Mc Jason L Laurete ChE 21L B

Karryle Wenzel Ashley P Mendoza Locker No. 43

Chiara Bernadeth Patriana 09 December 2016

EXPERIMENT 03
ACID DISSOCIATION CONSTANT OF METHYL RED
SUMMARY OF THEORY

The acid-base ionization equilibrium exists in aqueous solution of many weak acids. Acid dissociation constant is a very
important parameter to indicate degree of ionization at the different pH values in weak acid solutions. The acid-base ionization
equilibrium of weak acids and the determination of acid dissociation constant in aqueous solution are of great significance for
many practical applications and scientific research areas such as acid-base titration, complex formation and synthesis.[1]
Contrary to strong acids, weak acids do not completely dissociate and ionize in aqueous solutions. Some of the acid
molecules ionize, dissociating into their conjugate bases and hydrogen ion, while some remain in their original form as an acid.
The weak acid form a chemical equilibrium with its conjugate base. The amount of dissociated acid and undissociated acid is
determined by its acid dissociation constant Ka. Acid dissociation constant Ka is directly proportional to the acidity of the acid.
The acid-base ionization equilibrium of weak acids is further quantitatively described by pKa and pH values.[2]
[H + ][Base]
= (1)
[Acid]
where
[H + ] = Concentration of H + in mol/L
[Base] = Concentration of the conjugate base in mol/L
[Acid] = Concentration of undissociated acid in mol/L
In volumetric titration of acids and bases, indicators (usually an organic dye) are used to determine the endpoint, in which
the amount of acid and bases are at stoichiometric equivalence. Indicators change in color at certain pH levels, signaling the
endpoint of a titration.[3] This is due to the their acidic form having a different color compared to their basic from. In the
experiment, the acid dissociation constant of the indicator methyl red (MR) is determined with the use of spectrophotometry.
Methyl red is color red in acidic solutions while yellow in basic solutions, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Basic and acidic forms of methyl red

 The acid dissociation constant Ka for methyl red is defined by equation (2) and can be interrelated to pH and pKa by
equations (2) and (3).
[H + ][MR ]
= (2)
[HMR]
pH = log[H + ] (3)
[MR ]
p = pH log (4)
[HMR]
Since both forms of methyl red absorb strongly in the visible range, the ratio [MR ] to [HMR] may be determined
spectrophotometrically. The absorption of light is governed by Beers Law:
(5)
= [X]
where
= absorbance
= molar absorption coefficient
= is the path length of the cell in centimeters
[X] = molar concentration of the absorbing species

The absorbance of mixtures is the sum of the separate absorbencies. In mixtures of the acid and base forms of methyl red,
the total absorbance is
= + (6)

REFERENCES

[1] Zhang, J. H.; Liu, Q.; Chen, Y. M.; Liu, Z. Q.; Xu, C. W. Determination of acid dissociation constant of methyl red
by multi-peaks Gaussian fitting method based on UV-visible absorption spectrum. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica.
2012, 28(5), 1030-1036.
[2] Chang R. Chemistry, 10th ed.; McGrawHill: New York, 2010; pp 668-680.
[3] Skoog, D; West, M.; Holler, F. J.; Crouch S.; Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 9th ed. Cengage Learning:
Belmont, 2014; pp 322-325.
[4] Acid Dissociation Constant of Methyl Red.
http://chem4431.ssuchemistry.com/lab_manual/lab14/assets/Lab%2014%20-%20Ka%20of%20Methyl%20Red.pdf
(accessed Dec 9, 2016)