The Titration of Sodium Hydroxide in Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Spire

Ava Martellaro, Madeleine Munoz, and Hannah Rehman

MMSTC

14 May 2017
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 2

Introduction

By the age of sixty-five, more than 96% of Americans will have experienced tooth

decay, which is the irreversible erosion of tooth enamel (Center for Disease Control).

Every day, consumers purchase liters of their favorite soft drink. This continuous

consumption of sodas could possibly have helped in raising this statistic. Soft drinks,

especially the diet and zero versions, are known to have a negative effect on tooth

enamel due to their ingredients. Through this research, it was tested to see if the diet

version of Sprite would prove to be more acidic than the regular and flavored version.

In the experiment, the soft drinks, Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite were

titrated with a 0.25 M sodium hydroxide, NaOH, base. From the data collected during

trials, the equivalence point was found. This was used to determine how much sodium

hydroxide had been added to neutralize the citric acid in the drink. After that amount

was found, the citric acid molarity in the beverage was able to be calculated.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine which variation of the soft drink,

Sprite, contained the highest citric acid concentration. By finding the drink with the

highest concentration, it could be determined which drink would cause the most erosion

to teeth. By conducting this research, other soda manufactures can look to Sprite as an

example and try to lessen the citric acid molarity found in their drinks, which would

better their selling appeal. Also, scientists who work in the dental field can use the

results as an example to help in determining the exact amount of citric acid consumed

when drinking a soft drink by running similar titration experiments.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 3

Review of Literature

The purpose of this section is to explain the use of titration to determine the pH

level in different variations of the popular soft drink Sprite. The experiment focused on

the citric acid concentration found in Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite. The idea for

the experiment began when research was conducted on the acidity of soft beverages

and how they could affect tooth enamel. In titrating the drinks, the pH could be tracked

throughout the entire process. The Flinn Scientific Inc. experiment involving titration will

be used as a base to lay the groundwork for the research, but unlike the Flinn

experiment that only used juice, the experiment conducted only used soft drinks.

By conducting the experiment, the results could determine which soft drink

causes the most amount of tooth decay. Tooth erosion is the permanent depletion of

tooth enamel, which is a thin but hard shell over the teeth. Enamel helps to protect teeth

from everyday uses, such as chewing. Consumption of acidic soft drink causes tooth

decay because of the sugar found in soft drinks, which produces acids that dissolve and

damage teeth. Tooth decay causes sensitivity, discoloration, chipping, and severe pain.

When teeth decay, sweet foods and temperatures could cause a jolting pain. Since soft

drinks contain acid, it is best to be cautious when choosing a drink. This experiment will

find which soft drink is the best for preventing tooth erosion.

The soft drinks, Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite were chosen because they

are light colored and have citric acid, which gives them a citric fruit taste. As done in the

International Journal of Chemical Studies, “Determination of Citric acid in Soft drinks,

Juice drinks and Energy drinks using Titration” study, the soft drinks were left out to sit

for two days in order for them to go flat. All the carbonic acid within the soft drinks must
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 4

leave before the molarity of citric acid can be found. If the carbonic acid is still present, it

may skew the results and make the citric acid look more concentrated.

In the Flinn Scientific experiment “Acidity of Beverages”, a burette was used to

add an exact amount of sodium hydroxide to neutralize the acid in orange, white grape,

and pineapple juice. Only light colored juices were used, so the color change could be

seen. Dark colored drinks would make it difficult to see the indicator change the color of

the solution. Then, the pH was recorded on a titration curve, with the amount of sodium

hydroxide labeled on the x axis and the pH level labeled on the y axis.

Figure 1. Titration Curve

Figure 1 shows a titration curve example. The x axis is the base and the y axis is

the pH level. Using the graph made the equivalence point, or the exact point where the

amount of base added was enough to neutralize the acid so it has a pH of 7.

In another similar experiment done by Eid Brima and Anass Abbas in the

International Journal of Chemical Studies, “Determination of Citric acid in Soft drinks,

Juice drinks and Energy drinks using Titration”, the amount of citric acid was found

through titration. Twenty-seven different substances were used to titrate, from juices, to
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 5

soft drinks, and even energy drinks. Before the titration was done, all drinks were left

open for a period of two days to decarbonize, which ensured that the carbonic acid

would not interfere with the collection of citric acid. This was also done for the energy

drinks and the sodas. The average amounts of citric acid for each drink were then

compared to see which beverage was the most acidic.

