Lab

4 Acids, Bases, pH
and Buffering

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Understand what makes a substance an acid or base.
• Distinguish between a strong acid/base and a weak acid/base.
• Investigate pH as a measurement and learn to calculate pH.
• Explain what a buffer is and how it works.
• Examine buffering capacity.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is a characteristic of an acid? Give an example of an acid.

2. What is a characteristic of a base? Give an example of a base.

3. What is a buffer?

INTRODUCTION
Molecules dissolved in water may separate (dissociate or ionize) into fragments. By analyzing
the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in an aqueous solution, the pH of that solution
may be determined. The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions per liter of
solution (expressed as a Molarity) and therefore is a measure of the acidic or basic nature of
a solution.

Any compound that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of an aqueous solution is
called an acid. If that compound is mixed with water and mostly dissociates, thereby adding a

55
large number of H+ into the solution, it is a strong acid; if it only slightly dissociates, thereby
adding a small number of H+ into the solution, it is a weak acid. An acid, by definition, is any
compound that releases, or donates, hydrogen ions (H+) into a solution. An acidic solution
has a high concentration of hydrogen ions and falls between 0 (most acidic) and 7 (neutral)
on the pH scale.

A base is any compound that accepts (or binds) hydrogen ions (and therefore decreases the
free concentration of H+) when put into a solution; these solutions have lower concentrations
of hydrogen ions and fall between 14 (most basic) and 7 (neutral) on the pH scale. As with
acids, a base can be strong or weak.

Because H2O disassociates into equal parts H+ (hydrogen ions) and OH- (hydroxide ions),
they essentially neutralize each other. If they are in equal concentrations, the pH = 7.

In pure water:
[H+] = 1 × 10-7 M and [OH-] = 1 × 10-7 M

To get the total concentration of both H+ and OH-, the concentrations are multiplied:

1 × 10-7 M × 1 × 10-7 M = 1 × 10-14 M (add the exponents)

The concentrations of H+ and OH- in a solution always equal 1 × 10-14 M, therefore knowing
one of the concentrations can give you the other. Since pH is a measure of H+, the pH value is
always the exponent (without the negative sign) of the [H+], in this case 7.

For example, if a solution has a pH of 3, like vinegar, the concentration of hydrogen ions
would be 1 × 10-3 M ([H+] = 1 × 10-3 M), therefore the concentration of hydroxide ions could
be figured out:
1 × 10-3 M × ?? M = 1 × 10-14 M (what plus -3 gives -14?)

1 × 10-3 M × 1 × 10-11 M = 1 × 10-14 M

Therefore, the concentration of OH- is 1 × 10-11 M ([OH-] = 1 × 10-11 M).

Any compound that increases the OH- concentration of a solution will also decrease the H+
concentration and is a base. The reverse is also true; any compound that increases the H+
concentration also decreases the OH- concentration and is an acid.

Between the pH units on the scale, there is a tenfold difference in hydrogen ion concentration.
Pure water has a neutral pH of 7 (neither acidic nor basic). The scale is logarithmic, which
means a solution with a pH of 5 is 10 times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 6 and
100 times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 7. Figure 1 illustrates the pH scale and
the pH of several common substances.

56 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 Drain cleaner
14
VERY BASIC 10x difference
Oven cleaner
13
10x 100x difference
Soapy water
12
10x
Ammonia
11
WEAKLY BASIC 10x
Milk of magnesia
10
10x 1000x difference
Baking soda
9
10x
Eggs
8
10x
NEUTRAL Pure water
7
10x
Bread, potatoes
6
10x
Coffee
5
10x 10,000x difference
Tomatoes
WEAKLY ACIDIC 4
10x
Orange juice, vinegar
3
© bluedoor, LLC

10x
Lemon juice
2
10x
Sulfuric Acid
1
VERY ACIDIC 10x
Battery Acid
0

Figure 1 - pH of common substances.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
Hydronium ion (H3O+, or H+): a water molecule that has gained a hydrogen nucleus, or
proton. Such a molecule has an extra proton and thus carries a full positive charge. By
convention, we typically refer to a hydronium ion as an H+ ion.

Hydroxide ion (OH-): a water molecule that has lost a hydrogen nucleus, or proton. Such a
molecule has an extra electron and thus carries a full negative charge.

