Determining the Molar Concentration of Acetic Acid in Table Vinegar

Konrad Listwan-Ciesielski
Ms. Longworth
February 19th, 2009
SCH4U7

Design
Refer to the attached lab handout for the design.
Quantitative Observations
Table 1: Measured mass.

Object
Sodium Hydroxide
Oxalic Acid

Mass
/g 0.01g
3.98
6.30

Table 2: Measured initial volumes of solutions.

Object
Sodium Hydroxide
Oxalic Acid
Vinegar

Volume Intial
/mL 0.16mL
100.00
100.00
100.00

Table 3: Measured initial volume and final volume of the Oxalic Acid test.

Trial
1

Object
Sodium Hydroxide
Oxalic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
Oxalic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
Oxalic Acid

2
3

Volume Initial
/mL
50.00 0.05mL
10.00 0.40mL
39.90 0.05mL
10.00 0.40mL
30.40 0.05mL
10.00 0.40mL

Volume Final
/mL 0.05mL
39.90
30.40
20.40

Table 4: Measured initial volume and final volume of the Table Vinegar test.

Trial
1
2
3

Object
Sodium Hydroxide
Vinegar
Sodium Hydroxide
Vinegar
Sodium Hydroxide
Vinegar

Volume Initial
/mL 0.05mL
50.00 0.01mL
10.00 0.40mL
41.30 0.01mL
10.00 0.40mL
30.40 0.01mL
10.00 0.40mL

Volume Final
/mL 0.05mL
41.30
32.60
23.10

Qualitative Observations Sodium Hydroxide Test

o Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a white, solid substance broken down into small
pieces.
o Oxalic acid (H2C2O4) is a white, powdery substance.
o Sodium hydroxide NaOH(aq) is a clear solution.
o A few of the crystals in the H2C2O4 stayed at the bottom of the volumetric flask.
o During the titration, the H2C2O4 started to turn pink when the sodium hydroxide
solution was added.
o It took longer for it to go away after about 7 mL was poured.
o At around 8 mL, the pink (it previously was light) was now becoming a dark pink.
o It was also taking a longer time to clear all the colour out.
o At the final point, it turned pink enough that it couldnt turn clear anymore.
Qualitative Observations Table Vinegar Test
o Vinegar is a clear liquid with a strong smell.
o At first, when sodium hydroxide was poured into the vinegar with the
phenolphthalein, it turned light pink.
o After 5 mL, it started to turn darker and took much longer time for it to turn clear
once more.
o At about 9mL, the colour change to pink was not irreversible.
Analysis & Data Processing
Table 5: Sodium Hydroxide solution used in the Oxalic Acid test. Volume used was calculated by
subtracting final volume from initial volume.

Trial
1
2
3

Volume Used
/mL 0.1mL
10.1
9.5
10.0

Table 6: Sodium Hydroxide solution used in the Table Vinegar test.

Trial
1
2
3

Volume Used
/mL 0.1mL
8.7
8.7
7.3

In order to calculate the molar concentration of acetic acid in table vinegar, the
concentration of the oxalic acid was calculated first:
MH 2 C 2O 4 ( s ) 2 H 2O 126.07 g / mol
mH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) 6.30 0.01g
m
n
M
6.30 0.01g

126.07 g / mol
0.0500 0.0001mol
0.01g
error (
) 0.500mol
6.30 g
0.0001mol
VH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) 100.00 0.16mL
0.10000 L 0.00016 L
n
CH 2 C 2 O 4( s )
V
0.0500 0.0001mol

0.10000 L 0.00016 L
0.500 0.002 M
0.0001mol 0.00016 L
error (

) 0.500 M
0.0500mol 0.10000 L
0.002M
Next, the moles of the oxalic acid in the 10mL sample was calculated:
CH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) 0.500 0.002 M
VH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) 10.00 0.40mL
0.01000 0.00040 L
nH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) C V
(0.500 0.002 M )(0.01000 0.00040 L)
0.00500 0.00020mol
0.002 M 0.00040 L
error (

