pKa of an Acid-Base Indicator

Suggested Lab

Report Format
Title, Name, Date, partner (if you had one)
Abstract Briefly summarize experiment, chemicals and instrument used (and why)
then state maxs and experimental pKa with error.
Chemical Equation(s)
Data and Results:
Paragraph discussion summarizing what chemicals/solutions were used and
made, along with possible sources of error. Transition into Table 1, where the two
maxs are determined.
Table 1: Determination of maxs for Flask 1 and Flask 9.
Wavelength
ABS
ABS
(nm)
Flask 1
Flask 9
400
----600
Paragraph discussion summarizing Table 1 and Figure 1: how you determined
lamba max for each solution. Make sure to specify which flask you used for your
analysis and why. Though seeing the increase and decrease in absorbance makes it
easy to determine lamba max, you will also generate Figure 1 to visually show
readers the lamba max. Make sure to include all data points on your plot (ie there
should be a data point at 20 nm intervals between 400 and 600 nm, with data
points every 5 nm around the lamba max).
(Remember figure is placed above caption. y-axis Absorbance, x-axis
Wavelength (nm))
Figure 1: Determination of maxs for Flask 1 and Flask 9 from Table 1.
Table 2: Absorbance of buffered solutions at maxs and pH measurements.
Flask Number Absorbance at Absorbance at
pH
Solution color
1
2
1 =
nm 2 =
nm
1
-------------2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
--------------

Paragraph discussion summarizing Table 2: did you make the observation that
as the pH changes, the colors of the solutions change, and the absorbances
increase/decrease as expected, any errors, changes in ABS, etc. Lead reader into
Figure 2 and Figure 3, and what they convey to the author/reader.

(Remember figure is placed above caption.)

Figure 2: Plot of absorbance versus pH at the maxs. (Should look similar to Figure 4
in experimental, with two lines instead of one.)
Table 3: Raw data and calculated values for determination of pK a.
Flask pH
ABS
[In-]/
log
ABS
[In-]/[HIn]
Numb
at 1
[HIn]
(In /HIn)
at 2
at 2
er
at 1
at 1
1 =
2 =
nm
nm
1
----= Aa
----------= Aa
-----2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
----= Ab
----------= Ab
------

log
(In-/HIn)
at 2
------

------

(Remember figure is placed above caption. Make sure that you add the Linear
Trendline to your plot.)
Figure 3: Log plot at max1.
Table 4: LINEST for Figure 3.
Slope
m
Error in
sm
slope
Goodness of
R2
Fit

b
sb

y-intercept
Error in y-intercept

sy

Vertical deviation

Paragraph discussion of Figure 3 and Tables 3 & 4, with calculations for pK a

determined with error. Make sure to discuss why, if any, data points were excluded
from your linear regression.
(Remember figure is placed above caption. Make sure that you add the Linear
Trendline to your plot.)
Figure 4: Log plot at max2.
Table 5: LINEST for Figure 4.
Slope
m
Error in
sm
slope
Goodness of
R2
Fit

b
sb

y-intercept
Error in y-intercept

sy

Vertical deviation

Paragraph discussion of Figure 4 and Tables 3 & 5, with calculations for pK a

determined with error. Make sure to discuss why, if any, data points were excluded
from your linear regression.
Conclusion:
Summarize results and determine which max and pKa gave a better value
compared to literature, what did you learn, what are some important things to
remember for future students, is there anything you would suggest for improving
the experiment.
Questions:
Answer the questions located at the end of the experiment.
References:
Use proper notation.