Acids: chemical compounds that increase the concentration of hydronium (hydrogen) ions in
an aqueous solution and thus cause the pH to decrease.

Bases: chemical compounds that decrease the concentration of hydronium (hydrogen) ions in
an aqueous solution and thus cause the pH to increase.

The pH scale: the pH of an aqueous solution is defined as the negative logarithm of the
hydronium (hydrogen) ion concentration: pH = -log [H+]. In a neutral solution, pH = 7, the
concentration of hydronium (hydrogen) ions is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions.
In an acidic solution, pH < 7, the concentration of hydronium (hydrogen) ions is greater than
hydroxide ions. In a basic solution, pH > 7, the concentration of hydronium (hydrogen) ions
is less than hydroxide ions.

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 57

WHY IS UNDERSTANDING ACIDS AND BASES IMPORTANT?
An aqueous solution with a high concentration of either hydrogen or hydroxide ions is very
reactive, potentially forming a corrosive or caustic solution. For example, battery acid has
a high concentration of H+ ions, whereas drain cleaner has a high concentration of OH-
ions. Small changes in H+ or OH- concentrations can dramatically influence the structure
and functioning of cells. In human beings, slight variations in pH can seriously disrupt
physiological functions and hence the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis. For example,
blood typically has a pH that ranges from 7.35 to 7.45. Deviations from this range can
cause dizziness, fainting, coma, tremors, paralysis, and death. Consequently, blood contains
a number of chemical systems that act to resist changes in pH. Such chemical systems are
referred to as buffers.

Buffers are substances that stabilize pH by either releasing H+ if the solution is too basic or
absorbing H+ if the solution is too acidic. Most cells cannot tolerate large changes in pH and
must use buffers to help maintain a relatively constant pH.

Carbon dioxide is important for a number of bodily functions. One of these is the carbonate
buffering system, a very important buffer in the human body. When carbon dioxide is
combined with water in the body, it forms carbonic acid, which is used to (quickly) adjust and
maintain body pH.
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H+ + HCO3–
carbon + water carbonic hydrogen + bicarbonate
dioxide acid ion ion

For an average, healthy adult, the blood pH is 7.35-7.45 (slightly on the basic side). Carbonate
can exist as an acid, carbonic acid that can donate H+ when the body is too basic, or as a base,
bicarbonate ion that can accept H+ when the body is too acidic.

Many different methods are used to measure pH, but one of the easiest ways to determine pH
is pH paper, which changes color when dipped into solutions with different pH. Litmus paper
is the simplest kind of pH indicator. It turns blue in a basic solution and pink in an acidic
solution. It cannot, however, give you an accurate value for the pH. pH paper, on the other
hand, is prepared with a mixture of indicator chemicals. The paper changes color when placed
in solutions with different pH values, and the color is compared to a chart that indicates
corresponding pH value. A pH meter is an instrument that measures pH more accurately than
the pH paper; it measures the concentration of H+ and OH- ions in the solution.

58 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 QUESTIONS:

1. An aqueous solution has a pH of 4. Is it acidic or basic?

2. Which solution is more acidic: one with a pH of 5 or one with a pH of 2?

3. Which solution is more basic: one with a pH of 11 or one with a pH of 9?

4. A solution with a pH of 2 has an H+ concentration how many times larger than a

solution with a pH of 6?

5. An aqueous solution has an [OH-] = 1 × 10-9 M. Calculate [H+] and pH.

6. An aqueous solution has an [H+] = 1 × 10-4 M. Calculate [OH-] and pH.

7. What is a buffer?

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 59

DISSOCIATION OF WATER
Occasionally, a water molecule will dissociate (break apart) into a hydrogen ion (H+) and
a hydroxide ion (OH-) (Figure 2a). In pure water this happens with one out of 554 million
molecules. So anytime you are dealing with water (i.e. any solution in biology), you will have
hydrogen and hydroxide ions. What actually happens in water is a hydrogen atom dissociates
from a water molecule and attaches to another water molecule, which creates a hydroxide
ion (OH-) and a hydronium ion (H3O+) (Figure 2b). But because we are still learning how
these ions affect pH, we will continue to refer to H+ to represent H3O+. Keep in mind though,
that H+ does not exist on its own in an aqueous solution. It is always associated with a water
molecule in the form of H3O+. Water molecules are constantly dissociating and reforming.
When water dissociates the hydrogen and hydroxide ions are equal ([H+] = [OH-]).

a)
H+ OH-
Water molecule
Hydrogen ion Hydroxide ion

© bluedoor, LLC
b)

Water H3O+
molecules Hydronium ion OH-
Hydroxide ion

Figure 2 - a) Dissociation of a water molecule – simple form.

b) Dissociation of water – what actually happens.

