RESULT

Beaker

Content of Samples

Initial pH

pH value after added 1mL of HCl

1

50mL of distilled water

50mL of 0.1M sodium

chloride

1g sodium acetate + 50mL

0.1M acetic acid

5g sodium acetate + 50mL

0.1M acetic acid

10g sodium acetate + 50mL

0.1M acetic acid

Beaker

Content of Samples

Initial pH

50mL of distilled water

pH value after added 1mL of NaOH

1

12

12

12

12

50mL of 0.1M sodium

chloride

12

12

12

12

1g sodium acetate + 50mL

0.1M acetic acid

5g sodium acetate + 50mL

0.1M acetic acid

10g sodium acetate + 50mL

0.1M acetic acid

DISCUSSION
1. From your results in this experiment, which solution of those you tested had the
greatest buffer capacity:
i. Toward strong acid?
ii. Toward strong base?
Discuss.
The solution we tested had the greatest buffer solution toward strong acid and strong base is
beaker 5 which contain 10g of sodium acetate and 50mL of 0.1M acetic acid. Whereas, the
solution we tested had the greatest buffer solution toward strong base is also beaker 5 which
contain of10g of sodium acetate and 50mL of 0.1M acetic acid.
The buffer capacity is greatest when there are equal amount of weak acid and conjugate base
or weak base and conjugate acid. In addition, as the overall amount of weak acid and
conjugate base goes up the buffering capacity of the solutions go up (same as for weak base
and conjugate acid). The higher the concentration, the larger the buffering capacity. The
buffer capacity depends on the concentration of the weak acid or base and its conjugate acid
or base present.

2. Why was distilled water used to rinse off the pH probe?

To remove any traces of the solution being measured, blotted with a scientific wipe to absorb
any remaining water which could dilute the sample

3. Define buffer solution.

A buffer solution (more precisely, pH buffer or hydrogen ion buffer) is an aqueous
solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa. Its pH
changes very little when a small or moderate amount of strong acid or base is added to it and
thus it is used to prevent changes in the pH of a solution.

4. Specify which if these systems can be classified as a buffer system.

a. KCL/HCL

b. NH3/NH4NO3

c. NaHPO4/NaH2PO4

HCl is a strong acid and hence this is not a buffer system. NH 3 is a weak base and NH4NO3 is
a salt of weak base, and therefore this is a buffer system. NaH2PO4 and Na2HPO4 are an
acid/base conjugate pair, therefore this is a buffer system.

5. Calculate the pH of the buffer system 0.15M NH3 / 0.35M NH4C

pOH = - lgKb + lg

[ salt ]
[base]

= - lg 1.8 x 10-5 + lg
= 5.11
pH

= 14.00 - 5.11
= 8.89

0.35
0.15