Materials Included In Kit

Additional Materials Required

Prelab Preparation

To prepare 500 mL of 0.02 M citric acid solution:

1. Fill a 500-mL volumetric flask about one-half full with distilled or deionized water.
2. Mass 2.10 g of the citric acid on the balance. Add the solid to the 500-mL volumetric flask and shake to dissolve.
3. Fill the flask to the mark with distilled or deionized water. Mix well before dispensing.

Safety Precautions

All the acids and bases used in this lab are irritating to eyes, skin and other body tissues. Wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves and a chemical-resistant apron. Remind students to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the lab. Please review current Safety Data Sheets for additional safety, handling and disposal information.

Disposal

Please consult your current Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual for general guidelines and specific procedures, and review all federal, state and local regulations that may apply, before proceeding. The citric acid and hydrochloric acid solutions may be neutralized according to Flinn Suggested Methods #24a and #24b, respectively. The sodium hydroxide solutions may be neutralized according to Flinn Suggested Disposal Method #10. The titrated solutions and leftover liquid products may be rinsed down the drain with excess water according to Flinn Suggested Disposal Method #26b.

Lab Hints

• Citric acid has overlapping buffer regions that prevent a rapid rise in pH between ionizable protons, as with many other polyprotic weak acids, such as phosphoric acid.
• Students may need to consider the molar mass of possible buffer components when determining sample size. Have them assume a 100 g/mole molar mass for the component.
• Equilibrium constants and pK_a values are temperature dependent. The pH of an ideal buffer will change by up to 0.1 pH unit per degree Celsius.

Further Extensions

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research
Students may recommend additional household or consumer products for analysis.

Answers to Prelab Questions

The following graph shows the pH curve for the titration of 25.0 mL of a 0.10 M solution of acetic acid, CH₃COOH, with 0.10 M sodium hydroxide solution. K_a of acetic acid is 1.8 x 10^–5.

1. At what point in the titration does the concentration of acetic acid, CH₃COOH, equal the concentration of the acetate ion, CH₃COO^–? What is the pH of the equimolar, ideal buffer solution at this point?

   These two are equal at half titration of 12.5 mL of NaOH. At this point pH = pK_a = 4.74.

2. If this weak acid is effective as a buffer between the concentration ratios for the conjugate acid–base pair of 10:1 and 1:10, what pH range does this cover?

   At the conjugate acid–base pair of 10:1, pH = pK_a + log([A^–]/[HA]) = 4.74 + log(1/10) = 3.74
   At the conjugate acid–base pair of 1:10, pH = pK_a + log([A^–]/[HA]) = 4.74 + log(10/1) = 5.74

3. What measurements are needed in the titration of a weak acid? Explain in detail the technique or procedure for adding the titrant to accurately determine the concentration and pK_a of the weak acid.

   Titrations are carried out by measuring the pH of a solution as a function of the volume of titrant (mL) added. To ensure accuracy, the titrant must be added in small volume increments, no more than 1 mL at a time, and preferably dropwise in the region of the equivalence point. The desired precision in volume measurements is achieved using a buret.

Sample Data

Introductory Activity

Analyze the Results
Citric acid solutions form effective buffers in the pH range from 2.5 to 6.0. Individual pK_a values cannot be distinguished in the titration curve for the stepwise dissociation of the triprotic acid.

Guided-Inquiry Activity

Alka-Seltzer^® tablets contain two buffering compounds, citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.
Citric acid dissolves to give it conjugate base form C₆H₇O₇^–.
The citric acid buffers when base is added:
C₆H₈O₇ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₇^– + H₂O
While the bicarbonate buffers when acid is added:
HCO₃^– + H₃O⁺ → H₂CO₃ + H₂O

Gatorade^® drink contains two buffering compounds: citric acid and potassium phosphate monobasic, KH₂PO₄.
The citric acid buffers when base is added:
C₆H₈O₇ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₇^– + H₂O
As does the dihydrogen phosphate ion:
H₂PO₄^– + OH → HPO₄^2– + H₂O

Kool-Aid^® drink mixture contains two buffering compounds: citric acid and ascorbic acid.
The citric acid buffers when base is added:
C₆H₈O₇ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₇^– + H₂O
As does the ascorbic acid:
C₆H₈O₆ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₆^– + H₂O

The liquid starch contains one buffering compound: sodium tetraborate.
The tetraborate ion buffers when base is added:
B₄O₇^2– + H₃O⁺ → HB₄O₇^– + H₂O

The pineapple juice contains one buffering compound: ascorbic acid.
The ascorbic acid buffers when base is added:
C₆H₈O₆ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₆^– + H₂O

The tomato paste contains one buffering compound: ascorbic acid.
The ascorbic acid buffers when base is added:
C₆H₈O₆ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₆^– + H₂O

Tonic water contains three buffering compounds: citric acid, sodium benzoate and quinine.
The citric acid buffers when base is added:
C₆H₈O₇ + OH^– → C₆H₇O₇^– + H₂O
Sodium benzoate and quinine are bases and may buffer if acid is added.

