Fundamental Chemistry Concepts 2 (6F4Z2004) Practical Test

Determination of the dissociation constant and molar conductivity at infinite dilution of a weak acid

STUDENT NAME: COURSE: Allocated solution:

Time allowed: 3 hours (approx. 2 hours for the practical part and 1 hour for processing of the results) Instructions to Candidates: Carry out the practical work outlined below. On the separate sheet provided fill in the values for o The concentration of the acid o The acid dissociation constant o The cell constant of your conductance cell and hand them in to the demonstrator Provided: Practical script Required: Pen Pencil Ruler Calculator Materials permitted in the test Your practical manual Relevant handouts (including tutorial work) from 6F4Z2004 unit

University regulations on plagiarism will apply and any indication of plagiarism or cheating will be dealt with following the regulations on academic misconduct.

Introduction The pH change during a titration involving an acid and an alkali can be measured using a glass electrode, a calomel electrode and a pH meter.

pH

volume of alkali, V

The equivalence point is determined accurately from the pH curve. The dissociation constant of the weak acid (Ka) may be determined at the pH of half neutralisation of the solution: the pH of a weak acid in the presence of salt is given by the HendersonHasselbach equation: pH = pKa + log

SALT ACID

(Equation 1)

at the volume of half neutralisation, [acid] = [salt], so pH = pKa = log10 Ka

The following equation relates the molar conductivity, , of a dilute aqueous solution of a weak acid to the concentration c of the solution.
2

Ka = c (Equation 2) is the molar conductivity at infinite dilution of the weak acid Ka is the acid dissociation constant. Rearrangement of equation 1 gives: where c = Ka
2

1
2

(Equation 3)

Apparatus and Chemicals Conductance meter, dip type cell, 150 cm3 narrow tall beakers, 100 cm3 volumetric flasks or 50 cm3 volumetric flasks, 10 cm3 pipette, bulb pipette filler, conical flask, burette, clamp and stand, distilled water, magnetic stirrer, stirrer bar. KCl solution (0.100 mol dm3), distilled water, NaOH (0.1 mol dm3), pH = 4 and 7 buffer solutions. Method 1. To determine the concentration of and the dissociation constant of the unknown acid solution. (a) Calibrate the pH meter using the pH = 4 and 7 buffer solutions. (b) Accurately titrate 25 cm3 of the unknown acid with standard sodium hydroxide solution (0.1 mol dm3) from a burette. In a table record the pH after the addition of each aliquot of sodium hydroxide (up to a total volume of 40 cm3) in the box below.

2. Determine a value for the cell constant of a dip type conductivity cell. Measure the conductance (G) of a solution of KCl (0.100 mol dm3). You are advised to take two readings of the conductance. (Note: for 0.10 mol dm3 aqueous KCl at 25.0OC the conductivity, K = 1.2866 S m1). Note the values of the conductance in the box below.

3. Prepare six dilute solutions of the unknown acid with dilution factors of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Measure the conductance, G, of each solution. You are advised to take two readings of the conductance of each solution. Record the conductance value as a function of the dilution factor in the box below. You will be able to convert the dilution factor to an accurate concentration of each solution using the concentration of the unknown acid you determine from section 1.

You are then required to perform the following tasks: 1. Plot a suitable pH titration graph. Hence determine (a) (b) The concentration of the unknown acid The acid dissociation constant

2. Determine a value for the cell constant. Use this value to obtain the conductivity values for each of the acid solutions. Hence, obtain the molar conductivity of each solution. 3. Plot a suitable graph and hence determine a value of for the unknown acid. (Hint: you will need to use the value of Ka above in order to determine ). 4. On the separate sheet provided fill in the values for (a) (b) (c) The concentration of the acid The acid dissociation constant The cell constant of your conductance cell

and hand them in to the demonstrator. 5. Get your results signed by the demonstrator/tutor The practical script The full practical write up should be written up and handed in as part of the coursework portfolio (the write up should be no more than 2500 words long). You must write up all parts of the practical (the determination of the concentration, Ka and for the unknown acid). The script should include: (a) (b) An explanation of the theory behind the methods used. A list of the chemicals and equipment needed. Also required is an assessment of the hazards and risk control methods used in the practical. A detailed account of the experimental procedures to be used, including a description of the use of the pH meter and the conductivity meter in obtaining accurate results. Brief conclusions. Write a practical script which could be used by another student to perform the experiment. Present your results in a suitable format. Plot suitable graphs.

(c)

(d) (a) (b) (c)

Use appropriate software packages to:

You should hand in your practical write up via the Turnitin submission tool on Moodle on or before the portfolio submission deadline.

Marking Scheme Accuracy of the results (based on the values submitted during the test) Practical script Presentation of results Graphs and tables Accuracy of value Script

30%

10% 20% 20% 20%

STAFF SIGNATURE / DATE