What is the concentration of acetic acid in the 200 mL volumetric flask?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the concentration of acetic acid in a 200 mL volumetric flask after a series of dilutions from vinegar. Participants explore the setup of the problem, the calculations involved, and the assumptions made regarding the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the process of diluting vinegar and asks for guidance on calculating the concentration of acetic acid in the final solution.
  • Another participant suggests that knowledge of analytical chemistry is necessary and outlines the dilution factors involved, indicating a hundredfold concentration decrease.
  • There is a calculation presented that results in a concentration of 8 x 10^-6 M, which raises questions about its simplicity.
  • A later reply confirms the calculation but provides a different value of 8.3 E-5 mol/L, highlighting a discrepancy in the initial assumptions about the amount of acetic acid in the aliquots taken.
  • Participants discuss the implications of using different volumes in their calculations, with one asserting that the initial concentration should be based on the total volume of vinegar rather than the aliquot size.
  • Another participant agrees with the need to apply the correct dilution factors and suggests verifying the calculations to resolve the differences in results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct approach to calculating the concentration of acetic acid, with some supporting the hundredfold dilution factor and others questioning the initial assumptions. The discussion remains unresolved as participants work through their calculations and assumptions.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on assumptions about the mass of acetic acid in vinegar and the accuracy of their dilution calculations. There are unresolved mathematical steps and differing interpretations of the initial conditions that affect the final concentration results.

nautica
Add 200 mL of vinegar and oil dressing to a separatory funnel to separate the oil fromm the aqueous vinegar layer. When this is complete you have 100 mL of vinegar. You then put a 10 mL aliquot of this viegar into a 250 mL volumetric flask and dilute to the mark. Next, you take out a 50 mL aliquot from the 250 mL flask, add it to a 200 mL volumetric flask, and dilute to the mark. Knowing that vinegar is around 5% acetic acid (assuming 100 mL of vinegar has a mass of 100 grams, then there are roughly 5 grams of acetic acid in 100 mL solution), what is the concentration of acetic acid in units of molarity in the 200 mL volumetric flask?

I need some direction in setting up this problem.

Thanks
Nautica

btw - sorry for the long read
 
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Hello, I think a standard analytical chemistry knowledge will help you about this question.

A 10 ml-aliquot diluted 25-fold is further diluted 4-fold. Therefore, a hundredfold concentration decrease should be present here. In the first solution, you state that 5 grams of acetic acid ([itex]CH_3COOH[/itex]; Mw=24+4+32=60 gram/mol) is present, so you can find the initial and final molarity from there.
 
Is it that simple?

5g/60g * 0.01 L / 100 = 8 x 10^-6 M
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Well, if you've done it correctly, then the solution is like that. It doesn't seem to be wrong; a very dilute acetic acid solution is likely in this case.
 
Yes.

5 g/60 g/mol = 8.3 E-2 mol * 0.1 L = 8.3 E-3 mol/L

There's your c1.
v1 = 0.01 L
v2 = 0.25 L
Then it's just c2 = (c1v1)/v2

c2 = 3.3 E-4 mol/L

And then you take 50 ml's of this...

v1 = 0.05 L
c1 = 3.3 E-4 mol/L
v2 = 0.2 L

c2 = 8.3 E-5 mol/L

Our answers differ by a tenth because of the first step. In 100 g (100 ml) of acetic acid there are 5 grams. So I based my molarity on this. What you had done to get the E-6 is used the 10 ml instead of 100, which I don't think is correct since there are not 5 grams of CH3COOH in 10 ml, but in 100 ml only. So...I don't know. Make what you will of it.
 
Yes, you are right. A hundredfold concentration decrease is valid for only initial solutions. We take a 10-mL aliquot form the original 100 mL-one, so we should apply V1*0,1 here. The second application needs to be 0,2 afterwards, since 50 mL of solution is taken from 250 mL. Thunderfvck, your approach seems to be okay, let's just check the numbers only.
 

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