Experiment 1: ACIDS, BASES, AND BUFFERS
OBJECTIVES
To measure pH of a solution using pH paper or pH meter
To observe how buffer resist pH change
To solve problems on pH, pKa, hydrogen ion concentration and in the preparation of
buffers
PROCEDURE
A. Measurement of pH
1. Using pH paper, determine the pH of the following substance. Indicate whether the
following substances are acidic, basic or neutral substance.
1.1 Milk 1.5 Vinegar
1.2 Ground Coffee 1.6 0.1M HCl
1.3 Calamansi Juice 1.7 1.0% NaCl solution
1.4 Distilled water 1.8 Bleach
Experiment 1: ACIDS, BASES, AND BUFFERS
Score:
Group number Group Members
Course/Year Date performed Date submitted
Laboratory class schedule Laboratory Instructor/Professor
POST-LAB ACTIVITY
Table 1. Determine of pH of different solutions using pH paper.
Substance pH Inference
Milk
Ground Coffee
Calamansi Juice
Distilled water
Vinegar
0.1M HCl
1.0% NaCl
Bleach
Exploratory questions:
1. Which of the following solutions in table 1 are acidic? Neutral? Why do you think they are
basic, acidic, neutral?
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2. Which solution(s) in table 2 shows greater change in pH upon addition of the indicated
solutions? What is/are the reasons(s) for the observed greater change in pH?
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3. Which solution(s) in table 2 shows smaller change in pH upon addition of the indicated
solutions? What is/are the reason(s) for the observed smaller change in pH?
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4. What is the pH of the biological cell? Why is buffer important to biological cells? What will
happen to living things if the cellular fluids are not buffered? Why?
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5. What is the difference between strong and weak acid? between strong and weak base?
What is the ionization constant? What does ionization constant measures?
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6. What is a buffer? Define and give examples?
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7. Define buffering capacity. What factors affect buffer capacity, and how do they affect the
activity of buffer?
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8. Give five (5) examples of buffer systems in the human body?
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Problem Solving:
1. The internal pH of a muscle is 6.8. Calculate the [H 2PO4-]/[HPO42-] ratio in the cell. The
second dissociation constant of phosphoric acid is 6.31x10-8 [5 pts]
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2. How many grams of sodium acetate is needed to add to a 0.2M acetic acid to prepare a
buffer of pH=5?
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References:
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Conclusion:
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