Dissociation is how acids and bases make a solution more acidic or basic. If an acid
dissociates in water, then it adds hydrogen ions, which makes the concentration of hydrogen
ions greater than the hydroxide ions ([H+] > [OH -]). If this happens in a solution, then the
solution is acidic. If a base dissociates in water, then it adds hydroxide ions, which makes
the concentration of hydroxide ions greater than the hydrogen ions ([H+] < [OH -]). If this
happens in a solution, then the solution is basic.

60 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 QUESTIONS:

1. Explain how pure water will always be neutral.

2. Explain how a solution can become acidic.

3. Explain how a solution can become basic.

STATION ONE – CALIBRATING PH METERS

In the healthcare industry, you will be using both pH strips and pH meters to measure the
pH of your patient’s samples. In this lab you will learn how to use both pH strips and meters.
For a pH meter to work properly and give accurate readings, it must first be calibrated. The
following exercise teaches you how to calibrate the pH meters for our labs.

Materials:
• pH meters • pH 10 calibration buffer

• 50-mL beakers • pH electrolyte storage solution

• 100-mL beakers • dH20

• pH 4 calibration buffer • Gloves

• pH 7 calibration buffer • Goggles/Safety glasses

Where to dispose of:

• Used pH 4 calibration buffer - in the Acid container under the hood

• Used pH 7 calibration buffer - in the Acid container under the hood

• Used pH 10 calibration buffer - in the Base container under the hood

• Used gloves - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 61

Procedure:
1. Obtain one pH meter, one bottle each of 4, 7 and 10 pH calibration buffers.

2. Obtain
 three 50-mL beakers and one 100-mL beaker. Using label tape, label the 3
50-mL beakers “pH 4”, “pH 7” and “pH 10”, then label the 100-mL beaker “Rinse”.

3. Pour 20mL of each calibration buffer into its respective beaker.

4. Turn
 on the pH meter and remove the cap. Be very careful NOT to spill the solution in
the cap.

5. Rinse
 the bulb of the pH meter with dH2O over the rinse beaker. DO NOT TOUCH THE
GLASS BULB.

6. Place the pH meter into pH 7 calibration buffer. Make sure the bulb of the meter is
immersed. Allow the meter to be in the buffer for 10 seconds.

7. Press the “CAL” button.

8. If the pH reading shows anything different than 7, use the arrow key to set the value to
7.

9. ‘SA’ will appear on the screen when that value is saved. ‘EN’ will appear on the screen
to end calibration.

10. Rinse the bulb with dH2O.

11. Repeat steps 5-10 for pH 4 calibration buffer, then pH 10 calibration buffer.

12. Once all three calibration buffer pH have been set, the pH meter will be ready to use.

13. Dispose of pH buffers in the proper containers under the hood.

14. Remove the label tape, rinse the beakers with water and put back where you got them.

STATION TWO – ACIDS

An acid is a molecule/compound (i.e. HCl, CH3COOH), that when added to a solvent (water)
will dissociate donating additional H+ (protons) to the resulting solution. Therefore, an acid is
a molecule that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution. The molecule is an
acid, whereas the solution containing the acid is acidic.

Some acids are considered strong and some are considered weak. What is the difference
between a strong and weak acid? For an acid to be strong, when it is mixed in water the
majority of the molecules will dissociate (very little is left intact), therefore it adds a large
number of H+ into the solution, creating a strong acidic solution (pH = 0-1). For an acid to
be weak, when it is mixed in water only some of the molecules will dissociate (many of the
molecules are left intact), therefore it adds a fewer number of H+ into the solution, creating a
weak acidic solution (pH = 5-6). Figure 3 gives an example of strong and weak acids.

