ABSTARCT

Finding the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar was the main objective of the experiment.
Titration method was used to find the concentration. The vinegar was titrated with sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Before that, standardization of NaOH solution was done with
potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP). Every titration was repeated two times to get the average
value for getting more accurate results. Molarity of vinegar calculated was 1.0635M and the
percent mass of acetic acid in the vinegar was 6.386%. Stoichiometry equation of the reaction
and titration curve were the important roles in finding these final results.

INTRODUCTION
A solution is made up of two components, solute and solvent. These components are always
identified its amount in order to find the solution concentration. The concentration of a chemical
solution can be defined as how many solute that is dissolved in a solvent. Solute and solvent can
be differentiated based on its present phase or its quantity in the solution. A solid substance
added in a solution always considered as solute while the liquid component is solvent. For
example, salt is added into water and dissolved, the sugar is the solute and water is the solvent.
In other case, if solute and solvent are both present in liquid phase, solute and solvent are
identified based on its quantities. For example, if small amount of ethanol is added to water, then
the ethanol is the solute and the water is the solvent. If small amount of water is added to a large
amount of ethanol, then the water is the solute.
There are several ways to express concentration like volume percent, mole fraction,
molality, and normality but usually concentration is calculated in percent composition by mass
and molarity. Percent composition by mass is the mass of solute divided by mass of solution,
multiplied by 100.
Percent mass =

grams of solute
x 100
grams of solution

(Equation 1-1)

Molarity (M) is the number of moles of solute per liter solution.

Molarity (M) =

moles of solute
litre of solution

(Equation 1-2)

To find unknown concentration of a solution, titration method can be used. This method
is a quantitative chemical analysis to determine the unknown concentration where volume
measurements play a key role in titration. So, titration method is also known as volumetric
analysis. Because of the important of volume measurement, an accurate measurement must be
done in the experiment. Therefore, burette is used to titrate standard solution to the solution of
unknown concentration because it has calibration unit up to 0.1mL.
There are many types of titration depends on the procedure and goals, for example acidbase, redox, and complexometric titration. To find concentration of acetic acid in vinegar, acidbase titration is the suitable type of titration to be used because the solution has acidic properties.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment are to determine the molarity of the standardized sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) solution and to find the molarity and the percent by mass of acetic acid in
vinegar by titrating it with the standardized NaOH solution.

THEORY
In acid-base titration, the solution to be tested must be an acid or base. If the solution of
unknown concentration is acid it will be treated with known concentration of a base solution.
The neutralization between the acid and the base is the end point and also it equivalence point
where the number of moles of titrant is equal to the number of moles of analyte. To find the

unknown concentration of acetic acid in vinegar, a base, NaOH of known concentration is

usually used as the standard solution. In the titration process, NaOH will be added to vinegar and
its pH value will be taken for every addition of 1 mL of NaOH solution. There will be a sudden
change of pH if the mixture achieves equivalence point. To find the exact volume of NaOH used
to achieve equivalence point, a titration curve of the pH value versus NaOH volume is being set
up.
Equivalence point mean that the mixture has achieve pH of 7 where all hydrogen ions in
the acid have been neutralized with hydrogen ions from the base. From stoichiometry equation of
NaOH and acetic acid, 1 mol of NaOH is needed to react with 1 mol of acetic acid.
NaOH + CHCOOH NaCHCO + HO

(Equation 1-3)

This means that to neutralize all hydrogen ions in the acid, a same amount of hydroxide ions
from the NaOH is needed to achieve equivalence point. Amount of NaOH needed to achieve pH
of 7 can be obtained from titration curve. From this amount of NaOH, molarity of NaOH is
calculated. Based on Equation 1.3, amount of acetic acid is equivalent to the same mol of NaOH.
From the mol of acetic acid, molarity and percent mass of acetic acid in vinegar can be
calculated.
Before the titration of acetic acid with NaOH, standardization of NaOH solution must be
done first. This is because NaOH is difficult to be obtained in a pure form, it has a tendency to
absorb water from air and its solution reacts with carbon dioxide. To standardize NaOH, an
acidic standard solution will be used like potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP). KHP is suitable
as standard solution because it is available in highly pure form. The reaction between KHP and
NaOH is as below equation.
KHC8H4O4 + NaOH KNaC8H4O4 + HO

(Equation 1-4)

In this titration, molarity of NaOH solution will be determined based on how many
amount of NaOH is used to achieve equivalence point. Repeated titration must be done to get
average molarity of the NaOH solution in order to get a more accurate value before it is being
used to titrate acetic acid.

