ACID BASE CHEMISTRY
USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE LEARNING

You are about to embark on a quest for knowledge about acids and bases! At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

  • Know the differences between acids and bases and their general properties and characteristics
  • Solve an investigative problem involving an unknown acid
  • Perform a virtual acid/base titration and interpret the results
  • Perform a web quest that will take you through all of the major sections involving acids and bases

Good Luck!

Task #1

1. Go to Wikipedia (free online encyclopedia) and do a search on acids.

2. Read about the properties of acids and take notes (on a Word document) for the following:

a) Definition

b) Properties

c) Nomenclature

d) Chemical characteristics

e) Applications of acids

f) Common acids

3. Next, do a google search on bases (you may need to look a little harder this time as there are different meanings to this term!). Take notes on the following:

a) Definition

b) Properties

c) Nomenclature

d) Chemical characteristics

e) Applications of bases

f) Common bases

Task #2

Working in pairs or groups of three, consider the following acid-based question. Please note that you will be responsible for justifying your answers at the end of the task.

Unknown Acid Problem

You have inherited an old chemistry laboratory at your new company, and the first order of business is to take inventory of the chemicals in the stockroom so that you can properly dispose of old chemicals according to current EPA regulations. Unfortunately, the previous chemist was lazy, and some of the bottles are not labeled thoroughly. Of particular concern are two bottles marked simply "acid" with no further information. Fortunately you find an old lab notebook with the following notations: "... available acids: crotonic (pKa=4.69), methylmalonic (pKa=3.07), diphenylacetic (pKa=3.94), picric (strong), alloxanic (pKa=6.64), methyl-m-aminobenzoic (pKa=5.10)...".


You decide that you can collect some experimental data which will enable you to both

(1) identify the unknown acids by comparison with the lab notebook information

(2) determine their concentrations.

Since the disposal of unidentified chemicals is more expensive than that of known compounds, a few hours of lab work can translate into considerable savings for your company.
Use the Virtual Lab to identify the contents and concentration of the first bottle.

Summarize your findings in the spaces provided below the Virtual Lab interface. The error for both values must be under 5%.

Task # 3

You are now ready to perform a virtual titration! Before you begin however, it is important to review the formal definition of this procedure. See below and explore the links provided for additional information if required:

Titration Definition: A procedure that is used to determine the concentration of an acid or base.
A measured volume of an acid or base of known concentration is reacted with a sample to the equivalence point.

Next, go perform a virtual titration!

You are responsible for answering the questions that follow:

Questions

1. What is the initial pH of the solution in the Erlenmeyer flask?

2. What does this pH tell you about the “type” of solution we are beginning with (hint: is it an acid or base?)?

3. What ions are present in the Erlenmeyer flask initially?

4. What ions are present in the buret initially?

5. Draw a diagram of the lab set-up in your notebook and label the solutions

6. Begin your virtual titration

7. Add 5.00 mL of NaOH

8. Does the pH change? Explain what is happening to the ions in the Erlenmeyer flask.

9. Now add 15.00 mL of NaOH

10. What is the “new” pH? What is happening to the solution in the Erlenmeyer flask?

11. Now add, 10.00 mL more of NaOH to the flask, what happens to the pH? Why do you think there is such a change?

12. Explain why accuracy and precision are so important when performing titrations.

13. What is the total volume of solution in the Erlenmeyer flask now?

14. At pH=7.00, what ions/molecules are present in the Erlenmeyer flask?

15. Is the solution in the flask acidic, basic, or neutral? Explain using the terms ions and molecules in your explanation.

16. Write the reaction for the neutralization reaction between the acid and the base in this titration. Be sure to indicate the phases of the ions and molecules.

17. Now add 5.00 mL more of NaOH.

18. What happens to the pH?

19. Add 5.00 mL of NaOH again. Does the pH change?

20. Make a sketch of the titration curve, labeling the axes, with pH as the dependant variable and volume of NaOH as the independent variable.

21. What is the net ionic equation for this reaction?

22. Why is it different than the complete neutralization reaction?

23. Given the molarity of NaOH and the initial volume of HCl, calculate the molarity of the solution.

24. What is the pH at the equivalence point?

25. What does the pH at the equivalence point tell you about the strength of the acid and the strength of the base?

BONUS QUESTION:

Does the equivalence point change based on the strengths of the acids and bases involved in the titration? Explain using graphs.

Task # 4

Linking the virtual titration lab with the unknown acid problem

What does the initial pH of the solution in the Erlenmeyer flask tell you about the pKa of the Acid? Does a relationship exist between the pKa and the pH? If yes, what is it?

Task # 5

Now you are ready to begin the Web Quest for the Acid/Base Unit!

You will need to follow all the tasks and answer all of the questions. If you are stuck, go back and review the e-resources provided.

DONE??????

Great Job!!!!!!!!!