Experiment 4:

IONIC
EQUILIBRIA
Gabatin, Makoto
Yambao, Abigail
CD1- Chem 18.1

Objectives:
Distinguish:
weak/strong acidic compounds from weak/strong basic
compounds

Determine experimentally:
The ionization constant of a weak electrolyte
The solubility product constant of a slightly soluble substance

ACIDS and BASES

ACIDS

BASES

ARHENIUS:
contain hydrogen, yields
Hydronium ions

ARHENIUS:
contain hydroxyl groups,
yields Hydroxides ions

BRONSTED-LOWRY:
Proton(H) donor

BRONSTED-LOWRY:
Proton acceptor

LEWIS:

LEWIS:
Electron pair donor

Electron pair acceptor

ACIDS and BASES

ACIDS

BASES

pH < 7
pOH > 7

pH > 7
pOH < 7

pH = -log [H3O]
pH = -log [H]

pOH = -log [OH]

pH+pOH = 14
Neutral: pH = pOH =
7

ACIDS and BASES

pH

Classification

0- 2.5

Strong acid

2.5 6

Weak acid

7
8 11
12 14

Neutral
Weak base
Strong base

ACIDS and BASES

Ionization Constant of
Weak Acids
Consider a weak monoprotic acid, HA.

or

Equilibrium Expression for this Ionization:

Ionization Constant of
Weak Acids
Ka = acid ionization constant
Only weak acids have Ka Values associated with
them
Ka, the stronger acid
Calc. the [H+] or pH of an acid soln at
equilibrium, given the initial conc. of the acid
and its Ka value.

Solubility Product Constant

Explains phenomena like solubility
and precipitation of compound

(Ksp)

Solubility product
the product of the molar conc. of the constituent
ions
each raised to the power of its stoichiometric
coefficient in the equilibrium equation

Solubility Product Constant

Example:

Solubility

of a monoprotic acid =

Procedures

Part. A Strong and Weak

Electrolytes
By the use of pH meter, determine the
pH of the following solutions:

0.5M
0.5M
0.1M
0.5M
0.1M
0.5M
0.1M

HCl
HOAc
NaOH
NH2OH
NaCl
NH4Cl
NaOAc

Part B. Ionization Constant of

Acetic Acid
1.1 mL of 1M Acetic
Acid
+ 1 drop
Bromocresol Green

1.0 mL of Distilled
water
+ 1 drop
Bromocresol Green
+ add dropwise of
0.01M HCl until
color of the soln
matches test tube A

Part C. Solubility Product

Constant of Benzoic acid
1. 50 mL distilled water
+ pinch of Benzoic
acid crystals (stir until
crystals no longer
dissolves)
2. Filter in a clean beaker

10 mL of the filtrate
+ 2 drops of
phenolphthalein

Part C. Solubility Product

Constant of Benzoic acid
Titrate the
solution with
0.01M of NaOh
to a light pink
end-point

Results and
Discussion

Part B. Ionization Constant of

Acetic Acid

Volume of HCL added = 0.2mL

[H30] in HCl solution = 1.96 x
10^-3
[H30] in HCl solution = 1.96 x
10^-3
Equilibrium Conc. of HOAc
solution = 0.998
Ka of HOAc = 3.85 x 10^-6

Part A. Strong and Weak

Electrolytes
Used pH meter to determine the pH of each
solutions:
Solution

0.5M HCl

Observed pH
0.57

0.5M HOAc

2.49

0.1M NaOH

12.74

0.5M NH2OH
0.1M NaCl

9.20
7

Classification
Strong Acid
Weak Acid
Strong Base

Weak Base/Basic Salt

Neutral Salt

0.5M NH4Cl

5.64

Weak Acid/ Acidic Salt

0.1M NaOAc

8.34

Weak Base

Part C. Effect of Common Ion on the

Solubility of Slightly Soluble Salts
Volume of 0.01M NaOH used=
16.4 mL
Solubility of benzoic acid
= 0.0164 M
[H3O] in benzoic acid soln. =
0.0164 M
[C6H5COO-] in benzoic acid soln.
= 0.0164 M
Calculated Ksp = 2.69 x 10^-4

Recommendations
Clean pH meter after using it
Use proper measuring devices
In titration, it is advised to make sure that the
endpoint would be very light pink. It is highly
recommended to use the half-drop method.

References:
M. Bishop, (n.d.). An introduction to Chemistry.
Retrieved from
http://preparatorychemistry.com/Bishop_weak_aci
d_Equilibrium.htm
R. Chang, (2007). Chemistry, Tenth Ed. New York,
NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies
R. Petrucci, (2010). General Chemistry: Principles
and Modern Applications. Prentice Hall