62 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 + - HCl H3BO3
-
- +
H+ H+
Cl- +
+ H2BO3-
-
- -
+ +
a) b)

Figure 3 - a) Strong acid - the majority of HCl acid molecules give up protons.
b) Weak acid - the majority of H3BO3 stays intact and gives up few protons.

Materials:
• Box of pH strips • 50-mL beakers • 0.1M H3BO3
• Gloves • 0.1M HCl • 0.1M CH3COOH
• Goggles/Safety glasses

Where to dispose of:

• Used pH strips - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)

• Acid solutions - in the Acid container under the hood
• Used gloves - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)

*Which solution in this experiment do you predict will be a strong acid? Why?

*Which solution in this experiment do you predict will be a weak acid? Why?

Procedure:
1. Your lab group will perform stations 2 and 3 at the same. Therefore, you will need to
divide the lab group in half; half the group perform station 2 and the other half perform
station 3.

2. Lab coats are now required to be worn by all students while in lab. If you do not have
your lab coat, you must borrow one from your lab instructor and 4 points will be
removed from your weekly lab assignment or quiz. This will happen for every lab you do
not have your own lab coat.

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 63

 3. Always wear gloves for all experiments.

4. Obtain 3 50-mL beakers from the side cabinet.

5. Wearing goggles/safety glasses (from UV cabinet), pour 10 mL of 0.1M HCl

(hydrochloric acid), 0.1M H3BO3 (boric acid), and 0.1M CH3COOH (acetic acid) into
separate 50-mL beakers.

6. Using separate pH strips, dip a pH strip completely into each solution. Match the
pH strip to the code on the box (acidic is on one side and basic is on the other side).
Record your results in Table 1.

7. Repeat step 6, two more times. Make sure that each lab group member has a chance to
read the pH strip. Did you get the same pH each time?

8. Throw the used pH strips in the yellow chemical hazard bin.

Table 1 - pH of different acidic solutions

pH
SOLUTION REPEAT 1 REPEAT 2 REPEAT 3 MEAN (x)

0.1M HCl

0.1M H3BO3

0.1M CH3COOH

9. After recording the measurements in the table, pour the acidic solutions into the
disposal container labeled “Acid disposal” under the hood.

10. Rinse the beakers with water and place them back on the side counter.

11. Share the data you obtained with your lab group. Discuss the findings.

QUESTIONS:

1. Which of the acids tested was strong? Weak? Explain why this is. Remember that the
acids you tested were all the same concentration and volume.

2. How much more acidic was hydrochloric acid than boric acid?

64 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 STATION THREE – BASES
A base is a molecule/compound that usually contains hydroxide (i.e. NaOH, NH4OH), but
it does not always have to (i.e. NaHCO3). When a base (solute) is put into water (solvent),
the base will dissociate usually donating additional OH- (hydroxide) to the resulting solution.
Because the base has added hydroxide, these hydroxide ions will accept hydrogen ions
(negative ion attracts the positive ion), therefore decreasing the number of hydrogen ions
in the solution. So, a base is a molecule that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration of
the solution. Although most bases contain hydroxide, some do not. For the bases that do
not contain hydroxide (i.e. NaHCO3), when they are mixed into water they will dissociate
donating another type of ion that will accept hydrogen ions (i.e. HCO3-). Whether the base
contains hydroxide or not, the activity of a base is to lower the hydrogen ion concentration of
a solution. The molecule is a base, whereas the solution containing the base is basic.

Some bases are considered strong and some are considered weak. What is the difference
between a strong and weak base? For a base to be strong, when it is mixed in water the
majority of the molecules will dissociate (very little is left intact), therefore it adds a large
number of ions into the solution, creating a strong basic solution (pH = 13-14). For a base
to be weak, when it is mixed in water only some of the molecules will dissociate (many of the
molecules are left intact), therefore it adds a lessor number of ions into the solution, creating
a weak basic solution (pH = 8-9). Figure 4 gives an example of strong and weak bases.

+ - NaOH + CuOH
-
OH- - OH-
+
© bluedoor, LLC

-
+ +
- Na+ Cu+
- +
a) b)

Figure 4 - a) Strong base - the majority of NaOH base molecules give up hydroxide.
b) Weak base - the majority of CuOH stays intact and gives up few hydroxides.

