyprotic acid occurs in a stepwise
manner, where each step is characterized by its own equilibrium constant (Ka1, Ka2, etc.). The second reaction
(removal of the second acidic hydrogen) always occurs to a much smaller extent than the first reaction, and so
Ka2 is always significantly smaller than Kal. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) are examples of
polyprotic acids.
H2A(aq) + H2O(l) HA(aq) + H3O+(aq) Equation 3

HA(aq) + H2O(l) A2(aq) + H3O+(aq) [A2 ][H 3O + ] Equation 4

K a2 =
[HA ]

The ionization constant of a weak acid can be determined experimentally by measuring the H3O+ concentration

in a dilute aqueous solution of the weak acid. This procedure is most accurate when the solution contains equal
molar amounts of the weak acid and its conjugate base. Consider acetic acid as an example. Acetic acid
(CH3COOH) and the acetate anion (CH3COO) represent a conjugate acid-base pair. The equilibrium constant
expression for ionization of acetic acid is shown in Equation 5. If the concentrations of acetic acid and acetate
ion are equal, then these two terms cancel out in the equilibrium constant expression, and Equation 5 reduces to
Equation 6.
CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l) CH3COO(aq) + H3O+(aq)
[CH 3COO ][H 3O + ] Equation 5
Ka =
[CH 3COOH]

Equation 6
In this experiment, solutions
are prepared in which the molar concentrations of an unknown acid and its
conjugate base are equal. The pH of these solutions are then equal to the pKa for the acid. The definition of pKa
is closely related to that of pH. Thus, pH = log[H3O+] and pKa = logKa. Most of the unknowns are salts of
polyprotic acids that still contain an ionizable hydrogen. Sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4 ), for example, is a weak
acid salt: it contains Na+ and HSO4 ions. The HSO4 ion is a weak acid--the equilibrium constant for ionization
of HSO4 corresponds to Ka2 for sulfuric acid.

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 H2SO4(aq) + H2O(l) HSO4(aq) + H3O+(aq) Equation 7

HSO4(aq) + H2O(l) SO42(aq) + H3O+(aq) Equation 8

Experiment Overview
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the pKa values for ionization of an unknown weak acid. A
solution containing an equal molar amount of the weak acid and its conjugate bases is prepared by "half
neutralization" of the acid. The pH value is measured and used to calculate the pKa value for the unknown
and thus determine its identities. Two trials are run.

Procedure
1. Label two weighing dishes #1 and #2.
2. Obtain an unknown weak acid and record the code (letter) of the unknown. Measure out a small quantity
(0.15-0.20 g) of the unknown into each weighing dish. Note: It is not necessary to know the exact mass of
each sample.
3. Using a graduated cylinder, precisely measure 50.0 mL of distilled water into a 150-mL beaker.
4. Transfer the sample from weighing dish #1 (Trial 1) to the water in the beaker and stir to dissolve.
5. Using a graduated cylinder, precisely transfer 25.0 mL of the acid solution prepared in step 3 into an
Erlenmeyer flask. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein solution to the acid solution in the Erlenmeyer flask.
6. Using a Beral pipet, add sodium hydroxide solution dropwise to the flask. Gently swirl the flask while
adding the sodium hydroxide solution.
7. Continue adding sodium hydroxide dropwise and swirling the solution until a faint pink color persists
throughout the solution for at least 15 seconds. This is called the endpoint. Note: A pink color develops
immediately when the base is added, but fades quickly once the solution is swirled. When nearing the
endpoint, the pink color begins to fade more slowly. Proceed cautiously when nearing the endpoint, so as
not to "overshoot" it. Note: At this point the solution in the beaker contains exactly one-half of the original
amount of acid, essentially all of which is in the acid form, HA. The Erlenmeyer flask contains an equal
amount of the conjugate base A obtained by neutralization.
8. Pour the contents of the Erlenmeyer flask back into the beaker. Pour the solution back and forth a few times
to mix. Note: It is important to transfer all of the solution from the Erlenmeyer flask back into the beaker.
9. Using a pH meter, measure the pH of the solution in the beaker, which now contains equal molar amounts of
the acid and its conjugate base. Record the pH.
10. Dispose of the beaker contents down the drain and rinse both the beaker and the Erlenmeyer flask with
distilled water. Dry the beaker with a paper towel.
11. Repeat steps 3-9 using the sample from weighing dish #2 (Trial 2).

Pre-Lab Questions

Phosphoric acid is a triprotic acid (three ionizable hydrogens). The values of its stepwise ionization constants
are Ka1 = 7.5 103, Ka2 = 6.2 108, and Ka3 = 4.2 1013.
1. Write the chemical equation for the first ionization reaction of phosphoric acid with water.

2. Write the equilibrium constant expression (Ka1) for this reaction.

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3. What would be the pH of a solution when [H3PO4] = [H2PO4]?

4. What would be the pH of a solution prepared by combining equal quantities of NaH2PO4 and Na2HPO4?
Explain with an equation.

5. Sufficient strong acid is added to a solution containing Na2HPO4 to neutralize one-half of it. What will be
the pH of this solution? Explain.

6. Why is it not necessary to know the exact mass of your acid sample (step 2 in the Procedure) nor the exact
concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution used (step 6 in the Procedure)? Why is it necessary to
measure the exact volume of distilled water used to dissolve the acid (step 3) as well as the exact volume of
the solution transferred from the beaker to the Erlenmeyer flask (step 5)?

Post-Lab Calculations and Analysis

1. Calculate the average pKa value for your unknown weak acid.

2. Comment on the precision (reproducibility) of your pKa determination. Describe sources of experimental
error and their likely effect on the measured pKa (pH) values.

3. The following table lists the identities of the unknowns in this experiment.

Weak Acid Formula Ka pKa

Potassium dihydrogen phosphate KH2PO4 Ka2 of H3PO4 = 6.2 108

Potassium hydrogen sulfate KHSO4 Ka2 of H2SO4 = 1.0 102

Potassium hydrogen phthalate KHC8H4O4 Ka2 of H2C8H4O4 = 3.9 10-6

Potassium hydrogen tartrate KHC4H4O6 Ka2 of H2C4H4O6 = 4.6 105

Acetylsalicylic acid 2-CH3CO2C6H4CO2H Ka = 3.2 104

4. Compare your experimental pKa value with the literature values reported in Question 3. Determine the
probable identity of your unknown.

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