The Lactaid^® tablets contain no buffering compounds.

Answers to Questions

Guided-Inquiry Design and Procedure 

1. What is the form of the sample product? Can it be made into a solution for testing? The samples that are provided may be in either solid (Alka-Seltzer, Lactaid, Kool-Aid) or liquid form (Gatorade, pineapple juice, starch, tomato paste, tonic water). The paste or solids may be mixed with water to form solutions.
2. Is the product acidic or basic? What is the appropriate titrant for analyzing the product? The samples (or sample solutions) should be tested with a pH meter before titrating them. Samples that are acidic (pH <7) should be titrated with 0.1 m naoh solution. basic samples (ph>7) should be titrated with 0.1 M HCl solution. Neutral substances such as Alka-Seltzer may be titrated with both acid and base.
3. What is a suitable concentration of the sample solution to be analyzed? Should it be diluted or concentrated? Concentrations must be adjusted for convenient titration, so that the amount of titrant needed is neither too large (>25 mL) nor too small (<5 mL). This can be determined by doing a rough titration.
4. How can you determine the proper amount of sample solution for testing? Carry out a rough titration of each sample (20 mL) by adding acid or base 1–2 mL at a time.
5. What data must be collected and how should the data be graphed or evaluated? Titration curves are generated by plotting pH versus volume (mL) of acid or base added. The titration curves should be analyzed to see if they have relatively flat regions where the pH does not change much as acid or base is added. These are the buffering regions. The pH value in a buffering region reflects the pK_a of the weak acid or base.

Post-Laboratory Review

1. Fill in the following chart with the formula of the missing conjugate acid or base.
   {13997_Answers_Table_1}
2. A buffer is prepared using the conjugate acid–base pair acetic acid and acetate ions. Write chemical equations showing the reactions that take place when H⁺ and when OH^– are added to the buffer.

   H⁺ + C₂H₃O₂^– → HC₂H₃O₂
   OH^– + HC₂H₃O₂ → H₂O + C₂H₃O₂^–

The approximate concentration of a hydrochloric acid solution is 0.5 M. The exact concentration of this solution is to be determined by titration with 0.215 M sodium hydroxide solution.

3. A 10.00-mL sample of the HCl solution was transferred by pipet to an Erlenmeyer flask and then diluted by adding about 40 mL of distilled water. What is the approximate H₃O⁺ concentration and pH of the solution in the flask before the titration begins?

   The original HCl solution was diluted about 1 in 5 (10 mL to 50 mL) before titrating. The concentration was therefore reduced by a factor of 5, from 0.5 M to about 0.1 M. The H₃O⁺ concentration in a 0.1 M HCl solution is about 0.1 M. The approximate pH of the solution before the titration begins is 1.
   pH = –log[H₃O⁺] = –log(0.1) = 1

4. Phenolphthalein indicator was added, and the solution in the flask was titrated with 0.215 M NaOH until the indicator just turned pink (pH = 8–9). The exact volume of NaOH required was 22.75 mL. Calculate the concentration of HCl in the original 10.00-mL sample.

   M_b x V_b = nM_a x V_a
   M_b = molarity of standard base solution
   V_b = volume of base added
   M_a = unknown molarity of acid solution
   V_a = initial volume of acid solution
   n = mole ratio (number of moles of base that react with one mole of acid
   n = 1 for titration of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide.

   {13997_Answers_Equation_4}
5. One student accidentally “overshot” the endpoint and added 23.90 mL of 0.215 M NaOH. Is the calculated concentration of HCl likely to be too high or too low as a result of this error?

   Overshooting the endpoint will cause the calculated concentration of HCl to be higher than its actual value.

Introduction

One of the most important applications of acids and bases in chemistry and biology is that of buffers. A buffer solution resists rapid changes in pH when acids and bases are added to it. Every living cell contains natural buffer systems to maintain the constant pH needed for proper cell function. Many consumer products are buffered to maintain and safeguard their activity. How do we discover which products have buffering capacity?

Concepts

• Buffer
• Conjugate acid–base pair
• Neutralization
• Weak acids and weak bases
• Dissociation constant
• Titration

Background

Many chemical reactions in living organisms take place at neutral pH values. Even a small change in pH can cause some of nature’s catalysts (the enzymes) to stop functioning. The pH level in blood, for example, must be maintained within extremely narrow limits.

The ability of buffers to resist changes in pH upon addition of acid or base can be traced to their chemical composition. All buffers contain a mixture of either a weak acid (HA) and its conjugate base (A^–), or a weak base and its conjugate acid. The buffer components HA and A^– are related to each other by means of the following chemical reaction that describes the behavior of a weak acid in water (Equation 1).