Materials:
• Box of pH strips • 50-mL beakers • 0.1M NaHCO3
• Gloves • 0.1M NaOH
• Goggles/Safety glasses • 0.1M NH4OH

Where to dispose of:

• Used pH strips - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)
• Base solutions - in the Base container under the hood
• Used gloves - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 65

*Which solution in this experiment do you predict will be a strong base? Why?

*Which solution in this experiment do you predict will be a weak base? Why?

Procedure:
1. Your
 lab group will perform stations 2 and 3 at the same. Therefore, you will need to
divide the lab group in half; half the group perform station 2 and the other half perform
station 3.

2. Lab
 coats are now required to be worn by all students while in lab. If you do not have
your lab coat, you must borrow one from your lab instructor and 4 points will be
removed from your weekly lab assignment or quiz. This will happen for every lab you do
not have your own lab coat.

3. Always wear gloves for all experiments.

4. Obtain 3 50-mL beakers from the side cabinet.

5. Wearing
 goggles/safety glasses (from UV cabinet), pour 10 mL of 0.1M NaOH (sodium
hydroxide), 0.1M NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate), and 0.1M NH4OH (ammonium
hydroxide) into separate 50-mL beakers.

6. Using separate pH strips, dip a pH strip completely into each solution. Match the
pH strip to the code on the box (acidic is on one side and basic is on the other side).
Record your results in Table 2.

7. Repeat step 6, two more times. Make sure that each lab group member has a chance to
read the pH strip. Did you get the same pH each time?

8. Throw the used pH strips in the yellow chemical hazard bin.

Table 2 - pH of different basic solutions

pH
SOLUTION REPEAT 1 REPEAT 2 REPEAT 3 MEAN (x)

0.1M NaOH

0.1M NaHCO3

0.1M NH4OH

66 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 9. After recording the measurements in the table, pour the basic solutions into the
disposal container labeled “Base disposal” under the hood.

10. Rinse the beakers with water and place them back on the side counter.

11. Share the data you obtained with your lab group. Discuss the findings.

QUESTIONS:

1. Which of the bases tested was strong? Weak? Explain why this is. Remember that the
bases you tested were all the same concentration and volume.

2. How much more basic was in NaOH than NaHCO3?

STATION FOUR - DETERMINING BUFFERING CAPACITY

Each different buffer has its own buffering capacity, a measure of its ability to resist change
in pH. It is determined by adding small amounts of acid and base to the substance and
checking the pH after each addition. Initially, there will be very little, if any, change in pH, but
eventually the buffering capacity of the buffer will be exhausted and bigger changes in pH will
be noted. The following experiment will demonstrate the actions of a buffer.

For the following experiments your lab group must create a sodium bicarbonate buffer solution.
Follow the procedure to create the buffer before you begin the experiment.

Once you have created the buffer for your group, you will then perform the experiment. The
buffering capacity experiment has two parts: Acid Buffering Capacity and Base Buffering
Capacity. Your lab group will perform only one part of the experiment. Your instructor will
assign your group the acid or base experiment. You will then share your data with the other
lab groups.

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 67

CREATING BUFFER SOLUTION

Materials:
• 250-mL beaker • Sodium Bicarbonate • Weigh boat
• dH2O • Glass stir rod

Procedure:
1. Following the procedure from Lab 2 – Making Solutions, mix 100 mL of a 0.1M
solution of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). If you are still unsure of how to make
molarity concentrations, please ask your instructor for help. The following experiments
depend on creating the correct concentration.

2. Once you have figured out the amount of sodium bicarbonate you will need to create
your buffer solution, check with your lab instructor to make sure it is correct.

Amount of sodium bicarbonate needed: ________________________

3. Obtain a 250 mL beaker. Using label tape, label the beaker “buffer solution”.

4. Weigh out the correct amount of sodium bicarbonate using a weigh boat. Add the
solute to the buffer solution beaker.

5. Add enough dH2O to the beaker to reach 100 mL. Stir with a glass stir rod until sodium
bicarbonate is dissolved.

6. You have created a sodium bicarbonate buffer solution.

7. Dispose of used weigh boats in the yellow chemical hazard bin. Rinse the glass stir rod
with water and put it back where you got it.

