Question

How would you go about determining the concentration of an acetic acid solution in vinegar?

Answer 1

By titration with a standardized base................

Explanation:

So take your vinegar which is approx. `1.0*mol*L^-1` with respect to acetic acid, and titrate `1.0*mL` aliquots with say `0.1*mol*L^-1` volumes of standardized base, of `0.0500*mol*L^-1` to `0.100*mol*L^-1` concentrations. Use a suitable indicator, i.e. phenolphthalein, and you reach a stoichiometric end-point with `10-20*mL` of titrant.

The reaction is...........

`HOAc(aq) +NaOH(aq) rarr Na^(+)""^(-)OAc(aq) + H_2O(l)`