In this experiment, pH indicators were used to mark when enough of the titrant

was added. Indicators are weak acids that indicate changes in the concentration of H +

by changing color. These indicators change color due to the dissociation, or separation

into smaller ions, of the H+ ions from the indicator itself. In a titration, when an indicator

changes color, the equivalence point should have already been reached.

Figure 2. Chart of Indicators

In Figure 2, the chart used to determine which indicator is shown. By looking at

this chart, it shows the pH levels at which indicators react and change colors. From this
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 6

chart, it was determined that phenolphthalein would be the best indicator for the

experiment. This is because it changes color at a pH level between seven and nine. It is

best for the indicator to change color during this range because the equivalence point

for an acid/base titration occurs when the pH level is at seven. Since phenolphthalein

would not change color until after the equivalence point has been reached, there was

not a lack of data, and the concentrations will be able to be found.

The equivalence point in a titration is when the moles of the titrant are equal to

the moles of the analyte. Having a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio makes it possible to find the

concentration using the titration equation. In cases where the ratio is not 1:1, the

formula needs to be adjusted accordingly. For example, if there was a 2:1 stoichiometric

ratio, with the acid having two moles for every one mole of the base, then the acid side

of the formula would be multiplied by two to account for the ratio. These ratios are

determined by balancing the chemical equation.

M acid x Vacid = Mbase x Vbase

Figure 3. Titration Formula

The formula for titrations, shown above in Figure 3, involves setting up the

molarity of the acid multiplied by the volume of the acid equal to the molarity of the base

multiplied by the volume of the base. The capital letter ‘M’ refers to the molarity, and the

capital letter ‘V’ refers to volume. To start a titration, the first step taken is insuring that

the chemical equation for the reaction is balanced. The next step is to look at the

stoichiometric ratio. If the ratio is 1:1, then the formula is used as shown above. Once

the molarities are balanced, multiply the molarity of the acid (Macid) by the volume of the

acid (Vacid). Then, to find the molarity of the base (Mbase) of the other side of the
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 7

equation, take the volume of the base (Vbase) and use that number to divide the number

produced when multiplying the molarity of the acid and volume of the acid together.

Refer to Appendix A for a sample problem.

Figure 4. Sample Derivative Graph

In Figure 4, above, a sample graph of derivatives is shown. The derivative is

found where there was the biggest jump in pH between the points recorded. Then, by

looking at the graph, it can be seen at what volume caused the largest spike in pH. The

derivative graph was used in the experiment to determine and compare how much

sodium hydroxide was added to each drink to bring the beverages to the equivalence

point by looking at where the spike of pH occurred.

While the Flinn Scientific experiment was a base for this research, there were

differences in how the experiments were ran. The Flinn Scientific experiment focused

solely on juices, while in this research, the focus was on soft drinks such as Sprite,

Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite. In the International Journal of Chemical Studies
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 8

experiment, the average citric acid molarity for all of the drinks in one category were

found. In this research, each drink’s average citric acid molarity was found.

Acid has many negative effects and if people knew how acidic certain drinks

were, they might change their drinking habits. On average people drink 44.7 gallons of

soft drinks per year (Huffington), and these consumers have the right to know how

acidic these beverages are. Finding concentration of acid in drinks has been conducted

in previous experiments, which led to the idea of this research. Using the titration

method, the molarity of citric acid in common soft drinks can be found. From this

research, people can be informed about the amount of citric acid they consume through

soft drinks.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 9

Problem Statement

Problem:

To determine the concentration of citric acid in the decarbonized Sprite, Sprite

Zero, and Cherry Sprite soft drinks using a base of 0.25 M sodium hydroxide during

titration.

Hypothesis:

Sprite Zero will have the highest citric acid concentration, making it the most

acidic soft drink being tested.

Data:

The independent variables in this experiment are the soft drinks and the base

used during titration. Before beginning trials, the sodas will be left open at room

temperature for twenty-four hours in order to decarbonize the drinks. The research will

use fifty milliliters of Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite. The base added to the soft

drinks to neutralize them is 0.25 M sodium hydroxide, NaOH.