APPARATUS DIAGRAM

MATERIAL AND APPARATUS

6 g of NaOH (for each titration)

1.5 g of KHP (for each titration)
10 mL of vinegar solution (for each titration)
Distilled water
Buffer solution
50 mL burette
250 mL beaker
250 mL volumetric flask
Magnetic stirrer
Weigh balance
pH meter
Glass rod

Retort stand
Pipette

PROCEDURE
Standardized of sodium hydroxide solution
1. 250 mL of around 0.6 M sodium hydroxide solution from NaOH solid was prepared. The
solution was prepared in a volumetric flask.
2. An empty beaker was placed on the balance and tarred. 1.5 grams of KHP was added to the
beaker and the mass was recorded to the nearest 0.001 g. 30 mL of distilled water was added
to the beaker. The solution was stirred until the KHP has dissolved completely. The solution
is then transferred to the volumetric flask and distilled water was added until calibration
mark.
3. KHP solution was titrated with NaOH and pH value was recorded with 1 mL additions of
NaOH solution.
4. Step 1 to 3 was repeated and two more solutions for NaOH standardization.
5. The graph of pH versus NaOH was plotted. The volume of NaOH required to neutralize the
KHP solution in each titration was identified from the plot.
6. The molarity of sodium hydroxide for titration 1 and 2 was calculated and presented in
result
7. The average molarity of the sodium hydroxide solution was calculated and presented in
result. The resulting sodium hydroxide concentration was used in part B of the experiment.

Molarity of acetic acid and mass percent in vinegar

1. 10.00 mL of vinegar was transferred to a clean, dry 250 mL beaker using a 10 mL
volumetric pipette. Sufficient water ranged from 75 to 100 mL was added to cover the pH
electrode tip during the titration.
2. 1 mL of NaOH was added to the vinegar solution the pH was recorded.

3. Step 1 to 2 was repeated one more time.

4. The graph of pH vsNaOH volume added was plotted and presented in results. The volume of
NaOH required to neutralize the vinegar in each titration was determine from the plot.
5. The molarity of acetic acid in vinegar for titration 1 and 2 was calculated and presented in
result.
6. The average molarity of acetic acid for each titration was calculated and presented in results.
7. The percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar for titrations 1 and 2 was calculated and
presented in result.
8. The percent by mass of acetic acid in vinegar was calculated and presented in result.

RESULT
Experiment of standardization of sodium hydroxide solution

14
12
10
8
pH of solution

6
4
2
0
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

Volume of NaOH (mL)

Figure 1: Titration curve of the NaOH standardization process (1st titration)

14
12
10
8
pH of solution

6
4
2
0
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

Volume of NaOH (mL)

Figure 2: Titration curve of the NaOH standardization process (2nd titration)

Table 1: Tabulated data result obtained in the standardization process of NaOH solution

Mass of KHP (g)

Titration 1
1.517

Titration 2
1.501

Mole of KHP (mol)

Volume of NaOH to neutralize KHP

0.007429
12.08

0.007351
11.83

solution (ml)
Mole of NaOH used to achieve

0.007429

0.007351

equivalence point (mol)

Molarity of NaOH (M)
Average molarity of NaOH (M)

0.61498

0.62139
0.61819

Experiment of determination of the acetic acid concentration in vinegar

14
12
10
8
pH of solution

6
4
2
0
0

10

15

20

Volume of NaOH (mL)

Figure 3: Titration curve of the vinegar with NaOH (1st titration)

25

14
12
10
8
pH of solution

6
4
2
0
0

10

15

20

25

Volume of NaOH (mL)

Figure 4: Titration curve of the vinegar with NaOH (2nd titration)

Table 2: Tabulated data result obtained in the titration process of vinegar with NaOH

