EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Temperature of water throughout the experiment is 29oC

The data obtained is given in Table 1.1
Flas
k

Time of reacting mixture,t

(minutes)

Initial volume
of NaOH,
Vi(cm3)

Final volume of
NaOH, Vf(cm3)

1
2
3
4
5
6

5
10
20
30
50
75

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Table 1.1

21.5
23.4
23.7
23.9
24.0
25.1

Differences in
volume of
NaOH, V
(cm3)
21.5
23.4
23.7
23.9
24.0
25.1

Calculation to find ester concentration, c

By using the formula to find number of moles,
( Concentration, M Volume, V ) / 1000 = Number of moles
Initial ester concentration,co
Total volume = 250 cm3 of ethyl acetate + 250 cm3 of NaOH
= 500 cm3
Number of moles =( 0.1 M 250 cm3) / 1000 = 0.025 mol
Initial ester concentration, co = ( 0.025 mol/ 500 cm3 ) 1000 = 0.05 mol dm-3
For Flask 1
Initial volume of NaOH is 25 cm3
Volume of NaOH titrated, y1= 21.5 cm3
Number of moles of NaOH present in the sample = 0.1(25-21.5)/1000 = 3.5 10-4 mol
Ester concentration, c1 = ( [ 3.5 10-4 mol ] / 25 cm3 ) 1000 = 0.014 mol dm-3
For Flask 2
Initial volume of NaOH is 25 cm3
Volume of NaOH titrated, y2 = 23.4 cm3
Number of moles of NaOH present in the sample = 0.1(25-23.4)/1000 = 1.6 10-4 mol

Ester concentration, c2 = ( [ 1.6 10-4 mol ] / 25 cm3 ) 1000 = 0.0064 mol dm-3
For Flask 3
Initial volume of NaOH is 25 cm3
Volume of NaOH titrated, y3 = 23.7 cm3
Number of moles of NaOH present in the sample = 0.1(25-23.7)/1000 = 1.3 10-4 mol
Ester concentration, c3 = ( [ 1.3 10-4 mol ] / 25 cm3 ) 1000 = 0.0052 mol dm-3
For Flask 4
Initial volume of NaOH is 25 cm3
Volume of NaOH titrated, y4 = 23.9 cm3
Number of moles of NaOH present in the sample = 0.1(25-23.9)/1000 = 1.1 10-4 mol
Ester concentration, c4 = ( [ 1.1 10-4 mol ] / 25 cm3 ) 1000 = 0.0044 mol dm-3
For Flask 5
Initial volume of NaOH is 25 cm3
Volume of NaOH titrated, y5 = 24.0 cm3
Number of moles of NaOH present in the sample = 0.1(25-24.0)/1000 = 1.0 10-4 mol
Ester concentration, c5 = ( [ 1.0 10-4 mol ] / 25 cm3 ) 1000 = 0.0040 mol dm-3
For Flask 6
Initial volume of NaOH is 25 cm3
Volume of NaOH titrated, y6 = 25.1 cm3
Number of moles of NaOH present in the sample = 0.1(25-25.1)/1000 = -1.0 10-5 mol
Ester concentration, c6 = ( [ 1.0 10-5 mol ] / 25 cm3 ) 1000 = -0.0004 mol dm-3

The data calculated is given in Table 1.2

Flask

Time
(minutes)

1
2
3
4
5
6

5
10
20
30
50
75

Initial ester
concentration,c0
(mol dm-3)
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05

Final ester
concentration,cf
(mol dm-3)
0.0140
0.0064
0.0052
0.0044
0.0040
0.0004
Table 1.2

1/c0
(dm3/mol)

1/cf
(dm3/mol)