The dependent variables are the molarity of citric acid in the soft drinks and the

amount of sodium hydroxide added in milliliters. To calculate the molarity of citric acid,

the Macid Vacid = Mbase Vbase equation will be used. The molarity and volume of the base,

sodium hydroxide, will be multiplied. Then, this product will be divided by the volume of

the acid, the soft drink, to find the citric acid molarity. The amount of sodium hydroxide

will depend on how acidic the soft drinks are and how long it takes to bring the pH level

up to seven, as well as how long it takes to cause the pH indicator, phenolphthalein, to

pink.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 10

The data will be collected with a pH sensor that will be plugged into a channel in

the Logger Pro. The pH sensor will measure the changes in pH as sodium hydroxide is

added to the soft drink, and the Logger Pro will be used to graph the trend. Before

adding sodium hydroxide, the pH will be monitored for fifteen seconds. To show the pH

level before the sodium hydroxide is added, zero milliliters will be recorded on the

Logger Pro. Once this is done, increments of sodium hydroxide will be added to the soft

drink until the soft drink’s pH increases by about 0.5. The amount of milliliters added to

the soft drink to increase in by that much will be recorded and graphed. Increments will

be added until the graph begins to plateau, and the pH is not increasing as drastically.

By using Logger Pro, graphs can be made to see where the equivalence point is

located. With the equivalence point, the concentration of citric acid can be found. The

type of statistical analysis that will be used in the research will be descriptive statistics.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 11

Experimental Design
Materials:

(1 L) Sprite (250) mL Erlenmeyer Flask

(1 L) Cherry Sprite
(1 L) Sprite
(10 g) Sodium Chloride
(2) 10 mL Graduated Cylinder
5 mL Pipet
20 mL Phenolphthalein
(2) Clamps
Digital Scale (0.0000)
(2)(50) mL Burette
TI- Nspire Calculator
(2) Logger Pros
(2) PH probes (0.01)
Distilled Water, H2O
(2) Ring Stands
(2) 5 in Funnels

Pre-Lab Procedure:

1. Open the bottles of the soft drinks

2. Allow the drinks to sit unrefrigerated for 48 hours, allowing them to decarbonize

3. Measure out 10 grams of NaCl

4. Combine 10 grams of NaCl with 1 liter of H2O to create 1 liter of 0.25 M Sodium
Hydroxide, NaOH

Procedure:

Note that more than one trial can run at one time due to the doubles of some of

the equipment.

1. Using the graduated cylinder, measure out 50 mL of Sprite

2. Place the Erlenmeyer Flask on the ring stand underneath the burette

3. Pour the sprite into the Erlenmeyer Flask

4. Place the pH stick into the Erlenmeyer Flask with the Sprite

5. Carefully open the Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and using a funnel fill the burette to 50
mL

6. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein using the pipette to the Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

7. Tap the keep button on the Logger Pro and enter 0

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 12

8. Carefully add Sodium Hydroxide to the soda until the pH level changes by 0.5, then
record the number of milliliters added to the soft drink in the Logger Pro

9. Once the indicator changes colors, add Sodium Hydroxide until the pH stops
increasing

10. To stop the Logger Pro, hit the red square and save the graph to a flash drive

11. Repeat steps 1-11 four more times using Sprite

12. Repeat steps 1 -12 using Sprite Zero and Cherry Sprite

13. After each drink is tested, compare the results to determine which soft drink has a
higher citric acid content

Diagram: Ring
0.25 M Sprite Stand Burette pH
Zero Sprite
Sodium probe
e
Hydroxide

Distilled
Phenolphthalein
Water Cherry Graduated Logger Beaker
Funnel Sprite Pro
Cylinder
Figure 5. Materials
ter
In the Figure 5, above, the materials used in the experiment are shown. Some of

these materials include the LoggerPro, the pH probe, the Sprite drinks, and the

indicator, phenolphthalein, The sodium chloride and scale are not pictured.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 13

Clamp

Burette

Ring Stand

pH probe
Erlenmeyer Flask

Logger
Pro

Figure 6. Setup of Experiment

In Figure 6, a picture of the experimental setup is shown. The arrows point to the

important parts of the experiment, such as the pH probe which was attached to the

Logger Pro. The pH probe tracked the solutions pH throughout the entire experiment.