) 0.00500mol
0.500 M 0.01000 L
0.00020mol
Next, the moles of sodium hydroxide were calculated:

H 2C 2O 4 ( aq ) 2 NaOH ( aq ) Na 2C 2O 4 ( aq ) H 2O ( l )
nH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) 0.00500 0.00020mol
x mol of NaOH
2

0.00500mol of H 2C 2O 4 ( aq ) 1
nNaOH 0.0100 0.0004mol
Next, the concentration of the sodium hydroxide was calculated:
H 2C 2O 4 ( aq ) 2 NaOH ( aq ) Na 2C 2O 4 ( aq ) H 2O ( l )
nH 2 C 2 O 4( s ) 0.00500 0.00020mol
x mol of NaOH ( aq )
2

0.00500mol of H 2C 2O 4 ( aq ) 1
nNaOH 0.0100 0.0004mol
n
C
V
VNaOH used # 1 10.1 0.1mL
0.0101 0.0001L
0.990 0.010 M CNaOH used # 1
0.0004mol 0.0001L
error (

) 0.990 M
0.0100mol 0.0101L
0.010 M
VNaOH used # 2 9.5 0.1mL
0.0095 0.0001L
1.1 0.1M CNaOH used # 2
0.0004mol 0.0001L
) 1.1M

0.0100mol 0.0095L
0.1M
VNaOH used # 3 10.0 0.1mL
0.0100 0.0001L
1.00 0.05M CNaOH used # 3
0.0004mol 0.0001L
error (

) 1.00 M
0.0100mol 0.0095 L
0.05M
error (

The average concentration of the sodium hydroxide was then calculated:

Average CNaOH

(CNaOH used

) (CNaOH used
3

#1

#2

) (CNaOH used

#3

1.03 0.16 M
0.010M 0.1M 0.05M

) 1.03M
0.990M 1.1M 1.00M
0.16M

error (

Next, the moles of sodium hydroxide each trial of the vinegar test are calculated,
however, the no calculation for the second trial is shown as the volumes in the first and
second trials were exactly the same:
CNaOH 1.03 0.16 M
VNaOH used # 1 8.7 0.1mL
0.0087 0.0001L
nNaOH used # 1 C V
(1.03 0.16 M )(0.0087 0.0001L)
0.0090 0.0015mol
0.16 M 0.0001L
error (
) 0.0090mol

1.03M 0.0087 L
0.0015mol
VNaOH used # 3 7.3 0.1mL
0.0073 0.0001L
nNaOH used # 3 C V
(1.03 0.16 M )(0.0073 0.0001L)
0.0075 0.0013mol
0.16 M 0.0001L
error (

) 0.0075mol
1.03M 0.0073L
0.0013mol
Next, the moles of vinegar were calculated for the first and second trial:
CH 3COOH ( aq ) NaOH ( aq ) CH 3COONa ( aq ) H 2O (l )
nNaOH 0.0090 0.0015mol
x mol of CH 3COOH ( aq ) 1

0.0090mol of NaOH ( aq ) 1
nCH 3COOH ( aq ) 0.0090 0.0015mol

Then the moles of vinegar were calculated for the third trial:

CH 3COOH ( aq ) NaOH ( aq ) CH 3COONa ( aq ) H 2O (l )

nNaOH 0.0075 0.0013mol
x mol of CH 3COOH ( aq ) 1

0.0075mol of NaOH ( aq ) 1
nCH 3COOH ( aq ) 0.0075 0.0013mol

Next, the concentration of the acetic acid was calculated for the first and second trials:
VCH 3COOH ( aq ) 10.00 0.40mL
0.01000 0.00040 L
n
C
V
0.0090 0.0015mol

0.01000 0.00040 L
0.90 0.19 M
0.0015mol 0.00040 L
error (
) 0.90 M

0.0090mol 0.01000 L
0.19 M
And for the last trial:
VCH 3COOH ( aq ) 10.00 0.40mL
0.01000 0.00040 L
n
C
V
0.0075 0.0013mol

