Experiment 7: Acid, Bases and Salts TAB2, Group 7, Mr. Julius Andrew P.

Nuñez
Espiritu, Adelaine Joy F. March 1, 2011
Galvan, Ma. Danica Katrina P.

I. Abstract

Experiment 7 entitled Acid, Bases and Salts, is divided into three main parts. The first part involves
classifying a solution whether it is an acid, base or salt. This includes identifying the pH level of the given
solutions. The second part determines the conductivity of the solution and tells whether it is an electrolyte or not.
The last part includes the calculation of the molarity of an unknown acid using the computed values.
The experiment is mainly done by testing the solutions using the given indicators. Correct computations
must be applied in order to get accurate results in the calculation of molarity. The experiment requires the ability
of the students to note the observations regarding the effects of adding the indicators in the solutions. It also
requires the skill of proper titration in order to get the perfect results.
As we encounter different solutions in our everyday lives, it is important to know its classification and
concentration. This experiment will show the differences of an electrolyte from a non-electrolyte as well as the
distinction of a solution as to whether it is an acid, base or salt. Experiment on acids, bases and salts will also
explain how to get the weight, volume and concentration of particular solutions.

II. Keywords: electrolytes, acids, bases, salts, pH, titration

III. Introduction
Solutions are homogenous mixtures of two
or more substances, which may be solids, liquids,
or gases. It may be classified as an electrolyte, in
which the interaction between ions leads to the
formation of ion pairs, or as a non-electrolyte which
does not contain ions. Electrolyte solutions have the
ability to conduct electricity while non-electrolyte
solutions cannot conduct electricity.
Electrolyte solutions may be further
classified into acids, bases, or salts.
An acid is a substance that yields hydrogen
ions when dissolved in water. Acids have a sour
taste. It changes the color of litmus from blue to red.
Aqueous acid solutions conduct electricity.
A base is a substance that yields hydroxide
ions when dissolved in water. Bases have a bitter
taste and feel slippery. It changes the color of litmus
from red to blue. Aqueous base solutions conduct
electricity.
A salt is an ionic compound made up of a
cation other than H+ and an anion other than OH- or
O2-. It is generally produced together with water
during a neutralization reaction, a reaction between
an acid and a base.
The acidity of an aqueous solution is
expressed as its pH which is defined as the
negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion
concentration.
In determining the concentration of a
solution, a process called titration is done. Titration
involves a solution of accurately known
concentration called a standard solution that is
added gradually to another solution of unknown
concentration until the chemical reaction between
the two solutions is complete.
IV. Experimental
A. Electrolytes
Five drops of 0.1 M solutions of NaOH,
NH4Cl, HC2H3O2, NaCl, C2H5OH, C12H12O11, HCl,
NH4OH, HOAc + NaOH, HCl + NaOH, NH4OH +
HCl and distilled water was placed in separate test
tubes and was tested using the following indicators:
litmus paper, phenolphthalein and congo red. Color
was taken note of and the substances were
classified into acids, bases and salts.
The pH oh each substance was obtained
using a pH paper.
Equal volumes, specifically 1 ml of 1 M HCl
and 1 M NaOH was mixed in a test tube. Indicators
were used to test the mixture. This procedure was
repeated by using 1 M acetic acid in place of HCl.
B. Conductivity Test
The conductivity of the above solution was
tested using the conductivity apparatus.
C. Preparation of 1 M NaOH using NaOH pellets
The weight of NaOH needed to prepare
100.00 mL of 1 M NaOH was calculated. The
calculated amount of pellets was weighed in a
watch glass and was dissolved in 50 mL water.

Chem 14.1, Acids, Bases and Salts Page 1 of 4

 D. Preparation of 0.1 M NaOH from available Upon the addition of phenolphthalein,
concentration of NaOH bases turned into pink while colorless for the acids
and neutral solutions. For congo red, bases and
The volume of NaOH from available neutral solutions turned into red while acids turned
concentration needed to prepare 100 mL of 0.1 M into violet.
NaOH was determined. The measured volume to To know the strength of the acidty/basicty
from procedure A was dilute to 100.00 mL distilled of the solution, the strength of conductivity must be
water in a volumetric flask. observed. The following were the obtained results
from the conductivity test:
E. Titration of an Acid with a Base
REAGENTS CONDUCTIVITY
The base buret was washed thoroughly 0.1 M SOLUTIONS (GOOD/WEAK/NONE)
with soap and water and was rinsed with 3 mL
portions of the standard base, 0.1 M NaOH. The a. NaOH Good
buret was filled with 0.1 M sodium hydroxide, NaOH b. NH4Cl Good
and the air space was removed at the tip. Zero c. HCl Good
reading was set and the buret was clamped into the d. HC2H3O2 Weak
iron stand. e. NaCl Good
10 mL aliquot of the unknown acid was H2O None
transferred into an Erlenmeyer flask. 50 mL of f. Sucrose None
distilled water and 2-3 drops of phenolphthalein was
G. Ethanol None
added. The acid was titrated with the standard base
HOAc + NaOH ---
until the appearance of the first appearance of a
permanent light pink coloration. The final reading HCl + NaOH ---
was recorded and three trials were conducted. Table 2. Conductivity
Finally, the molarity of the unknown acid solution
was calculated. B. Preparation of 1 M NaOH using NaOH pellets