20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0

71.4
156.3
192.3
227.3
250.0
2500.0

In order to find rate constant, we have to plot two graphs as we used two different methods.
Each graph requires different information. For the integrated rate law method, we needed
ester concentration in mol dm-3 as the y-axis and time in minutes as the x-axis. All the
information are provided as we calculated final ester concentration by using the formula. For
the half life method, the information needed are 1/cf in dm3/mol as y-axis and time in
minutes as x-axis. We calculated and tabulated the values in the Table 1.2. By collecting all
the data needed, we plotted two graphs to compare the rate constant values.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

Analysis

We used two different methods which are integrated rate law method and half life method to
determine rate constant in this experiment.
Calculation to find rate constant, k
By using the integrated rate equation for second order reaction,
1/[Ester]t 1/[Ester]o = kt
1/[0.0140] 1/[0.05] = k (5)
k = 10.23 M-1s-1
1. Integrated rate law method
Form the Graph 1.1, we find the gradient which is the value of k. The gradient can only be
obtained by doing trendline on the graph.
By using the linear formula,
y = mx + c , y = 194.51x + c
The gradient, m is 194.51 M-1s-1
Thus, the experimental rate constant value is 194.51 M-1s-1

1/[Ester] against t
3000
2500
2000
1/[Ester] (dm3/mol)

1/[Ester] against t

1500
1000

Linear (1/[Ester] against t)

f(x) = 194.51x + 20

500
0
5 10 20 30 50 75
Time (minutes)

Linear (1/[Ester] against t)

Graph 1.1
2. Half life method
From the Graph 1.2 plotted as shown below, the value of t1/2 is determined in order to find
rate constant.
By using this formula to find the experimental rate constant value,
k=

1
t 1/2Co

From Graph 1.2,

The value of t1/2 is 3.6 minutes
k = 1/ (3.6 0.05) = 5.55 M-1s-1
Thus, the experimental rate constant value is 5.55 M-1s-1

[Ester] against t
0.06
0.05
0.04
[Ester] (mol/dm3)

0.03

[Ester] against t

0.02
0.01
0
0

10

20

30

Time (minutes)

Graph 1.2

50

75

Discussion
As it is a second order reaction, we could determine the value of rate constant by using two
different methods which are integrated rate law method and half life method. From the
analysis, we could see that there is a variation in rate constant values. Both methods have its
own pros and cons but we had to choose either one value that is more accurate and closer to
the rate constant, k calculated using the integrated rate equation for second order reaction, 1/
[Ester]t 1/[Ester]o = kt.
For integrated rate law method, the gradient or the slope is actually the value of the rate
constant. It is more convincing to take up the gradient value as the rate constant because we
can ensure the consistency of the gradient value by finding more than one gradient at
different plotted data in the graph. This is the reason why we could avoid any errors by
comparing the gradient values and took the gradient value which is consistent with the other
gradient values. This method is slightly more complicated but it gives a more precise rate
constant value. However, the disadvantage of this method is that it takes too much time just
to find the rate constant from the graph as we need to find and compare the gradient values
from the graph.
On the other hand, for half life method, we only have to find the half life, t1/2 in the graph
when the concentration of the reactant is half of its original concentration without spending
too much time on the graph. By using the formula of the half life, we can find the rate
constant and thus avoid any major errors as the mistake that could be done is through
calculation. However, the risk of finding only one value in the graph cannot provide the
precision and accuracy of the rate constant value.
Based on the data that we have plotted and observed, the most reliable method in finding the
rate constant is the half life method. This is because the rate constant value is more precise
and accurate to the rate constant,k calculated. In order to achieve a successful experiment,
precision and accuracy are the most crucial characteristics in obtaining the exact value that
we want.
The experiment was partially a success. There were errors in experimental data that may arise
from random causes such as any internal or external disturbances. For the external

disturbances, we might not shaken the conical flask during titration at a constant rate. Thus it
could affect the volume of NaOH titrated and the changes in colour. We should shake the
conical flask with a constant speed to overcome the error. Parallax error could possibly occur
when we took the reading of NaOH titrated, as eyes must be parallel to the scale of the
measuring instrument.