Volume of NaOH to neutralize

vinegar (ml)
Mole of NaOH to neutralize
vinegar (mol)
Mole of acetic acid (mol)
Molarity of acetic acid in
vinegar (M)
Mass of acetic acid in vinegar
(g)
Percent mass of acetic acid in
vinegar (%)
Average molarity of acetic
acid in vinegar (M)
Average percent mass of
acetic acid in vinegar (%)

Titration 1
17.19

Titration 2
17.21

0.01063

0.01064

0.01063
1.063

0.1064
1.064

0.6384

0.6390

6.384

6.390
1.0635
6.387

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Preparing 250 mL of Sodium Hydroxide solution

Calculate molar mass of NaOH.
23 +16 + 1= 40 g/ mol
Calculate mol of NaOH.
Mol of NaOH = Molarity Volume of solution
=

0.6 mol
l

x 0.25 l

= 0.15 mol
Calculate mass of NaOH.
Mass of NaOH (g) = Mole of NaOH Molar mass of NaOH
= 0.15 mol x

40 g
mol

= 6 g of NaOH.

Standardization of Sodium Hydroxide solution

Calculate the moles of KHP used in the titration.
Mol of KHP = 1.517g KHP x

1mol of KHP
204.22 g of KHP

= 0.007429 mol of KHP

From Equation 1.4, calculate the moles of NaOH required neutralizing the moles of KHP.

0.007429 mol KHP x

1 mol NaOH
1 mol of KHP

= 0.007429 mol of NaOH

Calculate the molarity of the NaOH solution.

Volume of NaOH = 12.08mL of NaOH x

1L
1000 mL

= 0.01208 L
Molarity of NaOH=

0.007429mol of NaOH
0.01208 L

= 0.61498M of NaOH

Calculate average molarity of NaOH.

0.61498 M of NaOH +0.62139 M of NaOH
2

= 0.61819 M of NaOH

Titration of vinegar with standardized sodium hydroxide solution

Calculate the moles of NaOH that reacted.
Volume of NaOH = 17.19 mL NaOH x

1L
1000 mL

= 0.01719 L of NaOH
0.01719 L of NaOH x

0.61819 M of NaOH
1 L NaOH Solution

= 0.01063 mol of NaOH

Calculate moles of CH3COOH neutralize by moles of NaOH solution.

1 mol CH 3 COOH
1 mol of NaOH

0.01063 mol of NaOH x

= 0.01063 mol of CH3COOH

Calculate molarity of the CH3COOH solution.

10mL of CH3COOH x

1L
1000 mL

Molarity of CH3COOH =

= 0.010 L CH3COOH solution

0.01063 mol of CH 3 COOH

0.010 L CH 3 COOH solution

= 1.063M of CH3COOH

Calculate average molarity of acetic acid.

1.063 M of CH 3 COOH +1.064 M of CH 3 COOH
2

= 1.0635 M of CH3COOH

Calculate mass of acetic acid in the solution.

10mL of CH3COOH x

1L
1000 mL

0.01L of CH3COOH x

1.063 Mol CH 3 COOH

1 L solution

CH3COOH

Calculate mass of acetic acid solution.

= 0.010 L CH3COOH solution

60.06 g CH 3 COOH
1 mol CH 3 COOH

= 0.6384 g

10mL of CH3COOH solution x

1 g CH 3 COOH solution
1 mL CH 3COOH solution = 10g of CH3COOH

solution

Calculate percent by mass of acetic acid in the solution.

Percent mass CHCOOH=

g CH 3 COOH
g CH 3 COOH solution

Percent mass CHCOOH =

0.6384 g CH 3 COOH
10 g CH 3 COOH solution

x 100%

x 100%

= 6.384%

Calculate average percent mass of acetic acid.