Calculations:
V. Results
1 M NaOH = Xg NaOH
A. Electrolytes 40g NaOH
100g x 1 mL x 1 L
In the observation of the effects of the 1g 100 mL
addition of the indicators (litmus paper,
phenolphthalein, congo red) in the given solutions, 0.1 = x
the following results were obtained: 40

REAGENTS CLASSIFICATION pH x = 4g NaOH Pellets

0.1 M (ACIDS, BASES OR
SOLUTIONS NEUTRAL) C. Preparation of 0.1 M NaOH from available
a. NaOH Base 12 concentration of NaOH
b. NH4Cl Neutral 7
c. HCl Acid 1 Calculations:
d. HC2H3O2 Acid 3
e. NaCl Neutral 7 (1 M)(x) = (0.1 M NaOH final) (100 mL NaOH + H20
H2O Neutral 7 Final)
f. Sucrose Neutral 7 x= 10 mL NaOH initial
G. Ethanol Base 4
HOAc + NaOH Acid 4 D. Titration of an Acid with a base
HCl + NaOH Base 13
Table 1. Classification of Solutions and pH Level
TRIAL
No. 1 No. 2
Using the litmus paper, acids turned the Volume of 0.10 M 9.0 mL 8.5 mL
blue litmus into red while the bases turned the red NaOH
litmus into blue. The neutral solutions did not
change the color of the litmus.