ACID BUFFERING CAPACITY EXPERIMENT

Materials:
• Sodium Bicarbonate buffer • 50-mL beaker • Stir bar
• Goggles/Safety glasses • Stir plate • pH meter
• 0.1M HCl • 100-mL beaker • Forceps
• dH2O • Transfer pipettes

Where to dispose of:

• Used pipettes - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)
• Acid solutions - in the Acid container under the hood
• Used gloves - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)
• Used weigh boats - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)

68 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

Procedure:
1. Lab coats are now required to be worn by students while in lab. If you do not have your
lab coat, you must borrow one from your lab instructor and 4 points will be removed
from your weekly lab assignment or quiz. This will happen for every lab you do not have
your own lab coat.

2. Your lab group will only perform the Acid or Base Buffering Capacity experiment, not
both. Your instructor will assign you which experiment to perform.

3. Obtain a stir plate and a small stir bar.

4. Obtain 2 100-mL beakers and one 50-mL beaker. Using label tape, mark one of the
100-mL beakers “water” and the other “buffer”, then mark the 50-mL beaker “HCl”.

5. Wearing safety glasses/goggles, place 50mL of tap water in the “water” beaker. Place
50mL of the buffer solution in the “buffer” beaker. Place 15mL of 0.1M HCl (a strong
acid) in the “HCl” beaker.

6. Obtain one pH meter (the one you calibrated from Station One) and another 100-mL
beaker. Label the beaker “Rinse” (use the rinse beaker from the calibration step).

7. Place the water beaker on the stir plate and put the stir bar into the water. Turn on the
stir plate so that the stir bar spins at the bottom of the beaker. DO NOT turn on the
speed so high that it causes the stir bar to bounce around the beaker. It should spin
quickly and smoothly in the same place in the middle of the beaker.

8. One member of the group will hold the pH meter in the solution, while the other
member of the group adds 1mL of HCl at a time.

9. Determine the pH of the water BEFORE adding acid. Hold the pH meter so that the
stir bar does not hit it. Allow 20 seconds to pass then take the pH reading. Record the
reading in Table 3.

10. Continue to hold the pH meter in the solution, making sure the stir bar does not hit the
meter.

11. Add 1mL of HCl into the water beaker. Allow 20 seconds to pass then take the pH
reading. Record the reading in Table 3.

12. Continue doing steps 10-11 until you have added a total of 6mL of HCl.

13. Remove the pH meter from the water beaker and rinse with dH2O.

14. Turn off the stir plate and remove the stir bar using forceps. Rinse the stir bar with
dH2O.

15. Replace the water beaker with the buffer beaker on the stir plate.

16. Repeat steps 7-13 for the buffer beaker. Record readings in Table 3.

17. When done taking pH readings, rinse pH meter with dH2O, make sure there is storage
solution in the cap and put the cap back on the pH meter. The cap should stay on the

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 69

 meter, it should not fall off. If you need more storage solution to put into the cap, ask
your instructor.

18. Turn off pH meter, check your pH meter with your instructor to ensure you have stored
it properly and put it back where you got it.

19. Pour the acid solutions (water and buffer) in the Acid container under the hood.

20. Remove label tape, rinse the beakers and stir bar with water and put back where you
got them.

21. Unplug stir plate and put it back where you got it.

Table 3 - Change in pH with the addition of HCl acid.

AMOUNT OF 0.1M HCl pH

ADDED (mL) WATER BEAKER BUFFER BEAKER

22. Dispose of any leftover solutions in the proper container under the hood.
23. Exchange your group’s data with another group that performed the Base Buffering
Capacity.
24. Graph the results from Table 3 in Figure 5.

