PH MEASUREMENT AND BUFFER PREPARATION
Anna Katrina M. Donato, Abigail O. Dy, Keith Brian T. Enriquez, Debbie Marie R. Fermin Group 3
2E- Medical Technology
Biochemistry Laboratory
ABSTRACT A 500 ml Phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.0 with a molar concentration of 5M was prepared using 10.67057611 g of Primary sodium phosphate monohydrate (NaH2PO4.H2O) and 12.77743171 g of Secondary sodium phosphate heptahydrate (Na2HPO4.7H2O). The pH of the buffer was adjusted to the desired value by adding in either portions of 1.0M HCl or 1.0 M NaOH while being monitored by a pH meter. The buffers prepared with varying pH were subjected in Colorimetric determination using different acid-base indicators. The sample, distilled water with pH 3, was also subjected to Colorimetric determination giving the result colors of yellow-orange for Thymol blue, light green for Bromphenol blue, blue for Bromcresol green, yellow for Bromcresol purple, yellow for Phenol red, pink for Methyl red, orange for Methyl orange, and colorless for Phenolphthalein.
INTRODUCTION The term pH refers to a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution. Solutions with a high concentration of hydrogen ions have a low pH and solutions with low concentrations of H+ ions have a high pH. Therefore, pH is also used as a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution. Mathematically, pH is expressed as the negative base 10 of the aquated hydrogen ion concentration. pH = -log [H+] One way of measuring pH is by using a device called pH meter. A pH meter consists of a pair of electrodes connected to a meter capable of measuring small voltages, on the order of millivolts. A voltage, which varies with the pH, is generated when the electrodes are placed in a solution. This voltage is read by the meter, which is calibrated to give the pH. A buffer is a solution which contains a weak conjugate acid-base pair that can resist drastic changes in pH upon the addition of small amounts of a strong acid or base. A buffer resists changes in pH because it contains both an acidic species to neutralize OH- ions and a basic one to neutralize H+ ions. It is a requirement though that the components of a buffer must not consume each other, that’s why buffers are often prepared by mixing a weak acid or a weak base with a salt of that acid or base.
EXPERIMENTAL A. Compounds tested (or samples used) Distilled water, Primary sodium phosphate monohydrate (NaH2PO4.H2O), Secondary sodium phosphate heptahydrate (Na2HPO4.7H2O), Acid- base indicators ( Thymol blue, Bromphenol blue, Bromcresol green, Bromcresol purple, Phenol red, Methyl red, Methyl orange, Phenophthalein) B. Procedure
1. Preparation of Reagents 250 ml of 0.5 M HCl was prepared from 1.0 M HCl. The container was labeled properly.
(10
M HCL)(500 ml) x (0.5 M HCL) (x ml)
X= 250 ml HCl
Figure1.Calculation of volume of 0.5 M HCl
1. Preparation of buffer The buffer solution was prepared using the following guidelines:
Table 1. Guideline for buffer preparation Volume
Concentration
(L)
(M)
0.500
0.5
Buffer Solution
Desired pH
Phosphate
7.0
Primary sodium phosphate monohydrate (NaH2PO4.H2O) and Secondary sodium phosphate heptahydrate (Na2HPO4.7H2O) were used in preparing the buffer. The container was labeled properly.
Given: pH= 7
Weak acid= HPO4-2
0.5 M
Conjugate base= H2PO4-
250 ml
pKa= 7.21
Handerson-Haselbach:
pH= pKa + log [WA]/ [CB] pH = 7.21 + log [HPO4-2]/ [H2PO4-] log-1 (7-7.21)= [HPO4-2]/ [H2PO4-] 0.616595001/ 1= [HPO4-2]/ [H2PO4-]
Total theoretical moles of buffer= 1.616595001
Total actual moles of buffer= (0.5M)(0.25L)= 0.125 moles
Actual moles [HPO4-2]: (0.616595001/1.616595001) = ( x/ 0.125) = 0.047676984 moles HPO4-2 Actual moles [H2PO4-]: (1/ 1.616595001)= (x/ 0.125) = 0.077323015 moles H2PO4-
Grams of HPO4-2: Actual moles x MW = 0.047676984 moles x 268 g/mol = 12.77743171 g HPO4-2
Grams H2PO4-: Actual moles x MW= 0.077323015 moles x 138 g/mol = 10.67057611 g H2PO4-
Figure 2.Computation for buffer preparation
1. Electrometric Determination of pH The pH meter is calibrated. The pH of 20 ml portion of distilled water was measured and the [H ] was calculated. The pH of the buffer solution was adjusted to the desired pH by adding in portions of either 1.0 M HCl or 1.0 M NaOH while being monitored by the pH meter. +
2. Colorimetric Determination of pH
a. Preparation of Color Standards Using the Buffer Solutions Six vials/ test tubes were prepared and labeled with the pH of the buffer and acid-base indicator to be added. 5 ml of a buffer of a certain pH and 2 drops of an acid-base indicator was added into the vial. The mixture was shaken and the resulting color was noted. This procedure was performed on all the buffers prepared. Another set of 6 vials/ test tubes were prepared. The procedure was repeated but another acid-base indicator was used.