The burette was held up by the ring stand and the clamp and was used to add sodium

hydroxide to the soft drink.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 14

Data and Observations

Data:

Table 1
Amount of Sodium Hydroxide Added to Sprite
Sodium
Hydroxide Molarity of Citric
Trial
Acid
(mL)
1 4.60 0.02300
2 4.40 0.02200
3 4.50 0.02250
4 4.10 0.02050
5 4.50 0.02250
Average 4.42 0.02210

In Table 1, the amount of the base, sodium hydroxide, that was added to Sprite

in milliliters is shown. These amounts were found by finding the equilibrium equivalence

point, which was discussed previously in Figure 1. The average of these points is also

shown above. Also shown above is the calculated molarity of citric acid found in the

Sprite trials. This will further be discussed in the Data Analysis section.

Table 2
Amount of Sodium Hydroxide Added to Sprite Zero
Sodium
Hydroxide Molarity of
Trial
Citric Acid
(mL)
1 6.30 0.03150
2 6.60 0.03300
3 6.50 0.03250
4 6.60 0.03300
5 6.30 0.03150
Average 6.46 0.03230
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 15

In Table 2, the amount of sodium hydroxide added to Sprite Zero in milliliters is

shown. Again, these amounts were found using the equilibrium equivalence point as

discussed in Figure 1. The average of the equilibrium points from the Sprite Zero trials

is also shown. Also shown are the citric acid molarity found for each Sprite Zero trial,

which will be further discussed later on.

Table 3
Amount of Sodium Hydroxide Added to Cherry Sprite
Sodium
Hydroxide Molarity of Citric
Trial
Acid
(mL)
1 3.90 0.01950
2 4.40 0.02200
3 4.10 0.02050
4 4.10 0.02050
5 4.00 0.02000
Average 4.10 0.02050

In Table 3, the amount of the sodium hydroxide added to Cherry Sprite in

milliliters is shown. These amounts were found by finding the equilibrium equivalence

point as previously discussed in Figure 1. The average amount of sodium hydroxide

added to the Cherry Sprite to reach the equilibrium point is also noted. Also noted is the

concentration, or molarity, of citric acid found in each Cherry Sprite trial. These

molarities will be discussed in depth later in the paper.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 16

Figure 7. Adding Sodium Hydroxide to Sprite Titration Graph

In Figure 5, the graph shows the pH increase as sodium hydroxide was added

to Sprite Trial 1. Every time the pH changed by 0.5, the amount of sodium hydroxide

that had been added at that point was recorded.

Figure 8. Derivative Graph of Amount of Sodium Hydroxide Added to Sprite

Shown above in Figure 8 is the derivative graph from Sprite Trial 1. This graph

helps in finding the equilibrium equivalence point that will be used in the following
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 17

tables. The corresponding volume for the highest point on the graph is the volume that

will be used as data because it represents when the solution, in this case the Sprite

drink, reached the equivalence point.

Figure 9. Adding Sodium Hydroxide to Sprite Zero Titration Graph

Figure 9 above, shows the graph for Sprite Zero Trial 4. This shows the change

in pH as sodium hydroxide is being added. The amount of sodium hydroxide was

recorded in milliliters every time the pH changed 0.5 levels.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 18

Figure 10. Derivative Graph of Amount of Sodium Hydroxide Added to Sprite Zero

Shown above in Figure 10 is the derivative graph from Sprite Zero Trial 4. This

graph will be used in finding the equilibrium equivalence point. The corresponding

volume for the highest point on the graph is the volume that will be used as the data

point because it represents the volume when the solution, Sprite Zero, reached the

equivalence point.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 19

Figure 11. Adding Sodium Hydroxide to Cherry Sprite Titration Graph

In Figure 11, the graph shows the pH change as sodium hydroxide was added to

Cherry Sprite Trial 1. The amount of the sodium hydroxide added in milliliters was

recorded every time the pH changed by 0.5.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 20

Figure 12. Cherry Sprite Derivative Graph

Figure 12 shows the derivative graph for cherry sprite Trial 1. This graph helps in

finding the equilibrium equivalence point that will be used to find the concentration. The

volume for the highest point will be kept as the data point because it is the volume of the

solution, Cherry Sprite, when the equivalence point was reached.

