UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (UMaT), TARKWA

SCHOOL OF PETROLEUM STUDIES (SPeTS)

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND PETROCHEMICAL ENGINEERING,

EXPERIMENT 5
A REPORT ON pH AND BUFFER SOLUTIONS
BY
ANIM POKUAH KAKARI WILHELMINA
(SPE.41.014.022.22)
GROUP 4
RP 2
COURSE NAME: CHEMISTRY LAB PRACTICES
COURSE CODE: RP 273
COURSE LECTURER: DR. JOHANNES AMI
DATE: 15TH FEBRUARY, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
OBJECTIVES OF EXPERIMENT 3
MATERIALS AND INSTRUMENTS 4
PROCEDURE 5
DATA 7
HCL 7
ACETIC ACID 7
AMMONIA 8
SODIUM BICARBONATE 9
SODIUM HYDROXIDE 9
SODIUM ACETATE 9
RESULTS 10
DISCUSSION 12
Sources of error 15
RECOMMENDATIONS 16
CONCLUSION 17
REFERENCES 18

i
INTRODUCTION

The concept of pH and buffer solutions is fundamental to various fields of

science, including chemistry, biology and environmental science. In our daily lives,
virtually every substance encountered, whether solid, liquid, or gas, exhibits acidic,
basic or neutral properties. According to Bronsted-Lowry, acids acts as proton
donors, while bases, or alkalis, function as proton acceptors. pH, which stands for
“power of hydrogen”, is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It
quantifies the concentration of hydrogen ions(H+) in a solution and plays a crucial
role in the determination of chemical properties and reactivity of substance. The pH
system (ranges 1-14) have set numbers that determine if the solution is acidic,
neutral, or basic. A solution is acidic if its pH range is 0-7, this means that there is
more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions in the solution. A solution is neutral if its
pH range is 7 that means the number of hydrogen ions is equal to the number of
hydroxide ions. Anything greater than 7 on the pH scale is basic.
For strong acids, pH = - log �+ , while for weak acids or bases, the
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation that is,
pH = pka + log A− / HA
is employed, where �− represents the conjugate base and �� denotes the weak
acid.
Buffer solutions, on the other hand, are solutions that resists changes in pH
upon addition of acid or base. The types of buffers are; Acidic buffers( consists of a
weak acid and its conjugate base) and Basic buffers ( consists of a weak base and its
conjugate acid) , and are capable of maintaining a relatively constant pH even when
external factors attempt to alter it. The buffer capacity quantifies the effectiveness of
a buffer in maintaining pH stability, resisting fluctuations in the concentration of H+
within a given volume. Or buffer capacity is a measure of the productivity of a
buffer by opposing pH variations, which is expressed as the amount of strong acid or
base, in grams, that must be added to 1L of the solution for a change from unity.
Following is the equation to ascertain the buffer capacity:
β = ∆B/∆pH

1
 The buffer capacity will be optimal when the ratio is 1:1, meaning that pH =
pKa. The strength of a of a weak acid can be analyzed. This means that the amount
of hydrogen ion releases can be determined by using the next equation:
H+ A−
Ka = HA

In this equation, the Ka is defined as the acid dissociation constant, which

tells us in what proportion of HA will be dissociated into H+ and A- in a solution.
The larger the value of Ka (more H+), the stronger the acid is and the lower the pH of
the resulting solution will be.
Buffers are important in many ares of chemistry. They are indispensable in
various laboratory experiments, analytical techniques, and biological processes
where maintaining a stable pH is critical for the success of the procedure. When the
pH must be controlled during the course of a reaction, the solutions are often
buffered. This is often the case in biochemistry when enzymes or proteins are being
studied. Our blood is buffered to a pH of 7.4. Variations of a few tenths of a pH can
cause illness or death.
In this report, we will delve into principles underlying pH and buffer solutions,
exploring their significance in chemical equilibrium, biological systems, and
industrial applications. We will discuss the theoretical foundations of pH
measurement, methods for preparing buffer solutions, factors influencing buffer
capacity, and practical examples of buffer systems used in different contexts. By
gaining a deeper understanding of pH and buffer solutions, we aim to appreciate
their widespread utility and importance in scientific research and technological
advancements.

2
OBJECTIVES OF EXPERIMENT

The objectives of this experiment is to;

i. To elucidate the methods for measuring the pH of a solution
ii. To illustrate the functioning of buffer systems
iii. Additionally, the experiment was primarily conducted to prepare buffer solution
systems and assess their buffering capacity.
iv. Furthermore, the experiment aimed to investigate how the pH value of a buffer
solution is affected upon mixing with an acid or base solution.