+2 drops of acid-base indicator to a spot +10 drops Phosphate buffer to each spot
mix
note color
Figure 3. Colorimetric determination using spot plate
Table 2. Acid-base indicators used in Colorimetric determination of pH Acid-base Indicators Thymol blue Bromphenol blue Bromcresol green Bromcresol purple Phenol red Methyl red Methyl orange
Phenolphthalein
b. Determination of the pH of samples Two drops of an acid-base indicator was added to 5 ml of distilled water. The mixture was shaken and the resulting color was noted. This procedure was repeated using each acid-base indicator.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. Electrometric Determination of pH The pH meter showed accurate readings of the pH of the buffer. It showed fluctuations in readings with the slightest addition of HCl and NaOH. It displayed sensitivity to a small amount of [H+] and [OH-] ions. The pH meter therefore, is more accurate in reading pH levels compared to a pH paper.
2. Colorimetric Determination of pH Table 3. Results of Calorimetric Determination of pH Acid-Base pH indicator 2.0 3.0 7.0 7.5 Thymol blue
8.0
12.0
Distilled Water
red
yelloworange
yellow
yellow
yellow
blue
yelloworange
Bromophenol blue
yellow
yellowgreen
blue
blue
blue
blueviolet
light green
Bromcresol green
yellow
dark yellow
blue
blue
bluegreen
bluegreen
blue
Bromcresol purple
yellow
yellow
violet
violet
blueviolet
violet
yellow
Phenol red
yellow
yellow
yelloworange
red
red
red violet
yellow
Bogen indicator
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Methyl red
pink
pink
yellow
yellow
yellow
pink
pink
Methyl orange
red
redorange
yelloworange
orange
orange
orange
orange
colorless
colorless
colorless
colorless
light-
red-
colorless
Phenolphthalein
pink pH
violet 3.0
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Thymol blue: red, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow, yellow, blue, and yelloworange.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Bromophenol blue: yellow, yellow-green, blue, blue, blue, blue-violet, and light green.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Bromcresol green: yellow, dark-yellow, blue, blue, blue-green, blue-green, and blue.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Bromcresol purple: yellow, yellow, violet, violet, blue-violet, violet, and yellow.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Phenol red: yellow, yellow, yellow-orange, red, red, red-violet, and yellow.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Methyl red: pink, pink, yellow, yellow, yellow, pink, and pink.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Methyl orange: red, red-orange, yellow-orange, orange, orange, orange, and orange.
For pH 2.0, 3.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0, and distilled water, the following are the color results for acid-base indicator Phenolphthalein: colorless, colorless, colorless, colorless, light-pink, redviolet, and colorless.
Colorimetric determination of pH showed the varying color changes an acid-base indicator undergoes when added to a solution of certain pH. This property of an acid-base indicator can therefore be used to identify different substances by narrowing their pH range. For example: Using Bromophenol blue as an acid-base indicator, a solution turned yellow-green. By such observation, one can say that the pH of the solution is 3.0. This can help in the identification of a substance since different substances exhibit different pH levels. Acid-base indicators can also be used to narrow down the pH range of a substance. For example: A resulting color of blue-violet using acid-base indicator Bromcresol green indicates a pH>8.0, and a resulting color of violet in acid-base indicator Bromcresol purple indicates a pH<7.5. Therefore, we can estimate that the pH of the substance must be between 7.5 and 8.0.
Acid-base indicators also show molecular characteristics of a substance. Color changes in molecules can be caused by changes in electron confinement. More confinement makes the light absorbed bluer (darker), and less makes it redder (lighter).
REFERENCES From books: [1] Bursten, B.E., Brown, T.L., LeMay, H.E.(2004). Chemistry: The Central Science. 9th ed. Singapore: Pearson Education Inc. [2] Campbell, M.K., Farell, S.O.(2009). Biochemistry. 6th ed. Philippines: Cengage Learning Asia Pte. Ltd.
From the internet: [1] Biology online http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Buffer 1/10/ 10 [2] Brooklyn academic http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/biology/bio4fv/ page/ph_def.htm 01/10/10 [3] Harper College http://www.harpercollege.edu/tm-ps/chm/100/dgodambe/thedisk/ph/abind.htm 01/12/10