Observations:

Table 5
Trial Observations for Sprite
Trial Observations
1 pH 7.00 at 3.80 mL; 4.60 mL and pH 8.50 turned pink
2 pH 7.00 at 3.30 mL; 3.90 mL and pH 9.54 turned pink
3 pH 7.00 at 3.40 mL; 4.20 mL and pH 9.80 turned pink
4 pH 7.00 at 3.50 mL; 4.40 mL and pH 9.76 turned pink
5 pH 7.00 at 3.80 mL; 4.70 mL and pH 9.00 turned pink

In Table 5, the observations that were made during the trials where Sprite was

titrated are shown. The amount of milliliters of the base that was added to cause the
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 21

pH to change to a level of seven was recorded, along with the pH level and amount of

base added when the indicator turned the solution pink. During trial

three, the phenolphthalein did not react and turn pink in the solution until the pH was

9.80, which was slightly higher than the rest.

Table 6
Trial Observations for Sprite Zero
Trial Observations

1 pH 7.00 at 5.40 mL; 6.20 mL and pH 9.67 turned pink

2 pH 7.00 at 5.50 mL; 6.50 mL and pH 9.00 turned pink
3 pH 7.00 at 5.20 mL; 6.00 mL and pH 9.94 turned pink
4 pH 7.00 at 5.40 mL; 6.40 mL and pH 9.00 turned pink
5 pH 7.00 at 5.30 mL; 6.20 mL and pH 9.64 turned pink

Observations for Sprite Zero are shown in the Table 6, pictured above. The same

measurements described in Table 4 were recorded in this table for Sprite Zero.

Table 7
Trial Observations for Cherry Sprite
Trial Observations
1 pH 7.00 at 3.40 mL; 3.90 mL and pH 8.52 turned pink
2 pH 7.00 at 3.60 mL; 4.30 mL and pH 8.63 turned pink
3 pH 7.00 at 3.50 mL; 4.10 mL and pH 9.10 turned pink
4 pH 7.00 at 3.60 mL; 4.20 mL and pH 9.00 turned pink
5 pH 7.00 at 3.60 mL; 4.30 mL and pH 9.14 turned pink

Above in Table 7, the observations for each Cherry Sprite trial are

shown. The same measurements recorded in Table 4 for Sprite was recorded for

Cherry Sprite. Trial 3 had to be redone due to a mishap with the burette. The burette

was not operating correctly, which caused the sodium hydroxide base to come out at a

rapid pace. This affected the results of the data, making it necessary to be redone.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 22

Data Analysis and Interpretations

Using a pH probe attached to a Logger Pro, the pH of the drink was monitored.

Each time the pH level increased by 0.5, the amount of milliliters of sodium hydroxide

added to the drink was recorded and plotted onto the graph. To find the exact point

where the soft drinks reached a neutral pH, the graphs that were created while

collecting data will be analyzed to find the equilibrium point. The equilibrium point shows

the exact amount of the base added to bring the drink to a neutral pH. The order of the

trials was randomized using the randomization function on the TI-Nspire calculator. Due

to time restraints, only five trials of each beverage were performed, meaning that there

were fifteen trials in total. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze the data. This

was appropriate with the data because it allowed for comparison between the three

Sprite drinks, Finding the mean of the amount of the base added to the soda to bring

the pH to seven in milliliters for each drink will be used to compare the acidity, as well

as looking at the different box plots and normal probability plots for each drink.

In each trial, the amount of sodium hydroxide in milliliters added to the drinks was

recorded. These amounts were then converted into liters, so they could then be used in

the formula to calculate molarity. The sodas were also measured at a consistent volume

of 0.05 liters. Along with a constant molarity of the sodium hydroxide at 0.25 M, and the

recorded volumes of sodium hydroxide, the molarity of the citric acid within the soft

drinks could be calculated.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 23

Table 8
Molarity of Sprite Citric Acid Analyte Using 0.25 M NaOH Titrant
Volume of
Sodium Molarity of
Trial Hydroxide Citric Acid
(L)

1 0.00460 0.02300
2 0.00440 0.02200
3 0.00450 0.02250
4 0.00410 0.02050
5 0.00450 0.02250
Average 0.00442 0.02210

In Table 8, the molarity of citric acid in Sprite was found. First, the volume and

molarity of the sodium hydroxide, which are shown in the third and fourth columns, were

multiplied together. Next, this product was divided by the volume of the soda, which is

shown in the second column. This produced the citric acid molarity found in Sprite.

