Composition diagrams, commonly known as “alpha plots,” are often used to visualize the species in a solution of an acid or base as the pH is varied. The diagram for 0.100 M acetic acid is shown here.
The plot shows how the fraction [alpha (α)] of acetic acid in solution,
changes as the pH increases (blue curve). (The red curve shows how the fraction of acetate ion, CH3CO2−, changes as the pH increases.) Alpha plots are another way of viewing the relative concentrations of acetic acid and acetate ion as a strong base is added to a solution of acetic acid in the course of a titration.
- (a) Explain why the fraction of acetic acid declines and that of acetate ion increases as the pH increases.
- (b) Which species predominates at a pH of 4, acetic acid or acetate ion? What is the situation at a pH of 6?
- (c) Consider the point where the two lines cross. The fraction of acetic acid in the solution is 0.5, and so is that of acetate ion. That is, the solution is half acid and half conjugate base; their concentrations are equal. At this point, the graph shows the pH is 4.74. Explain why the pH at this point is 4 74.
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Chapter 17 Solutions
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
- Malic acid is a weak diprotic organic acid with Ka1 = 4.0 104 and Ka2 = 9.0 105. a Letting the symbol H2A represent malic acid, write the chemical equations that represent Ka1 and Ka2. Write the chemical equation that represents Ka1 Ka2. b Qualitatively describe the relative concentrations of H2A, HA, A2, and H3O+ in a solution that is about one molar in malic acid. c Calculate the pH of a 0.0175 M malic acid solution and the equilibrium concentration of [H2A]. d What is the A2 concentrationin in solutions b and c?arrow_forwardEstimate the pH that results when the following two solutions are mixed. a) 50 mL of 0.3 M CH3COOH and 50 mL of 0.4 M KOH b) 100 mL of 0.3 M CH3COOH and 50 mL of 0.4 M NaOH c) 150 mL of 0.3 M CH3COOH and 100 mL of 0.3 M Ba(OH)2 d) 200 mL of 0.3 M CH3COOH and 100 mL of 0.3 M Ba(OH)2arrow_forwardGiven the acid-base indicators in Question 37, select a suitable indicator for the following titrations. (a) sodium formate (NaCHO2) with HNO3 (b) hypochlorous acid with barium hydroxide (c) nitric acid with HI (d) hydrochloric acid with ammoniaarrow_forward
- For conjugate acidbase pairs, how are Ka and Kb related? Consider the reaction of acetic acid in water CH3CO2H(aq)+H2O(l)CH3CO2(aq)+H3O+(aq) where Ka = 1.8 105 a. Which two bases are competing for the proton? b. Which is the stronger base? c. In light of your answer to part b. why do we classify the acetate ion (CH3CO2) as a weak base? Use an appropriate reaction to justify your answer. In general, as base strength increases, conjugate acid strength decreases. Explain why the conjugate acid of the weak base NH3 is a weak acid. To summarize, the conjugate base of a weak acid is a weak base and the conjugate acid of a weak base is a weak acid (weak gives you weak). Assuming Ka for a monoprotic strong acid is 1 106, calculate Kb for the conjugate base of this strong acid. Why do conjugate bases of strong acids have no basic properties in water? List the conjugate bases of the six common strong acids. To tie it all together, some instructors have students think of Li+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ as the conjugate acids of the strong bases LiOH, KOH. RbOH, CsOH, Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, and Ba(OH)2. Although not technically correct, the conjugate acid strength of these cations is similar to the conjugate base strength of the strong acids. That is, these cations have no acidic properties in water; similarly, the conjugate bases of strong acids have no basic properties (strong gives you worthless). Fill in the blanks with the correct response. The conjugate base of a weak acid is a_____base. The conjugate acid of a weak base is a_____acid. The conjugate base of a strong acid is a_____base. The conjugate acid of a strong base is a_____ acid. (Hint: Weak gives you weak and strong gives you worthless.)arrow_forwardUsing the diagrams shown in Problem 10-117, which of the solutions would have the greatest buffer capacity, that is, greatest protection against pH change, when the following occurs? a. A strong acid is added to the solution. b. A strong base is added to the solution.arrow_forwardTable 13-4 lists the stepwise Ka values for some polyprotic acids. What is