3
MATERIALS AND INSTRUMENTS

Some essential apparatus used in this experiment include;

 pH meter
 Universal pH paper
 Kim wipes
 Wash bottles
 Pasteur dropper
 Distilled water
 Beakers (10ml and 50ml)
 pH colour chart
 Various standard solutions: these included, 0.1M HCl,
0.1M acetic acid (CH3COOH),
0.1M sodium acetate (CH3COONa),
0.1M carbonic acid (H2CO3),
0.1M NaHCO3,
0.1M NH3
0.1M NaOH

4
PROCEDURE

A set of standard solutions were prepared, including 100ml of 0.1M CH3COOH,

100ml of 0.1 HCl, 100ml of 0.1M CH3COONa, 100ml of 0.1M H2CO3, 100ml of
0.1M NaHCO3, 100ml OF 0.1M NH3, and 100ml of 0.1M NaOH. Volumes were
calculated for HCl, acetic acid, and aqueous ammonia to be 0.84ml, 0.51ml and
0.4ml respectively. Masses were calculated were calculated for sodium acetate,
sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide. The values were 0.40g NaOH, 0.840g
NaHCO3 and 1.361g CH3COONa. Each chemical was weighed or measured and
transferred into a 100ml Volumetric flask, then distilled water was added to reach
the 100ml mark. The solutions were thoroughly mixed by shaking to achieve
uniformity, and each flask was labeled for identification.
Subsequently, 5ml of 0.1M HCl was added to a 10 ml beaker. A 2-cm long
universal pH paper was dipped into the solution. The paper was then removed from
the solution, and the color of the paper was compared to the color chart provided.
The pH was recorded. The same procedure was repeated with the 0.1M acetic acid,
0.1M carbonic acid (or club soda), 0.1M sodium bicarbonate, 0.1M ammonia, and
0.1M NaOH. For the turn each solution, a different cleaned dry 10ml beaker was
used, and the results were recorded respectively.
To prepare the buffer solutions of various compositions, the following systems
were created:
1. A mixture of 5ml of 0.1M acetic acid( CH3COOH) and 5ml of 0.1M sodium
acetate( CH3COONa)
2. A mixture of 1ml of 0.1M acetic acid (CH3COOH) and 10ml of 0.1M sodium
acetate (CH3COONa)
3. A mixture of 5ml of 0.1M carbonic acid (H2CO3) and 5ml of 0.1M sodium
bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
4. A mixture of 1ml of 0.1M carbonic acid (H2CO3) and 10ml of 0.1M sodium
bicarbonate (NaHCO3)

The pH of each buffer system was measuerd with the aid of a universal pH paper,
and the data was recorded. For easy identifications, the above buffer systems were
labeled as buffer A, B, C, and D respectively. Each buffer system solution was

5
divided into two halves by pouring them into separate clean and dry beakers. 0.5ml
of 0.1M HCl was added to the first sample of each buffer system and its
corresponding pH was measured with the universal pH paper. The pH values were
then recorded.
0.5 ml of 0.1M NaOH was added to the second sample of each buffer system
and the pH was measured. The pH values were recorded on the report sheet. The pH
values recorded for each standard solution and buffer system was tabulated on the
report sheet. The behaviour of the buffer systems in maintaining pH stability upon
addition of HCl and NaOH was analyzed.

6
DATA

HCL

Molarity, M = 0.1M
Volume, V = 100ml = 100cm3
Mw = 36.46 g/mol ρ = 1.18g/cm3
Percentage purity = 37%
�
n=�
�

n = CV
�
CV =
��
m = CVMw
m
ρ =
v(needed)
m
V =
ρ
% ×V(needed) = V
�� ��
�(������) =
% �
36.46 × 0.1 × 100 × 10−3
�(������) =
37 × 1.18
�(������) = 0.84��

ACETIC ACID

Molarity, M = 0.1M
Volume, V = 100mL
Mw = 60.05g/mol
ρ = 1.18g/cm3
Percentage purity = 99.8%
�� ��
�(������) =
%�

7
 60.05 × 0.1 × 100 × 10−3
�(������) =
0.998 × 1.18

�(������) = 0.5099��

AMMONIA

Molarity,M =0.1M
Volume, V = 100mL
Mw = 17.031g/mol
ρ = 1.18g/cm3
% purity = 35
�� ��
�(������) =
%�
17.031 × 0.1 × 100 × 10−3
�(������) =
35 × 1.18
�(������) = 0.41��

8
SODIUM BICARBONATE

Molarity, M = 0.1M
Volume, V = 100mL
Molecular weight, Mw = 84g/mol
m(needed) = MwCV
m(needed) = 84 × 0.1× 100 × 10-3
m(needed) = 0.84g

SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Molarity, M = 0.1M
Volume, V = 100mL
Molecular weight, Mw = 40g/mol
m(needed) = MwCV
m(needed) = 40× 0.1×100×10-3
m(needed) = 0.4g

SODIUM ACETATE

Molarity,M = 0.1M
Volume, V = 100mL
Molecular weight, Mw = 136g/mol
�(������) = ����
�(������) = 136 × 0.1 × 100 × 10−3
�(�����) = 1.36�

9
RESULTS

Mass of NaOH = 0.400g

Mass of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) = 0.840g
Mass of sodium acetate (CH3COONa) = 1.361g
Volume of acetic acid = 0.51ml
Volume of NH3 = 0.4ml
Volume of HCl = 0.84ml

Results for initial standard solutions

TABLE 1 ( pH values of various standard solutions)
Standard solutions pH values
HCl 3
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) 5
Sodium acetate (CH3COONa) 5
Carbonic acid (H2CO3) 7
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) 9
NH3 (Ammonia) 14
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 14

Results for buffer systems

TABLE 2:
Separation of buffer pH values
5ml of 0.1M sodium acetate 5
(CH3COONa) and
5ml of 0.1M acetic acid (CH3COOH)
1ml of 0.1M acetic acid and 5
10ml of 0.1M sodium acetate
5ml of 0.1M carbonic acid (H2CO3) and 8
5ml of 0.1M sodium bicarbonate
(NaHCO3)
1ml of 0.1M carbonic acid and 9
10ml of 0.1M sodium bicarbonate

10
Results of buffer systems
pH (by pH paper)
Buffer A: 5ml of buffer A + 0.5ml of 5
HCl
5ml of buffer A + 0.5ml of 5
NaOH
Buffer B: 5ml of buffer B + 0.5ml of 6
HCl
5ml of buffer B + 0.5ml of 5
NaOH
Buffer C: 5ml of buffer C + 0.5ml of 10
HCl
5ml of buffer C + 0.5ml of 8
NaOH
Buffer D: 5ml of buffer D + 0.5ml of 7
HCl
5ml of buffer D + 0.5ml of 10
NaOH

11
DISCUSSION

The pH measurement serves as an indicator of the hydrogen activity within a

solution. A solution with a pH value lower than 7 indicates an abundance of H+ ions,
rendering it acidic. Conversely, when the pH exceeds 7, it suggests a scarcity of H+
ions or an excess of OH- ions, characterizing the solution as basic.
The pH measurements obtained from the standard solutions provided valuable
insights into the acidity or alkalinity of each solution. The observed pH values aligned
closely with theoretical expectations based on the known properties of each chemical.
Upon assessing the pH of the standard solutions, including HCl, acetic acid
(CH3COOH),and sodium acetate (CH3COONa), it was evident that they exhibited
acidity with pH values less than 7. For example, the pH of the 0.1M HCl solution was
expected to be low due to its strong acidic nature, and the recorded pH value
confirmed this expectation. Similarly, the pH of the acetic acid solution was slightly
acidic, consistent with its weak acid properties. On the other hand, sodium
bicarbonate (NaHCO3), aqueous ammonia (NH3), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
were basic due to a pH greater than 7.
The behaviour of buffer systems was investigated by preparing and testing
four different buffer solutions under varying compositions. The data collected
revealed the ability of buffer systems to resist changes in pH when exposed to acidic
or alkaline solutions. The first buffer system, composed of a mixture of CH3COOH
with CH3COONa was established. Initially, this buffer system showcased a pH of 5.
The acidic nature of CH3COOH, combined with the basic properties of CH3COONa,
contributed to the pH level’s deviation below the neutral point. Additionally, the Ka
value of the acetic acid (1.8 × 10-5) surpassed the Kb value of the conjugate base
acetate (5.6 × 10-10), further validating its buffer capacity .
Also, the acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer system exhibited a minimal to no
change at all when the HCl or NaOH was added, indicating its effectiveness in
maintaining pH stability. Upon the addition of 0.5ml of 0.1M HCl to the first half of
this buffer system, the pH remained unaltered:
CH3COO-(aq) + H3O+(aq)→ CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l)

