Final answer:
To determine the equivalent formula weight of the unknown weak acid, we use the concept of titration. We calculate the moles of NaOH used and then use the balanced chemical equation to determine the moles of the unknown weak acid. Finally, dividing the mass by the moles gives us the equivalent formula weight.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to determine the equivalent formula weight of the unknown weak acid, we need to use the concept of titration. In this experiment, 18.84 mL of 0.242 M NaOH was used to neutralize 2.01 g of the unknown weak acid.
To calculate the equivalent formula weight, we need to find the number of moles of NaOH used. We can use the equation:
Moles of NaOH = volume of NaOH (in L) × molarity of NaOH
Once we have the moles of NaOH, we can calculate the number of moles of the unknown weak acid using the balanced chemical equation for the neutralization reaction between the weak acid and NaOH. Finally, we can divide the mass of the unknown weak acid by the number of moles to find the equivalent formula weight in g/mol.