Question

In Part III, the phenolphthalein indicator is used to monitor the equilibrium shifts of the ammonia/ammonium ion system. The phenolphthalein equilibrium established with water is Hph(aq)(colorless) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + ph-(aq)(pink or red). You compared the color of the solutions in three test tubes that initially contained 3 mL of 0.1 M ammonium hydroxide and a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator. In the first test tube, you added 1 M NH4Cl dropwise. What color change was observed and what did this color change indicate about the shift in the phenolphthalein equilibrium? a. The solution turned a more intense pink or red color indicating that the phenolphthalein equilibrium shifted to the left, producing more of the pink or red colored Hph.

Answer 1

The pink color in the solution fades. Some of the colored indicator ion converts to the colorless indicator molecule.

Explanation

What's the initial color of the solution?

$\text{NH}_4\text{Cl}$ is a salt soluble in water. $\text{NH}_4\text{Cl}$ dissociates into ions completely when dissolved.

$\text{NH}_4\text{Cl} \; (aq)\to {\text{NH}_4}^{+} \; (aq) +{\text{Cl}}^{-} \; (aq)$.

The first test tube used to contain $\text{NH}_4\text{OH}$. $\text{NH}_4\text{OH}$ is a weak base that dissociates partially in water.

$\text{NH}_4\text{OH} \; (aq) \rightleftharpoons {\text{NH}_4}^{+} \;(aq)+ {\text{OH}}^{-} \; (aq)$.

There's also an equilibrium between $\text{OH}^{-}$ and ${\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+}$ ions.

${\text{OH}}^{-}\;(aq) + {\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+} \;(aq) \to 2\; \text{H}_2\text{O} \;(l)$.

$\text{OH}^{-}$ ions from $\text{NH}_4\text{OH}$ will shift the equilibrium between $\text{OH}^{-}$ and ${\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+}$ to the right and reduce the amount of ${\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+}$ in the solution.

The indicator equilibrium will shift to the right to produce more ${\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+}$ ions along with the colored indicator ions. The solution will show a pink color.

What's the color of the solution after adding NH₄Cl?

Adding $\text{NH}_4\text{Cl}$ will add to the concentration of ${\text{NH}_4}^{+}$ ions in the solution. Some of the ${\text{NH}_4}^{+}$ ions will combine with $\text{OH}^{-}$ ions to produce $\text{NH}_4\text{OH}$.

The equilibrium between  $\text{OH}^{-}$ and ${\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+}$ ions will shift to the left to produce more of both ions.

${\text{OH}}^{-}\;(aq) + {\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+} \;(aq) \to 2\; \text{H}_2\text{O} \;(l)$

The indicator equilibrium will shift to the left as the concentration of ${\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+}$ increases. There will be less colored ions and more colorless molecules in the test tube. The pink color will fade.