6.384 +6.390
2

= 6.387%

DISCUSSSION
Amount of NaOH needed to neutralize the standard solution of KHP based on the titration curve
of Figure 1 and 2 were 12.08 and 11.83 mL, respectively. There was slight different between
these two titration. This could be happen due to slight mass different of KHP. In the first titration,
mass of KHP used was 1.517g which is slightly higher than the mass of KHP used in the second
titration, 1.501g. Therefore, higher amount of NaOH was needed to neutralize the higher amount
of KHP in the first titration compared to the other one.
Average molarity of standardized NaOH was 0.61819 M. Theoretically, molarity of
NaOH should be 0.6 M because 6g of NaOH was prepared in 250 mL solution. The increase of
actual NaOH molarity could be due to the tendency of this chemical substance to absorb water
from air and the tendency of its solution to reacts with carbon dioxide. Reaction with carbon

dioxide will produce sodium carbonate which is alkaline. So, this will increase the basicity of the
NaOH solution, thus producing higher molarity of the solution.
Based on Figure 3 and 4, amount of NaOH needed to neutralize vinegar was 17.19 mL
for the first titration and 17.21 mL for the second titration. In the second titration, amount of
NaOH used was slightly higher thus producing higher molarity and percent mass of acetic acid in
the vinegar compared to the first titration. Although, there was slight different of data value, it
can be said almost constant because the percent of error between both molarity and percent mass
of acetic acid was less than 0.1%.
Percent error of molarity =

1.064 M 1.063 M
100 =
0.094%
1.064 M

Percent error of percent mass =

6.390 g6.384 g
100 =
0.094%
6.390 g

This slight data different could be happen because of analytical error. For example, amount of
NaOH used to neutralize vinegar was different because there was air pocket at the tip of pipette,
thus affecting the data result.

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment, it can be concluded that titration method can be used to find unknown
concentration of a solution. Before titration, make sure the standard solution chose has high
purity form. If not, standardization must be done on the solution. Repeated titration must be done
to increase the accuracy of data results. Based on the titration curve, a sudden change of pH
indicates that the solution has achieved equivalence point. So, it is difficult to get the exact
amount of NaOH needed to neutralize the acid unless the NaOH is added in a very small addition
of volume during the experiment. Usually this amount is predicted from the titration curve by
finding the intercept of NaOH volume at pH of 7 on the titration curve. Based on the data result,
actual molarity of standardized NaOH solution was 0.61819M which was higher that the

predicted value, 0.6M. Molarity of acetic acid was 1.0635M and has percent mass in vinegar of
6.387%. Therefore, the objectives of the experiment have been determined successfully by using
the proposed titration method procedure.

RECOMMENDATIONS
To improve the experiment procedure in the future, it is suggested to add NaOH to acid in a
smaller addition volume. This can reduce the different value of sudden pH change when the
solution achieved equivalence point. Thus, more accurate amount of NaOH used to neutralize the
acid can be determined. To increase the accuracy of data results, it is suggested to repeat the
titration method up to three times to get the average values. Make sure the pH meter must be
calibrated with buffer solution before doing the experiment. To reduce analytical measurement
error, make sure there is no air pocket formed at the tip of pipette.

REFERENCES
Calculation concentration, concentration units and dilutions. (2013). Retrieved on October 19,
2013, from http://chemistry.about.com/concentration

Chang, R. (2010). Chemistry (10th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies. Page 153.

Harris, D.C. (2007). Quantitative Chemical Analysis (7th ed.). W.H. Freeman and company. Page

12.

APPENDICES
Data of the standardization of NaOH solution

Amount of NaOH (mL)

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

pH
1st titration
4.20
4.33
4.38
4.50
4.65
4.76
4.90
5.03

2nd titration
3.94
4.13
4.33
4.49
4.63
4.75
4.89
5.01

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

5.17
5.32
5.51
5.82
6.75
11.72
12.05
12.21
12.31
12.39
12.44

5.16
5.34
5.54
5.84
7.42
11.74
12.02
12.16
12.26
12.32
12.38

Titration data of vinegar with standardized NaOH.

Amount of NaOH (mL)

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

pH
1st titration
2.63
3.17
3.51
3.73
3.90
4.05
4.17
4.27
4.39
4.49
4.60
4.71
4.83
4.96
5.10
5.28
5.55
6.09
10.87

2nd titration
2.78
3.32
3.65
3.86
4.02
4.15
4.20
4.36
4.48
4.57
4.68
4.78
4.90
5.03
5.18
5.37
5.67
6.41
10.98

19
20
21

11.36
11.56
11.68

11.43
11.62
11.73