Buffers control pH because the two buffer components are able to react with and therefore neutralize the strong acid or strong base that might be added to the solution. The weak acid component HA reacts with any strong base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), to give water and the conjugate base component A^– (Equation 2). The conjugate base component A^– reacts with any strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), to give its acid partner HA and a chloride ion (Equation 3). These neutralization reactions can be visualized as a cyclic process (see Figure 1). Buffer activity will continue as long as both components are present in solution. Once either component is consumed, the buffer capacity will be exhausted and the buffer will no longer be effective. A buffer composed of an equal number of moles of a weak acid and its conjugate base is generally equally effective in resisting pH changes upon addition of either acid or base. The pH range in which a buffer system will be effective is called its buffer range. The buffer range is usually limited to 2 pH units centered around the pH of the equimolar or ideal buffer solution. An ideal carbonic acid–bicarbonate buffer, for example, has a pH of 6.4 and its buffer range is pH 5.4–7.4.

For buffers to be effective, noticeable amounts of both the weak acid and its conjugate base pair must be present. This limits the concentration ratios for HA:A^– or B:BH⁺ to between 10:1 and 1:10 and the pH range for the buffering action of any weak acid to pK_a ±1.

Buffers are also important in certain commercial household products. Soaps and shampoos are, by nature, alkaline. The addition of citric acid buffers this alkalinity and prevents possible burns to the skin and scalp. Baby lotions often contain citric acid and sodium lactate to buffer the lotion to a slightly acidic pH of six, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and other pathogens. Even alcohol production can rely on buffers. Yeasts that ferment the sugars only work within a narrow pH range. If the pH is outside the range of 4.0–6.0, yeast growth may be inhibited or even destroyed.

Experiment Overview

The purpose of this inquiry lab is to investigate the buffering capacity and buffer components of various consumer products. Many household products contain buffering chemicals such as citric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium benzoate and phosphates or phosphoric acid. The lab begins with an introductory activity—generating the titration curve for citric acid—to identify the buffering regions in the neutralization of a polyprotic weak acid. The results provide a model for guided-inquiry design of a procedure to determine the buffering agents in eight different household products, including foods and beverages and over-the-counter drugs. Procedures may include creating titration curves, calculating pK_a values, and analyzing the buffer capacity and composition. Students may recommend additional consumer products for further inquiry.

Materials

Prelab Questions

The following graph shows the pH curve for the titration of 25.0 mL of a 0.10 M solution of acetic acid, CH₃COOH, with 0.10 M sodium hydroxide solution. K_a of acetic acid is 1.8 x 10^–5.

1. At what point in the titration does the concentration of acetic acid, CH₃COOH, equal the concentration of the acetate ion, CH₃COO^–? What is the pH of the equimolar, ideal buffer solution at this point?
2. If this weak acid is effective as a buffer between the concentration ratios for the conjugate acid–base pair of 10:1 and 1:10, what pH range does this cover?
3. What measurements are needed in the titration of a weak acid? Explain in detail the technique or procedure for adding the titrant to accurately determine the concentration and pK_a of the weak acid.

Safety Precautions

All the acids and bases used in this lab are irritating to eyes, skin and other body tissues. Avoid contact of all chemicals with eyes and skin. Wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves and a chemical-resistant apron. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the lab. Please follow all laboratory safety guidelines.

Procedure

Introductory Activity

Titration of Citric Acid
Citric acid (H₃A) is a common buffer added to consumer products. This weak acid contains three ionizable hydrogen atoms.

The ionizable hydrogen atoms create three possible buffer regions:

1. Set up a pH meter and electrode. Calibrate the pH meter.
2. Fill the buret with the 0.1 M sodium hydroxide, NaOH, solution.
3. Titrate 20 mL of the citric acid solution, C₆H₈O7, with the sodium hydroxide solution titrant. Record your data.
4. Graph the data, with pH on the vertical axis and volume NaOH on the horizontal axis. Make the graph large enough to reflect the care taken with the pH and volume measurements.

Analyze the Results
What is the buffering region of the citric acid titration curve? Are three pK_a values evident in the results? Explain.

Guided-Inquiry Design and Procedure
Form a working group with other students and select two consumer products for testing. Discuss the following questions as you design a procedure for analyzing the potential buffer capacity of the products.

1. What is the form of the sample product? Can it be made into a solution for testing?
2. Is the product acidic or basic? What is the appropriate titrant for analyzing the product?
3. What is a suitable concentration of the sample solution to be analyzed? Should it be diluted or concentrated?
4. How can you determine the proper amount of sample solution for testing?
5. What data must be collected and how should the data be graphed or evaluated?
6. Write a detailed, step-by-step procedure for investigating the buffer capacity and identifying the buffer components in an unknown consumer product. Include the materials and equipment that will be needed, safety precautions that must be followed, amounts of chemicals to use, etc.
7. Carry out the procedure on the selected products and record results in appropriate data tables.

Analyze the Results
Does the product contain a buffer? If so, what is the buffering range? Estimate the pK_a value(s) for the buffer and identify the potential buffering components in the product.

Student Worksheet PDF

13997_Student1.pdf