Question

Calculate the pH of a 0.5 M Formic Acid (HCOOH) soln. ka= 0.00018

Answer 1

Ka=[H][COOH]/([HCOOH]

ka= x^2/(.5-x)

solve this for x
x^2+.00018x-.5*.00018=0

x=(-.00018+-sqrt(.00018^2+.00036))/2

x=-.00009+- .00948= .00939 check all that math.

pH=-log (.00939)=2.03

check the math.

Answer 2

The equilibrium is given by

HCOOH -> H+ + HCOO-

so Ka=[H+][HCOO-]/[HCOOH]

if we start with 0.5M HCOOH then at equilibrium there is [H+] = x and [HCOO-]=x and HCOOH=0.5-x

so Ka = (x)(x)/(0.5-x)=0.00018

this gives a quadratic to solve, however, we only want the answer to 1 sig fig (.5M is 1 sig fig) so we can say that 0.5-x is approximately equal to 0.5, because x will be small.

thus x^2/0.5=0.00018

hence you can find x

pH is then -log(x)

which is pH=2, but check the maths.

Answer 3

lasaga