COMMON-ION EFFECT AND BUFFERS

BLAS, MARTINA ALLYSON C.

INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGY, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY 1101, PHILIPPINES
DATE SUBMITTED: 16 FEBRUARY 2016
DATE PERFORMED: 9 FEBRUARY 2016

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS REPORT

1.

Account for the differences in color of Solutions 1 and 2 after adding methyl orange indicator.
Methyl orange is an indicator for acidic solutions. It gives off a red color for solutions with pH
values less than 3.1, a yellow color for pH values greater than 4.5, and a salmon pink color for the
solutions with the pH values in between.
Solution 1, despite having a pH reading of 3.04, gave off a salmon pink color while solution 2,
having a pH reading of 4.82, gave off a yellow color. The color variance between the two solutions
resulted from their differences in composition and their pH values.

2.

Account for the differences in color of Solutions 3 and 4 after adding phenolphthalein indicator.
Phenolphthalein is an indicator for basic solutions. Both solutions 3 and 4 gave off a dark pink
color, although the former having a much darker tone, despite having pH readings both less than
10. Like in solutions 1 and 2, their color difference is caused by their differences in composition
and their pH values.

3.

Which causes a larger change in pH, addition of 3 drops of 1.0 M HCl (or 3 drops of 1.0 M NaOH)
to Solution 1, 2, 3, or 4? Explain.
Based from the data gathered, a larger change in terms of pH values was recorded upon the
addition of 3 drops of 1.0M HCl solution. Since solutions 2 and 4 were both buffer solutions, the
changes in their pH values were relatively lower compared to those of solutions 1 and 3.

4.

Compare the different methods of determining pH: visual indicators, pH meter, and calculations.
Compare the accuracy of the three methods employed.
Among the three different methods of determining pH, calculating for the pH value is the most
accurate as it can give you the theoretical value of a certain solution. Between the pH meter and
visual indicators, it would be preferrable to use a pH matter as it is objective in contrast to the
subjectivity of the latter.

5.

What are the possible sources of errors and their effect on the calculated parameters? Rationalize.

Firstly, one of the possible reasons that might have caused certain errors will be the solution
preparation. Preparation is done at the beginning and consequently, these solutions were used all
throughout the experiment. Secondly, using the pH meter negligently might have caused certain
errors also. A miscalibration would have resulted to different values than the actual.

CALCULATIONS (for solutions 1 and 2)

Solution 1a (30 mL 0.10 M

C H 3 COOH

+ 3 drops 1.0 M HCl)

++ C H 3 CO O

C H 3 COOH + H 2 O H 3 O

(0.10 M )( 30 mL) (1.0 M)(0.15 mL)

0
30 mL+0.15 mL 30 mL +0.15 mL

-x

0.09950 x

x
0.004975 + x

( 0.004975+x)( x )
0.09950x
(0.004975+ x )( x)
1.8 x 1 05=
0.09950x
+

H3O

x =
K a=

+
H 3 O
pH=log
4
log 3.361 x 1 0
3.47
Solution 1b (30 mL 0.10 M

C H 3 COOH

+ 3 drops 1.0 M NaOH)

C H 3 COOH + NaOH H 2 O+ NaC H 3 COO

( 0.10 M ) ( 30 mL) ( 1.0 M )( 0.15 mL )
0
30 mL +0.15 mL 30 mL+0.15 mL

x
x

-0.004975

-0.004975

0.004975

0.09453

0.004975

C H 3 CO O

pH= p K a +log

log 1.8 x 105+ log

0.004975
0.09453

3.47
Solution 1c

++ C H 3 CO O

C H 3 COOH + H 2 O H 3 O

I
0.10M
C
-x
E 0.10 M x

K a=

0
x

x
x

(x )( x)
0.10x
2

x
0.10x
+

H 3 O =1.332670973 x 1 03
x=

1.8 x 1 05=

pH=log 1.332670973 x 103

= 2.88

Solution 2a (15 mL 0.20 M

HCl)

C H 3 COOH

+ 15 mL 0.20 M

NaC H 3 COO , + 3 drops 1.0 M

(0.20 M )(15 mL) (1.0 M )(0.15 mL)

30.15 mL
30.15 mL
pH=log 1.8 x 105+ log
(0.20 M )(15 mL) (1.0 M )(0.15 mL)
+
30.15 mL
30.15 mL
4.70
Solution 2b (15 mL 0.20 M

C H 3 COOH

15 mL 0.20 M

NaC H 3 COO , + 3 drops 1.0 M NaOH)

(0.20 M ) ( 15 mL ) (1.0 M ) ( 0.15 mL )

+
30.15 mL
30.15 mL
5
pH=log 1.8 x 10 + log
(0.20 M ) ( 15 mL ) (1.0 M ) ( 0.15 mL )

30.15 mL
30.15 mL
4.79
Solution 2c (15 mL 0.20 M

C H 3 COOH

15 mL 0.20 M

NaC H 3 COO )

(15 mL)(0.20 M )
=0.1 M
(30 mL)

(15
mL)(0.20
M)

[ C H CO O =
=0.1 M
3
(30 mL)

C H 3 CO O

pH= p K a +log
0.1
5
log1.8 x 10 +log
0.1
4.74
[

C H 3 COOH =

REFERENCES
Analytical Chemistry Academic Group. (2013) Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Manual Elementary
Quantitative Inorganic Analysis Chem 26.1. Quezon City: UP Diliman.
D. C. Harris. (1995) Quantitative Chemical Analysis 7th Ed., New York. Retrieved from
http://www2.fc.unesp.br/lvq/LVQ_experimentos/analitica_qualitativa/material%203.pdf
Skoog, D., West, D., Holler, F., Crouch, S. (2014). Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry. Belmont, California:
Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Boundless. Calculating the pH of a Buffer Solution. Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015.
Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/acidbase-equilibria-16/buffer-solutions-117/calculating-the-ph-of-a-buffer-solution-475-3651/