In this reaction, H2Se acts as the acid and H2O acts as the base. H2Se donates a proton (H+) to H2O, which accepts the proton. Thus, H2Se is the acid because it donates the proton, and H2O is the base because it accepts the proton.
The conjugate acid in the reaction is H3O+ (hydronium ion), which is formed when H2O gains a proton from H2Se. The conjugate base is SeH- (selenide ion), which is formed when H2Se loses a proton.
The reason behind these identifications lies in the electronegativity difference between the elements. Sulfur is more electronegative than hydrogen but less electronegative than oxygen. Therefore, H2Se is able to donate a proton (acting as an acid) to H2O, which has a higher electron density due to the presence of oxygen (acting as a base). This proton transfer allows for the formation of the conjugate acid and conjugate base in the reaction.
Hydrogen selenide (H2Se) reacts with water according to the following equation.
H2Se + H2O → SeH– + H3O+
In three to five sentences, identify the acid, base, conjugate acid, and conjugate base in this reaction. Use patterns in the periodic table to explain why the substances you identified acted as the acid and the base in this reaction.
3 answers
Describe how you could adjust the settings of the simulation to increase the number of red (H3O+) and blue (A-) particles in the solution of equilibrium. In three to four sentences, justify your answer and explain how and why this would change the pH of the solution.
To increase the number of H3O+ (red) and A- (blue) particles in the solution of equilibrium, one could adjust the settings of the simulation by increasing the initial concentration of H2Se and decreasing the initial concentration of H2O. By increasing the concentration of the acid (H2Se), more H3O+ ions will be formed, resulting in an increase in the number of red particles. Decreasing the concentration of the base (H2O) will cause more A- ions to be produced, leading to an increase in the number of blue particles.
These adjustments would change the pH of the solution because pH is a measure of the concentration of H3O+ ions in a solution. As the number of red particles (H3O+) increases, the concentration of H3O+ ions will increase, resulting in a decrease in pH. Conversely, as the number of blue particles (A-) increases, the concentration of H3O+ ions will decrease, leading to an increase in pH. Therefore, by adjusting the settings of the simulation as described, the pH of the solution can be manipulated.
These adjustments would change the pH of the solution because pH is a measure of the concentration of H3O+ ions in a solution. As the number of red particles (H3O+) increases, the concentration of H3O+ ions will increase, resulting in a decrease in pH. Conversely, as the number of blue particles (A-) increases, the concentration of H3O+ ions will decrease, leading to an increase in pH. Therefore, by adjusting the settings of the simulation as described, the pH of the solution can be manipulated.
1 answer