12
This reaction was reversible, with hydrogen ions combining with ethanoate ions to
regenerate ethanoic acid. As ethanoic acid is a weak acid, most of the hydrozonium
ions introduced were neutralized by the conjugate base.
Consequently, there was a reduction in the concentration of the conjugate base
and an increase in the concentration of the weak acid. Since both buffer components
were present in substantial concentrations, the ratio of acid to conjugate base
remained nearly constant, leading to minimal change in the concentration of H3O+
ions.
When a strong base like NaOH was added to the buffer solution, the following
reaction occurred:
CH3COOH(aq) + OH-(aq) → CH3COO-(aq) + H2O(l)
In this reaction, the weak acid CH3COOH neutralized the added base OH-, resulting in
a slight increase in the concentration of CH3COO- and a decrease in the concentration
of CH3COOH. However, due to the neutralization of most of the OH- ions, there was
little change in pH. The subtle pH change was challenging to detect using the
universal paper, hence the pH color remained unchanged.
In the second system, 1ml of acetic acid was mixed with 10ml of the conjugate
base, sodium acetate, to create the buffer solution. The initial pH measured using the
was 5, attributed to the higher Ka value of acetic acid (1.8 × 10-5) compared to the Kb
value of the conjugate base acetate (5.6 × 10-10). Upon adding 0.5ml of 0.1M HCl, the
pH changed from 5 to 6, indicating a slight increase in acidity. However, this change
was minimal compared to the strong acid’s effect in the absence of a buffer system.
Analogous to the first buffer system, the conjugate base in the buffer solution reacted
with the hydrozonium ions, converting them into water and the weak acid of the
conjugate base. This reaction resulted in a decrease in the concentration of the
conjugate base and the simultaneous increase in the concentration of the weak acid,
albeit to a lesser extent than if the buffer were present. Similar to the first system,
after adding 5ml of the NaOH to this buffer solution, the pH remained constant at 5.
This stability was attributed to the neutralization provided by the weak acid to the
added strong base.
In the third buffer system comprising a mixture of 5ml 0.1M carbonic acid with
5ml 0.1M sodium bicarbonate, the recorded pH value was 8. Carbonic acid is formed
when carbon dioxide dissolves in water:
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3

13
As a weak acid, carbonic acid can then donate its protons in two steps to form
bicarbonate, HCO3- and CO32-:
H2CO3 → HCO3- + H+
According to Le Chatelier’s principle, any disturbance occurring in the concentration
of the species involved in this equilibrium reaction shifts ina direction to compensate
for the disturbance. Upon adding 0.5ml of HCl, the pH of the solution shifted to 10,
indicating a significant increase in acidity. This shift occurred because the system
caused [HCO3-] to decrease as HCO3- converted to CO2. When an acid is added, it
reacts with the bicarbonate ion, leading to changes in pH and chemical equilibrium.
Similarly, when a strong base , 0.5ml 0.1M NaOH, was introduced, it reacted
with the carbonic acid to form the bicarbonate anion, thus preventing any significant
change in pH. This resulted in the pH remaining at 8. When a base is added, it reacts
with the carbonic acid, influencing the equilibrium and maintaining pH stability.
The final buffer system prepared was a mixture of 1ml of 0.1M carbonic acid and
10ml of 0.1M sodium bicarbonate to form the buffer solution. Contrary to the third
system, the pH of this system was 9 when measured.
For the system the pH decreased to 7 when 0.5ml 0f 0.1M HCl was added to the
first part of the solution. The hydrozonium ions resulting from HCl reacted with the
conjugate base, leading to a decrease in its concentration. Despite the production of
carbon dioxide, which escaped into the atmosphere, the equilibrium shift caused a
reduction in pH.
Upon addition of 0.5ml of 0.1M NaOH solution, the pH of the final solution
changed slightly to 10. Adding this NaOH, the OH- reacted with the CO2 to from
HCO3-. The CO2 was replenished, preventing a significant change in the pH of the
solution. From the physical processes in systems three and four of the buffer solutions,
they will be classified as open systems. This is because of the exchange of CO2
between the system and the surrounding environment.
Based on the results for the third buffer and fourth buffer system, with the initial
pH being 8 and 9 respectively and becoming 10 especially after the addition of HCl
for the third system and 7 and 10 after the addition of HCl and NaOH for the fourth
system shows there might be some sources of error. This is because, for buffers
having the same concentration of weak acid and conjugate base, there must be high
resistivity to change in pH and hence. Therefore, several limitations and uncertainties
were encountered during the experiment, which may have influenced the accuracy of

14
the results obtained. These include potential errors in pH measurement techniques,
variations in the concentration of standard solutions, and the presence of experimental
artifacts such as contamination or incomplete mixing. Additionally, the use of
universal pH paper for pH measurements may introduce subjective interpretations and
introduce uncertainties in the data.