Comparing the average to the results from the trials, the average seems very similar to

each trial, which shows that there was no significant difference between trials.

Table 9
Molarity of Citric Acid in Sprite Zero Analyte Using 0.25 M NaOH Titrant
Volume of
Sodium Molarity of
Trial Hydroxide Citric Acid
(L)

1 0.00630 0.03150
2 0.00660 0.03300
3 0.00650 0.03250
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 24

Volume of
Sodium Molarity of
Trial Hydroxide Citric Acid
(L)

4 0.00660 0.03300
5 0.00630 0.03150
Average 0.00646 0.03230

In Table 9, the molarity of the citric acid in Sprite Zero was calculated. The same

steps used in Table 8 were followed in Table 9. The average of the citric acid molarity

compared to the trials seems very similar, which shows that the data was fairly

consistent throughout each trial.

Table 10
Molarity of Citric Acid in Cherry Sprite Analyte Using 0.25 M NaOH Titrant
Volume of
Sodium Molarity of
Trial Hydroxide Citric Acid
(L)

1 0.00390 0.01950
2 0.00440 0.02200
3 0.00410 0.02050
4 0.00410 0.02050
5 0.00400 0.02000
Average 0.00410 0.02050

Above in Table 10, the molarity of the citric acid in Cherry Sprite was calculated.

Following the same steps as previously mentioned in Tables 8 and 9, the citric acid

molarity for each trial was able to be found. Comparing the average
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 25

molarity to the molarity from the trials, it can be seen that there was very little difference

of citric acid molarity between each of the trials.

When comparing the soft drinks, Sprite Zero needed the most sodium hydroxide

added to reach the equilibrium point. As show in Table 1, Sprite, on average, needed

0.00442 liters of sodium hydroxide added to reach the equilibrium point where the pH

neutralized. Similarly, Cherry Sprite needed 0.00410 liters of sodium hydroxide on

average, which is shown in Table 3. On the other hand, Sprite Zero needed 0.00646

liters of sodium hydroxide to neutralize. To neutralize, Sprite Zero needed 0.00204 more

liters of sodium hydroxide than Sprite and 0.00236 more liters than Cherry Sprite.

Figure 13. Box Plot of the Citric Acid Molarity in Sprite

Figure 13, above, shows the box plot of the molarity of citric acid in each Sprite

trial. The box plot extends from 0.0205 to 0.0230 and has an overall range of 0.0025

molarity. The data also appears to be left skewed, which can be seen through the

longer tail on the left side, as well as the mean residing on the left side of the median.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 26

Figure 14. Box Plot of the Citric Acid Molarity in Sprite Zero

In Figure 14, the box plot for the Sprite Zero trials is shown. In the box plot, all

five data points are contained between quartiles one and three. The plot has a range of

0.0015 molarity. The data appears to be fairly normal, with only a slight left skew due to

the mean being to the left of the median and not the same number.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 27

Figure 15. Box Plot of the Citric Acid Molarity in Cherry Sprite

Shown in the Figure 15 is the box plot for the Cherry Sprite trials. The citric acid

molarity found in the drinks ranged from 0.0195 to 0.022. The data has an overall range

of 0.0025. By seeing that the mean is the same molarity as the median, it can be

interpreted that the box plot is normal, and that the data is not skewed.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 28

Figure 16. Comparing Citric Acid Molarity in Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite

Shown above in the Figure 16 are all three box plots plotted on the same axis.

Sprite and Cherry Sprite, which are located at the top and bottom of the graph

respectively, are very similar in placement on the graph. This shows how similar the

molarity of the citric acid found in the two sodas are. Sprite Zero is much farther to the

right than the other Sprite beverages. This shows the difference between the molarity of

the citric acid found in Sprite Zero when compared to the molarity found in Sprite and

Cherry Sprite.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 29

Figure 17. Normal Probability Plot of Sprite

Pictured above in Figure 17 is the normal probability plot for the Sprite trials.

