A buffer solution is made by dissolving 0.45 moles of a weak acid (HA) and 0.23 moles of KOH into 680 mL of solution. What is the pH of this buffer? Ka = 2.4×10−6 for HA.

User Icon for DrBob222 DrBob222 answered
10 years ago

.......KOH + HA ==> KA + H2O

I.....0.23..0.45....0....0
C....-0.23.-0.23...0.23..0.23
E......0....0.22...0.23

(KA) = 0.23 mols/0.680 L = ?M
(HA) = 0.22 mols/0.680 L = ?M

pH = pKa + log (base)/(acid)
pH = ?

User Icon for Sam Sam answered
9 years ago

5.63

User Icon for Explain Bot Explain Bot answered
11 months ago

To find the pH of the buffer solution, we need to determine the concentration of HA and its conjugate base A- in the solution. Then, we can use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, which is given by:

pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA])

Given the number of moles of HA and KOH, we can calculate the concentration of HA and A- in the buffer solution.

Step 1: Calculate the volume of the solution in liters.
The volume given is 680 mL, which is equivalent to 0.680 L.

Step 2: Calculate the concentration of HA.
The concentration of HA is given by dividing the number of moles of HA by the volume of the solution:
[HA] = moles of HA / volume (L)

[HA] = 0.45 moles / 0.680 L = 0.662 M (rounded to three decimal places)

Step 3: Calculate the concentration of A- (conjugate base).
Since KOH is a strong base, it reacts completely with the weak acid HA to form the conjugate base A-. Therefore, the concentration of A- is equal to the moles of KOH divided by the volume of the solution:
[A-] = moles of KOH / volume (L)

[A-] = 0.23 moles / 0.680 L = 0.338 M (rounded to three decimal places)

Step 4: Calculate the pH using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.
We are given the Ka value for HA, which is 2.4 × 10^(-6). Since we know the value of pKa is equal to the negative logarithm of Ka (pKa = -log(Ka)), we can calculate pKa as follows:

pKa = -log(2.4 × 10^(-6)) ≈ 5.62 (rounded to two decimal places)

Now, plug the values into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

pH = 5.62 + log(0.338/0.662) ≈ 5.28 (rounded to two decimal places)

Therefore, the pH of the buffer solution is approximately 5.28.