Chem 14.1, Acids, Bases and Salts Page 2 of 4

Volume of 10 mL 10 mL
unknown acid
solution
Molarity of 0.900 M 0.850 M
unknown acid
solution
Table 3. Titration Results
Average Molarity of unknown acid solution:
0. 0875 M
Calculations:
MA = MBVB
VA
MA = (0.1M) (0.0875L) = 0.0875 M
(0.1L)
VI. Discussion
A. Electrolytes
Acid is a substance that produces H+(aq) ions
in aqueous solutions. Strong acids ionize
completely or almost completely in dilute aqueous
solutions; weak acids ionize only slowly.
Base is a substance that produces OH-(aq)
ions in aqueous solutions. Strong bases are soluble
in water and are dissociated completely. Weak
bases ionize only slowly.
Salt is a compound that contains a cation
other than H+ and an anion other than OH- or O2-.
Aqueous solution of both acids and base
are electrolytes since they conduct electricity due to
their ionization ability.
The indicators used in the experiment were
litmus paper, pH paper, phenolphthalein, and congo
red. Indicators are weak acids or bases with
differently colored acid and base forms.
Chemical reaction is responsible for the
indicator action in which change in color occurred in
the experiment.
The indicator reaction is pH dependent
because it involves either the release or capture of
hydrogen ions:
HIn H+ + In-
where "HIn" and "In" stand for the indicator
molecule with and without an attached hydrogen
ion.
The two forms of the indicator molecule
have noticeably different colors. For example,
phenolphthalein has a clear HIn form and a red-
violet In form. When there are equal amounts of HIn
and In, the solution looks pink/cloudy. Adding a
Chem 14.1, Acids, Bases and Salts
drop of acid adds H+ ions which react with the In-
ions to form HIn, and the solution becomes more
clear. Adding a drop of base converts HIn to In, and
the solution becomes more pink/red violet.
Litmus is a weak acid. It has a seriously
complicated molecule which we will simplify to HLit.
The "H" is the proton which can be given away to
something else. The "Lit" is the rest of the weak
acid molecule.
There will be an equilibrium established
when this acid dissolves in water. Taking the
simplified version of this equilibrium:
Phenolphthalein is another commonly used
indicator for titrations, and is another weak acid.
In this case, the weak acid is colorless and
its ion is bright pink. Adding extra hydrogen ions
shifts the position of equilibrium to the left, and
turns the indicator colorless. Adding hydroxide ions
removes the hydrogen ions from the equilibrium
which tips to the right to replace them - turning the
indicator pink.
Approximate pH range for color change: 8.0-9.8
Color of acid form: clear
Color of base form: red-violet
Congo Red
Approximate pH range for color change: 3.0-5.0
Color of acid form: blue
Color of base form: red
For part A electrolytes, the different
reagents were tested using the following
instruments: phenolphthalein, congo red, pH paper,
litmus paper and conductivity apparatus. Through
these indicators, properties like acidity, conductivity,
the strength and weakness of acid/ base and the
electrolyte property were obtained.
For 0.1 M sodium hydroxide, the red litmus
paper turned blue, and the blue litmus paper turned
red, indicating that the reagent is basic. Its pH is 14,
and through the conductivity apparatus, it was
identified that it is a strong
Electrolytes are compounds that ionize or
dissociate into their constituent ions to produce
aqueous solutions that conduct an electric current.
Strong electrolytes are ionized or
dissociated completely or very nearly completely, in
Page 3 of 4
dilute aqueous solutions. Strong electrolytes include
strong acids, strong bases and strong salts. c. 0.10 M NH4OH solution (Kb = 1.8x10-5)
Weak electrolytes conduct electricity poorly
in dilute aqueous solutions.
Non-electrolytes exist as molecules in Kb = [NH4+] [OH-] = 1.8x10-5
aqueous solutions, and such solutions do not [NH4OH]
conduct electric current.
Electric current is carried through aqueous Kb = x2 = x2 = 1.8x10-5
solution by the movement of ions. The strength of 0.10-x 0.10
an electrolyte depends on the number of ions in x2 = 7.2x10-6
solution and also on the charges of these ions. x = 2.7x10-3
pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of pOH = -log(2.7x10-3) = 2.57
a solution. It is defined as the negative logarithm of pH = 14 – 2.57 = 11.43
the activity of dissolved hydrogen ions (H+).
Hydrogen ion activity coefficients cannot be
measured experimentally, so they are based on d. 0.2 M HCOOH (Ka = 1.8x10-4)
theoretical calculations. The pH scale is not an
absolute scale; it is relative to a set of standard Ka = [COOH-] [H+] = 1.8x10-4
solutions whose pH is established by international [HCOOH]
agreement.
Ka = x2 = 1.8x10-5
VII. Guide Questions & Answers 0.2-x
0 = x2 + x(1.8x10-5) – 0.2(1.8x10-5)
1. From your results, what relationship can you x = -6.09x10-4 and/or 5.91x10-4
draw between the acidity/basicity of a substance pH = -log(5.91x10-4)
and its electrolyte property? pH = 3.23

The strength of the conductivity of the

electrolyte is determined on the strength of its
acidity/basicity. The stronger acidity/basicity, the
stronger the electrolyte while the weaker the
acidity/basicity, the weaker the electrolyte. For
neutral solutions, due to its ionic property, it also
conducts electricity and is therefore considered an
electrolyte.
2. Why are electrolytes conductors of electricity?
Electrolytes can conduct electricity because
of their ability to ionize in water. The electrodes
attract the ions making a movement that sets up an
electric current, thus generating electricity.
3. Calculate the pH of the following solutions:
VIII. Conclusion and Recommendations
In this experiment, we found out that litmus
paper, phenolphthalein, congo red and pH papers
may be used to determine whether substances are
acids, bases or salts and a conductivity apparatus
can determine whether a solution is an electrolyte
or not.
In order to know the concentration of an
unknown solution, determining the endpoint of an
acid-base titration can be used.
IX. References
Chang, R. (2002). Chemistry. 7th Edition.
Singapore. McGraw Hill Inc.

a. 0.001 M HCl (n.a).(n.d) Retrieved from

http://www.scribd.com/doc/30014852/Expt-
[H+] = 0.001 M 7-Acids-Bases-and-Salts, Feb. 28, 2011.
pH = -log(0.001M)
pH = 3
I hereby certify that I have given substantial
b. 0.005 M NaOH contributions to this report.

[OH-] = 0.005 M -----------------------------------

pOH = -log(0.005M) Espiritu, Adelaine Joy F.
pOH = 2.30
pH = 14 – 2.30 -----------------------------------
pH = 11.70 Galvan, Ma. Danica Katrina P.

Chem 14.1, Acids, Bases and Salts Page 4 of 4