Plotted on the graph is the amount of citric acid found in Sprite for each of the five trials

conducted. The purpose of this plot is to determine whether or not the data is normally

distributed. The points are placed near the line but not exactly on it, which hints to the

data being slightly skewed. This was also visible in the box plot for the Sprite trials seen

in Figure 11. The standard deviation, σ, is 0.00086. The standard deviation represents

how varied the data is. This standard deviation shows that the data was consistent

throughout the experiment. Sprite had the largest standard deviation out of the three

soft drinks.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 30

Figure 18. Normal Probability Plot of Sprite Zero

Above in Figure 18 is the normal probability plot for the Sprite Zero trials. Again,

the points plotted are the amount citric acid found in each of the Sprite Zero trials.

Looking at the points, it can be seen that the stray from the line, meaning that the data

is slightly skewed. The slight skew was also present in the box plot shown in Figure 12.

The standard deviation is 0.00068. The standard deviation for Sprite Zero is the

smallest, which means that the data was the most consistent. Sprite Zero also had the

standard deviation that was the least similar between the drinks as Sprite and Cherry

Sprite had similar deviations.

 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 31

Figure 19. Normal Probability Plot of Cherry Sprite

In Figure 19, the normal probability plot for the Cherry Sprite Trials is shown.

Plotted on the graph was the molarity of citric acid found in each of the five trials

conducted for Cherry Sprite. By looking at the points, it can be seen that two fall exactly

on the line, while the other points are near the line. This suggests a fairly normal

distribution in the data. This was also present in Figure 13, where the mean was the

same molarity as the median. Cherry Sprite was the only Sprite beverage where points

were on the probability line and where the mean and median were the same number.

The standard deviation for Cherry Sprite is 0.00084. When looking at the other Sprite

beverages, Cherry Sprite was the most similar to Sprite.

By comparing the graphs and tables of the beverages, it is evident that Spite

Zero proved to have the highest citric acid content. Looking at Figure 16, the box plot for

Sprite Zero was plotted higher along the x-axis, whereas Sprite and Cherry Sprite were
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 32

plotted lower and near each other. Sprite Zero also had the standard deviation that was

the least similar to the other beverages. The standard deviation is shown in Figure 18,

which is the normally probability plot. The standard deviation for Sprite Zero was the

smallest out of the three, meaning that it had the most consistent data. By looking at

Figure 14, the box plot for Sprite Zero, it can be seen the Sprite Zero also had the

smallest range in data, further cementing that it had the most consistent data. From this

figure, it can also be seen that Sprite Zero’s box plot had to be plotted on a different

scale than the other soft drinks, due to the higher concentration of citric acid that was

found.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 33

Conclusion

This research was conducted to determine the citric acid content in the Sprite

beverages: Sprite, Sprite Zero, and Cherry Sprite. The drinks were titrated using a 0.25

M sodium hydroxide base. The hypothesis, which stated that Sprite Zero would have

the highest citric acid content, was accepted. The experiment proved that the citric acid

content was the highest in Sprite Zero. The amount of citric acid in Sprite was 0.02210

M, and the average amount of citric acid in Cherry Sprite was 0.02050 M. Meanwhile,

Sprite Zero had an average of 0.03230 M of citric acid, which is about 0.01 M higher

than the other two soft drinks, confirming the hypothesis. These averages are found in

Tables 1, 2, and 3.

Looking at Tables 8 and 10 and Figure 16, Sprite and Cherry Sprite had a similar

mean molarity of about 0.02 M, and a standard deviation of about 0.00085. This amount

is more than four standard deviations away from the mean molarity of Sprite, which is

0.00086. The mean molarity of citric acid for Sprite Zero was 0.0323M. Evaluating the

data, it can be concluded that there is a less than one percent chance of getting a citric

acid concentration of 0.0323 M in a Sprite or Cherry Sprite drink.

Sprite Zero may have had a higher citric acid content due to its' ingredients.

Unlike Sprite and Cherry Sprite, Sprite Zero contains the artificial sweetener,

aspartame. According to Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a health expert, aspartame is highly acidic.

Due to the beverage containing aspartame, there is also more citric acid in Sprite Zero.