70 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

BASE BUFFERING CAPACITY EXPERIMENT
Materials:
• Sodium Bicarbonate buffer • 50-mL beaker • Stir bar
• Goggles/Safety glasses • 100-mL beaker • pH meter
• 0.1M NaOH • Stir plate • Forceps
• dH2O • Transfer pipettes

Where to dispose of:

• Used pipettes - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)
• Base solutions - in the Base container under the hood
• Used gloves - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)
• Used weigh boats - in the chemical hazard bin (yellow)

Procedure:
1. Lab coats are now required to be worn by students while in lab. If you do not have your
lab coat, you must borrow one from your lab instructor and 4 points will be removed
from your weekly lab assignment or quiz. This will happen for every lab you do not have
your own lab coat.
2. Your lab group will only perform the Base or Acid Buffering Capacity experiment, not
both. Your instructor will assign you which experiment to perform.
3. Obtain a stir plate and a small stir bar.
4. Obtain 2 100-mL beakers and one 50-mL beaker. Using label tape, mark one of the
100-mL beakers “water” and the other “buffer”, then mark the 50-mL beaker “NaOH”.
5. Wearing safety glasses/goggles, place 50mL of tap water in the “water” beaker. Place
50mL of the buffer solution in the “buffer” beaker. Place 15mL of 0.1M NaOH (a
strong base) in the “NaOH” beaker.

6. Obtain one pH meter (the one you calibrated from Station One) and another 100-mL
beaker. Label the beaker “Rinse” (use the rinse beaker from the calibration step).
7. Place the water beaker on the stir plate and put the stir bar into the water. Turn on the
stir plate so that the stir bar spins at the bottom of the beaker. DO NOT turn on the
speed so high that it causes the stir bar to bounce around the beaker. It should spin
quickly and smoothly in the same place in the middle of the beaker.
8. One member of the group will hold the pH meter in the solution, while the other
member of the group adds 1mL of NaOH at a time.
9. Determine the pH of the water BEFORE adding base. Hold the pH meter so that the
stir bar does not hit it. Allow 20 seconds to pass then take the pH reading. Record the
reading in Table 4.

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 71

 10. Continue to hold the pH meter in the solution, making sure the stir bar does not hit the
meter.

11. Add 1mL of NaOH into the water beaker. Allow 20 seconds to pass then take the pH
reading. Record the reading in Table 4.

12. Continue doing steps 10-11 until you have added a total of 6mL of NaOH.

13. Remove the pH meter from the water beaker and rinse with dH2O.

14. Turn off the stir plate and remove the stir bar using forceps. Rinse the stir bar with
dH2O.

15. Replace the water beaker with the buffer beaker on the stir plate.

16. Repeat steps 7-13 for the buffer beaker. Record readings in Table 4.

17. When done taking pH readings, rinse pH meter with dH2O, make sure there is storage
solution in the cap and put the cap back on the pH meter. The cap should stay on the
meter, it should not fall off. If you need more storage solution to put into the cap, ask
your instructor.

18. Turn off pH meter, check your pH meter with your instructor to ensure you have stored
it properly and put it back where you got it.

19. Pour the base solutions (water and buffer) in the Base container under the hood.

20. Remove label tape, rinse the beakers and stir bar with water and put back where you
got them.

21. Unplug stir plate and put it back where you got it.

Table 4 - Change in pH with the addition of NaOH.

AMOUNT OF 0.1M NaOH pH

ADDED (mL) WATER BEAKER BUFFER BEAKER

72 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 22. Dispose of any leftover solutions in the proper container under the hood.

23. Exchange
 your group’s data with another group that performed the Acid Buffering
Capacity.

24. Graph the results from Table 4 in Figure 5.

Figure 5 - Buffering capacity of water and a sodium bicarbonate buffer.

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering 73

 QUESTIONS:

1. How many times more acidic was the pH of the water beaker than the pH of the buffer
beaker at the end of the acid experiment?

2. How many times more basic was the pH of the water beaker than the pH of the buffer
beaker at the end of the base experiment?

3. Looking at your graph (Figure 5), describe how the pH of water changed as you added
acid and base.

4. Describe how the pH of the buffer solution changed as you added acid and base.

5. What is the difference between the graph of the water and the buffer solution?

74 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering | 4

 Lab
4 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering
Post-Lab Questions

1. Explain dissociation.

2. What is the difference between dissociating and dissolving.

3. What does it mean for an acid to be strong? Weak?

Post-Lab
4. What does it mean for a base to be strong? Weak?

5. How does a buffer work?

6. If a pH of a solution is 10, what is the [H+] and [OH-]?

4 | Acids, Bases, pH and Buffering: Post-Lab Summary 75