Sources of error

Some potential sources of errors encountered in this experiment include:

1. Measurement inaccuracies: Errors in measuring volumes of solutions or reagents
could lead to inaccuracies in the preparation of buffer solutions.
2. pH meter calibration: Inaccurate calibration of pH meters could result in incorrect
pH measurements of the solutions.
3. Contamination: Contamination of solutions or equipments could affect the results,
especially in sensitive equilibrium reactions.
4. Temperature: Variations in temperature during the experiment could influence
the equilibrium of the buffer systems, leading to deviations in pH measurements.
5. Human error: Mistakes in recording data, transferring solutions, or conducting
procedures could introduce errors into the experiment.
6. Buffer capacity limitations: Buffers may not be able to fully resist changes in pH
if the concentrations of the weak acid and its conjugate base are not optimized.

15
RECOMMENDATIONS

In conducting experiments involving pH and buffer systems, several

recommendations can enhance the accuracy and reliability of the results.
Firstly, meticulous attention to detail is paramount. Accurate measurements of
both mass and volume, as well as precise observations of color changes and pH
levels, should be ensured throughout the experiment. This entails using calibrated
equipment and meticulous recording of data to minimize errors.
Secondly, thorough cleaning and preparation of apparatus are essential. Before
using any equipment for subsequent samples, thorough washing with water and
proper cleaning should be conducted to prevent contamination and ensure the
integrity of the experiment.
Furthermore, to avoid incomplete reactions, sufficient time should be allotted
for solutions of NaOH or HCl and the buffer to react completely. Thorough shaking
of the solutions can facilitate the mixing process and promote reaction kinetics,
thereby minimizing potential errors due to incomplete reactions.
Additionally, careful consideration should be given to the optimization of buffer
compositions. Ensuring he appropriate concentrations of weak acids and their
conjugate bases can enhance the buffer capacity and its ability to resist changes in
pH effectively.
Moreover, maintaining consistent environmental conditions, such as temperature
and atmospheric CO2 levels, can help minimize external factors that may influence
the equilibrium of buffer systems and pH measurements.
Lastly, periodic calibration and validation of pH meters are recommended to
ensure accurate pH measurements throughout the experiment.
To conclude, by adhering to these recommendations, researchers can enhance
the reliability and reproducibility of experiments involving pH and buffer systems,
thereby facilitating more accurate analysis and interpretation of results.

16
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the experiment focusing on pH and buffers systems provided

valuable insights into the principles of acid-base equilibrium and the role of buffers
in maintaining stable pH levels. The consistent pH observed for the buffers with
equal concentrations of acid and its conjugate base underscores the fundamental
principle that effective buffers require balanced concentrations of these components.
This emphasizes the importance of maintaining equilibrium between acidic
and basic species to maximize buffer capacity. In our experiment, both the first and
second exhibited stable pH levels, indicating their robust buffer capacity. The ability
of these buffers to resist changes in pH highlights their practical utility in various
applications. The success of these buffer systems underscores the importance of
careful selection and optimization of buffer compositions.
Through meticulous experimentation and careful observation, we gained a
deeper understanding of how different solutions react with acids and bases, and how
buffers can effectively resist changes in pH.
The experiment highlighted the importance of precise measurements,
thorough cleaning of equipment, and adequate reaction time to ensure accurate
results. By following proper experimental procedures and adhering to recommended
protocols, we were able to minimize errors and obtain reliable data.
Furthermore, the results obtained underscored the significance of buffer
solutions in various chemical processes and biological systems. Buffers play a
crucial role in maintaining the pH stability of biological fluids, industrial processes,
and environmental systems, thereby contributing to their overall functionability and
efficiency.
Overall, this experiment provided valuable hands-on experience and
enhanced our understanding of pH and buffer systems, laying a solid foundation for
further exploration and research in the field of chemistry. Through diligent
experimentation and analysis, we have deepened our knowledge of acid-base
chemistry and its practical applications, preparing us for future endeavours in the
realm of scientific inquiry.

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Translated by Masson, Mary R. Horwood. ISBN 978-0-85312-330-9.

Jensen, William B. (2004). "The Symbol for pH" (PDF). Journal of Chemical
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21. Bibcode:2004JChEd..81...21J. doi:10.1021/ed081p21. Archived (PDF) from
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Scorpio, R. (2000). Fundamentals of Acids, Bases, Buffers & Their Application

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Skoog, Douglas A.; West, Donald M.; Holler, F. James; Crouch, Stanley R.
(2014). Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry (9th ed.). Brooks/Cole.
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Urbansky, Edward T.; Schock, Michael R. (2000). "Understanding, Deriving and

Computing Buffer Capacity". Journal of Chemical Education. 77 (12): 1640–
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