Buffer Solutions: Lab 16

In chemistry, a buffer solution is defined as a solution consisting of an acid

A buffer typically consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak
base and its conjugate acid. A practical example of a buffer solution is the
bicarbonate buffer system which resists change brought by gastric acid
(which, granted, is very acidic). If the bicarbonate buffer system was non-
existent, our lives would be much different to the unregulated strong acid in
our stomachs. In other words, there would be no life because we cannot
resist the drastic changes in pH.

This leads to today’s lab, where we will produce a buffer solution and analyze
its properties. The buffer solution we will produce contains a weak acid and
its salt. More information on the specific acid and base that we will use is in
the material section.

Independent variable: amount of acid or base

Dependent variable: pH of the solution

Hypothesis
I predict that in this lab we will produce a solution that behaves like a buffer
by resisting changes in pH.

Material
- 0.1 M acetic acid
- 0.1 M sodium acetate
- 0.1 M hydrochloric acid
- 0.1 M sodium hydroxide
- Bromophenol blue indicator (pH range 3 yellow to 4.6 purple)
- Phenolphthalein indicator paper (pH range 8.3 colorless to 10.0 red)
- Reaction plate, 96-well
- Toothpicks
 - Universal indicator paper
- Distilled water
- Pipet

Method
1- Using the piper, put six drops of distilled water into well A1 to A5 and
B1 to B5
2- Put three drops of 0.1 M acetic acid into wells C1 through C5 and D1
through D5
3- Add three drops 0.1 M sodium acetate in the same wells from step 2.
Mix the solution with a toothpick.
4- Put one drop of bromophenols blue indicator into wells A1 through A5
and C1 through C5
5- Cut or tear the phenolphthalein paper indicator into 10 pieces, each
one being 2 mm (about 0.08 in) long at most. Place the torn pieces in
wells B1 through B5 and D1 through D5
6- Put two drops of the 0.1 M HCl in wells A1 through D1
7- Put one drop of the 0.1 M HCl in wells A2 through D2
8- Put one drop of the 0.1 M NaOH in wells A4 through D4
9- Put two drops of the 0.1 M NaOH in wells A5 through D5
10- Record the color changes and approximate pH values. For
unknown wells, add the universal indicator paper to find the pH.

Results
The table below displays the results (the color) obtained from the above
procedure

Row 1 2 3 4 5
A Yellow Yellow and Purple Purple Purple
purple
B Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless
C Yellow and Purple and Purple Purple Purple
purple yellow
D Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless

The table below shows the color of the universal indicator paper added to the
wells and their corresponding pHs.

Row Solution 1 2 3 4 5
A Distilled Red (2) Red (2) No Dark Dark
 water change purple purple
(11) (11)
B Distilled Red (2) Red (2) No Black Black
water change (13) (13)
C Sodium Red (2) Red (2) No Red (3) Red (3)
acetate + change
acetic
acid
D Sodium Red (2) Red (2) No No No
acetate + change change change
acetic
acid

Analysis
The results we obtained are intriguing to say the least. For wells A1 through
D1 and A2 through D2, they are acidic. Very acidic, which makes sense
because we ourselves added an acidic substance. However, they failed the
test and couldn’t resist the change in pH; therein, none of them is the buffer
solution we are looking for.

For wells A3 through D3, it is just as expected. We did not add any acidic or
basic solution so there was not really a change in pH. Thus, they are not the
buffer solution we are aiming to find.

For wells A4, B4, A5, and B5. It was just as expected as well. The paper
turned black indicating a very basic solution which is expected due to the
strong base (NaOH) we added. But they failed the test as well. They just
could not resist the change in pH.

Here is where things get intriguing, wells C4 and D5 turned out to be acidic
(They turned the paper red) which is opposed to our expectations. We added
a strong base so we should expect a basic solution. The only reasons why I
can think of is that either the solution we made in the wells were impure or
we accidentally added HCl instead of NaOH. As intriguing as these wells are,
they are still not buffers because they could not resist the change in pH and
changed color.

For wells D4 and D5, the color of the paper didn’t change. I thought there
was a mistake and proceeded to fully submerge the paper in the solution
using a toothpick. When the color of the paper still didn’t change, I knew
these two wells had our hard-earned buffer solutions. They resisted the
change in pH from the NaOH.

In conclusion, the buffer solution we obtained resisted the change of pH and