0.01000 0.00040 L
0.75 0.16 M
0.0013mol 0.00040 L
error (
) 0.75M

0.0075mol 0.01000 L
0.16 M
Next, the average concentration of acetic acid was calculated:
Av. CCH 3COOH ( aq )

(CCH 3COOH ( aq ) used

) (CCH 3COOH ( aq ) used

3

#1

0.85 0.54M
0.19M 0.19M 0.16 M

error (
) 0.85M
0.90M 0.90M 0.75M
0.54M

#2

) (CCH 3COOH ( aq ) used

#3

Next, the actual value of the concentration of the acetic acid was calculated. The
calculation of the moles of the second and third trial are not shown, but the final average
of the moles is used in the final calculation:

CH 3COOH ( aq ) 1.049 g / mL
VCH 3COOH ( aq ) 5% of Vvinegar
(0.05)(10.00 0.40mL)
0.50 0.02mL
mCH 3COOH ( aq ) VCH 3COOH ( aq ) CH 3COOH ( aq )
(0.50 0.02mL)(1.049 g / mL)
0.53 0.02 g
0.02mL
error (
) 0.53 g
0.50mL
0.02 g
MCH 3COOH ( aq ) 60.05 g / mol
mCH 3COOH ( aq )
nCH 3COOH ( aq )
MCH 3COOH ( aq )
0.53 0.02 g

60.05 g / mol
0.0087 0.0003mol
0.02 g
error (
) 0.0087 mol
0.53 g
0.0003mol
average nCH 3COOH ( aq )
V
0.0082 0.0003mol

0.01000 0.00040 L
0.82 0.06M
0.0003mol 0.00040 L
error (

) 0.82 M
0.0082mol 0.01000 L
0.06M

CCH 3COOH ( aq )

Therefore, the percentage error of the lab is:

%error

exp erimental actual

100%
actual

0.85 0.82
100%
0.82
3.7%

Evaluation
Although this was a very successful lab as it only contained a 3.7% error in the
final calculated results, there are several errors which can be reduced through
improvements.
To begin with, it was noted that as the base, sodium hydroxide, was dripping into
the Erlenmeyer flask containing the acid, after a whileit began to turn slightly pink.
The lab experiment was to be stopped when the Erlenmeyer flask was shaken and the
colour remained slightly pink. However, it was difficult to see if the colour had become
slightly pink or if it was still simply clear. In turn, a higher volume for the base was
recorded than was actually supposed to. This could have been avoided if a white piece of
paper with a large black strip was placed under the Erlenmeyer flask. Thus, as one was
stirring the flask, it would become much easier to see the slightly pink colour against the
contrasting white and black background, rather than the lab table.
Continuing on, the natural colour of vinegar may have interfered with the colour
change of the phenolphthalein indicator. In turn, the volume of the sodium hydroxide
used may have been greater or lower than technically was supposed to be. In order to
eliminate this error, one can add 10mL of deionized water into the Erlenmeyer flask. The
way dilutes the possible natural colour of the vinegar (which certain kinds of vinegar
have). In turn, the volume of sodium hydroxide would be closer to the accurate value.
Also, because sodium hydroxide is deliquescent, it readily absorbs moisture from
1

the air . In turn, the longer it took for the sodium hydroxide to be prepared into a solution,
from the time it was massed to the time it was made into a solution, the greater chance it
reacted with carbon dioxide within the air creating sodium bicarbonate. Therefore, it
would be wise to note down on the lab procedure to reduce the time spent creating the
sodium hydroxide solution to a minimum in order to reduce the error.
Lastly, the sodium hydroxide pellets were particular sticky and difficult to remove
from the weight boat to the flasks. In turn, a small portion of the total mass of the pellets
may have remained on the actual weight boat and had not gone into the flask. To
eliminate this error, a metal spatula can be used to transfer the sodium hydroxide pellets

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Sodium Hydroxide.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts178.html

from the weigh boat to the flask. In turn, the pellets would be easier to transfer and none
of their mass may be last.
Evaluation
In conclusion, this lab was very successful as it only contained a 3.7% error.
However, there were a few errors and limitations within the lab that may be improved.