For most diet sodas, such as Sprite Zero, the citric acid concentration is higher

than regular versions. Regular consumption of citric acid destroys tooth enamel, which
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 34

leads to tooth decay. The teeth of long-term diet soda consumers resemble the teeth of

those who abuse the hard drugs, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Overall the experiment ran smoothly; however, there were a few flaws that could

have been fixed. At times, the base, sodium hydroxide, was added to the drinks in large

increments. The rapid increase in the base would cause the pH to spike. Having such a

rapid spike during some trials made it difficult to track the pH changes of 0.5. This error

could be fixed by using more caution while titrating. Another flaw in the experiment was

that the drinks were not titrated to the same pH. The trials were stopped once an 'S'

curve was graphed. Because of this system, some trials were titrated until the pH was

brought up to thirteen while others were as low as eleven. Ending the trials when the

soft drinks reached a set pH of twelve could have created more consistent data and

graphs.

The experimental designs had advantages that helped in the execution of the

experiment. One of these advantages being that the soft drinks were clear, allowing for

the indicator to be observed easily. Another advantage was that the experiment used

various Sprite flavors. Testing regular, flavored, and diet Sprite created variety in the

experiment. Because of this range in Sprite beverages, a good comparison between

drinks was able to be made.

In previous research, the citric acid content of various juices was found through

titration. The research on the juices found that pineapple juice contained 3.57 x 10 -4

moles of citric acid (Flinn Scientific). Since the research conducted focused on the citric

acid content in soft drinks, a similar outcome in citric acid content was not expected.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 35

For further research, other diet or "zero calorie" drinks could be titrated. The

amount of acid found in each of the diet beverages could be compared to the regular

version of the drink. Also, different soft drinks could be compared to determine which is

more acidic. For example, a future experiment could use Sprite, 7-Up, and Fresca to

determine which of the three has the highest acidity concentration. The dental industries

can then use this information to determine which soft drink causes the most tooth

decay. By expanding the research, other brands of sodas, possibly even other

beverages, can be analyzed to determine how they affect the health of consumers.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 36

Appendix A: Sample Calculations

Appendix A

Below in Figure 1, a sample problem using the formula that can be used to find

molarity or volume of a certain substance is shown.

Given:
0.200 g of KOH.
0.25M HNO 3

Find: volume of 0.25M HNO3 required to neutralize 0.200 g KOH.

KOH + HNO3 KNO3 + H2O
Grams to moles to moles to liters
0.2 g KOH 1 mol KOH x 1 mol HNO3 x 1 L HNO3 = 0.014 L HNO3
56.1 g KOH 1 mol KOH 0.25 mol HNO3

Figure 1. Titration Example

In the figure above, a sample titration equation is solved using the titration

formula, Macid x Vacid = Mbase x Vbase. Using the amount of KOH in grams and the

molarity of HNO , the volume of HNO needed to neutralize 0.200 grams of KOH can be
3 3

solved for. This is the type of problem that will be used throughout the research. In the

research, this formula will be used to find the molarity of the citric acid in the soft drinks.

By multiplying the molarity and volume of the base, which is sodium hydroxide, and then

dividing the product by the volume of the soda, the citric acid in the soft drink can be

solved for.
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 37

Appendix B Logger Pro Set-Up Procedure

Appendix B

Below is the procedure to set-up the Logger Pro for titrations.

1. Turn on the Logger Pro and plug in the pH probe into any of the four channels

2. Tap on the mode, rate, and duration boxes in the first tab

3. Tap where it says ‘time based’. From the dropdown, click events with entry

4. Name the event volume, with units in mL, then tap done

5. Tap on the second tab, then hit the green arrow to start the trial
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 38

Appendix C: Finding the Derivative

Appendix C

Below are the steps to doing a derivative graph from Logger Pro to find the

equivalence point

1. Open the table with the data collected from the titrations on the Logger Pro

2. Select data and then click new calculated column

3. Name the column “derivative 1”

4. Enter the units as mL

5. Click data set and select remote data and check the box to apply to all data

6. Under the expressions, select function then calculus and then derivative

7. Select the variables with y regards to x, so in this case, (“pH”, “volume”)

8. To graph the derivative, click graph at the top of the page and then choose insert
new graph
 Martellaro-Munoz-Rehman 39

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