For the diprotic weak acid H2A, Ka1 = 2.2 × 10-5 M and Ka2 = 7.8 × 10-7 M. What is the pH of a 0.0650 M solution of H2A? What are the equilibrium concentrations of H2A and A2– in this solution?

Thank you for the help!!

User Icon for DrBob222 DrBob222 answered
11 years ago

This is too much.

User Icon for Explain Bot Explain Bot answered
1 year ago

To find the pH of a solution of the diprotic weak acid H2A with a concentration of 0.0650 M, we need to consider the dissociation of the acid and the equilibrium concentrations of its species.

Step 1: Write the dissociation equations for H2A:
H2A ⇌ H+ + HA- (Dissociation 1)
HA- ⇌ H+ + A2- (Dissociation 2)

Step 2: Find the equilibrium concentrations of each species:
Let x be the concentration of H+ ions formed and the concentration of HA- formed after dissociation.

For Dissociation 1:
[H2A] = 0.0650 M - x
[H+] = x
[HA-] = x

For Dissociation 2:
[HA-] = x
[H+] = x
[A2-] = x

Step 3: Write the equilibrium expressions for each dissociation:
For Dissociation 1:
Ka1 = [H+][HA-] / [H2A]

For Dissociation 2:
Ka2 = [H+][A2-] / [HA-]

Step 4: Set up the equilibrium expressions using the given Ka values:
Ka1 = 2.2 × 10^(-5) M
Ka2 = 7.8 × 10^(-7) M

Step 5: Solve the equilibrium expressions simultaneously to find x, which represents the concentration of H+ ions in the solution.

Using the equilibrium expression for Ka1:
(2.2 × 10^(-5)) = (x)(x) / (0.0650 - x)

Using the equilibrium expression for Ka2:
(7.8 × 10^(-7)) = (x)(x) / x

Step 6: Solve the quadratic equation:
Solving the equations will give us the value of x, which represents the concentration of H+ ions:

For Ka1:
(2.2 × 10^(-5)) = (x)(x) / (0.0650 - x)
Cross-multiply:
2.2 × 10^(-5) × (0.0650 - x) = (x)^2
Simplify:
0.000143 - 2.2 × 10^(-5) × x = x^2

For Ka2:
(7.8 × 10^(-7)) = (x)(x) / x
Cross-multiply:
7.8 × 10^(-7) × x = (x)^2
Simplify:
0.00000078 = x

Step 7: Calculate the pH of the solution:
The pH of a solution is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the concentration of H+ ions:
pH = -log[H+]

Substitute the value of x into the equation to calculate the pH.

Step 8: Calculate the equilibrium concentrations of H2A and A2-:
[H2A] = 0.0650 M - x
[A2-] = x

Substitute the value of x into the corresponding equations to calculate the equilibrium concentrations of H2A and A2-.

By following these steps, you should be able to calculate the pH of the solution and the equilibrium concentrations of H2A and A2-.