the difference between a monoprotic acid, a diprotic acid, and a triprotic acid? Most polyprotic acids are weak acids; the major exception is H2SO4. To solve for the pH of a solution of H2SO4, you must generally solve a strong acid problem as well as a weak acid problem. Explain. Write out the reactions that refer to Ka1 and Ka2 for H2SO4. For H3PO4, Ka1 = 7.5 103, Ka2 = 6.2 108, and Ka3= 4.8 1013. Write out the reactions that refer to the Ka1, Ka2and Ka3equilibrium constants. What are the three acids in a solution of H3PO4? Which acid is strongest? What are the three conjugate bases in a solution of H3PO4? Which conjugate base is strongest? Summarize the strategy for calculating the pH of a polyprotic acid in water.arrow_forward
- Develop a set of rules by which you could predict the pH for solutions of strong or weak acids and strong or weak bases without using a calculator. Your predictions need to be accurate to 1 pH unit. Assume that you know the concentration of the acid or base and that for the weak acids and bases you can look up the pKa (log Ka) or Ka values. What rules would work to predict pH?arrow_forwardConsider all acid-base indicators discussed in this chapter. Which of these indicators would be suitable for the titration of each of these? (a) NaOH with HClO4 (b) acetic acid with KOH (c) NH3 solution with HBr (d) KOH with HNO3 Explain your choices.arrow_forwardStrong Acids, Weak Acids, and pH Two 0.10-mol samples of the hypothetical monoprotic acids HA(aq) and HB(aq) are used to prepare 1.0-L stock solutions of each acid. a Write the chemical reactions for these acids in water. What are the concentrations of the two acid solutions? b One of these acids is a strong acid, and one is weak. What could you measure that would tell you which acid was strong and which was weak? c Say that the HA(aq) solution has a pH of 3.7. Is this the stronger of the two acids? How did you arrive at your answer? d What is the concentration of A(aq) in the HA solution described in part c? e If HB(aq) is a strong acid, what is the hydronium-ion concentration? f In the solution of HB(aq), which of the following would you expect to be in the greatest concentration: H3O+(aq), B(aq), HB(aq), or OH(aq)? How did you decide? g In the solution of HA(aq), which of the following would you expect to be in the greatest concentration: H3O+(aq), A+(aq), HA(aq), or OH(aq)? How did you decide? h Say you add 1.0 L of pure water to a solution of HB. Would this water addition make the solution more acidic, make it less acidic, or not change the acidity of the original solution? Be sure to fully justify your answer. i You prepare a 1.0-L solution of HA. You then take a 200-mL sample of this solution and place it into a separate container. Would this 200 mL sample be more acidic, be less acidic, or have the same acidity as the original 1.0-L solution of HA(aq)? Be sure to support your answer.arrow_forward
- Amino acids are an important group of compounds. At low pH, both the carboxylic acid group (CO2H) and the amine group (NHR) are protonated. However, as the pH of the solution increases (say, by adding base), the carboxylic acid proton is removed, usually at a pH between 2 and 3. In a middle range of pHs, therefore, the amine group is protonated, but the carboxylic acid group has lost the proton. (This is called a zwitterion.) At more basic pH values, the amine proton is dissociated. What is the pH of a 0.20 M solution of alanine hydrochloride, [NH3CHCH3CO2H]Cl?arrow_forwardTartaric acid is a weak diprotic fruit acid with Ka1 = 1.0 103 and Ka2 = 4.6 105. a Letting the symbol H2A represent tartaric acid, write the chemical equations that represent Ka1 and Ka2. Write the chemical equation that represents Ka1 Ka2. b Qualitatively describe the relative concentrations of H2A, HA, A2, and H3O+ in a solution that is about 0.5 M in tartaric acid. c Calculate the pH of a 0 0250 M tartaric acid solution and the equilibrium concentration of [H2A]. d What is the A2 concentration in solutions b and c?arrow_forwardThe pigment cyanidin aglycone is one of the anthocyanin molecules that gives red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) its characteristic red coloration. Many chemistry students have used this red cabbage indicator to study acid-base chemistry. Estimate tire pH range at which cyanidin agly-cone shows a color change. Anth-H(aq) Anth(aq) + H+ (aq) Ka = 1.3 107arrow_forward
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