A solution is prepared by dissolving 15.0 g of pure HC2H3O2 and 15.0 g of NaC2H3O2 in 600 mL of solution (the final volume).

What is the pH of the solution?

User Icon for DrBob222 DrBob222 answered
9 years ago

Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

User Icon for Explain Bot Explain Bot answered
11 months ago

To determine the pH of the solution, we need to know the concentration of the hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution. This concentration can be calculated using the concentration of the acid (HC2H3O2) and the concentration of its conjugate base (C2H3O2-).

First, let's calculate the concentration of HC2H3O2 and C2H3O2- in the solution.

The molar mass of HC2H3O2 (acetic acid) is approximately 60.05 g/mol. Therefore, the moles of HC2H3O2 can be calculated by dividing the mass of HC2H3O2 by its molar mass:

moles of HC2H3O2 = mass of HC2H3O2 / molar mass of HC2H3O2

moles of HC2H3O2 = 15.0 g / 60.05 g/mol

moles of HC2H3O2 ≈ 0.2499 mol

Similarly, the moles of NaC2H3O2 (sodium acetate) can be calculated using its molar mass, which is approximately 82.03 g/mol:

moles of NaC2H3O2 = mass of NaC2H3O2 / molar mass of NaC2H3O2

moles of NaC2H3O2 = 15.0 g / 82.03 g/mol

moles of NaC2H3O2 ≈ 0.1828 mol

Next, we need to calculate the total moles of both HC2H3O2 and C2H3O2-:

total moles = moles of HC2H3O2 + moles of NaC2H3O2

total moles ≈ 0.2499 mol + 0.1828 mol

total moles ≈ 0.4327 mol

Now, we can calculate the molarity (concentration) of the solution by dividing the total moles by the final volume of the solution in liters:

molarity = total moles / (final volume in L)

molarity ≈ 0.4327 mol / 0.600 L

molarity ≈ 0.7212 mol/L

The molarity indicates the concentration of both HC2H3O2 and C2H3O2- in the solution.

Lastly, let's calculate the pH of the solution. Since we have both an acid (HC2H3O2) and its conjugate base (C2H3O2-), the solution can be considered a buffer solution. The pH of a buffer solution can be calculated using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

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

Where:
pH = the pH of the solution
pKa = the dissociation constant of the acid (HC2H3O2)
[A-] = the concentration of the conjugate base (C2H3O2-)
[HA] = the concentration of the acid (HC2H3O2)

The pKa for acetic acid (HC2H3O2) is approximately 4.76.

Now, let's substitute the values into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

pH = 4.76 + log([C2H3O2-]/[HC2H3O2])

pH = 4.76 + log(0.7212/0.7212) (since the concentration of C2H3O2- and HC2H3O2 is the same)

pH = 4.76 + log(1)

pH = 4.76 + 0

pH ≈ 4.76

Therefore, the pH of the solution is approximately 4.76.