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Chemistry Level 2

The pH \text{pH} of 1 0 8 10^{-8} M solution of H C l \ce{HCl} in water is at at 25 degrees Celcius is:

Between 7 7 and 8 8 Between 6 6 and 7 7 8 8 None of these 8 -8 Greater than 8 8

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2 solutions

When dilutions are made on aqueous solutions of acids or bases, at some point the effect of the self-dissociation of water comes into play.

2 H X 2 O ( l ) H X 3 O X + ( a q ) + O H X ( a q ) \ce{2 H2O\space (l) -> H3O+ (aq) + OH- (aq)}

The amount of [ H X 3 O X + ] \ce{[H3O+]} from the dissociation of water will vary depending on the concentration of the solution, so the equilibrium expression for this dissociation must be used.

[ H X 3 O X + ] [ O H X ] = 1.00 × 1 0 14 \ce{[H3O+][OH- ]} = 1.00 \times 10^{-14}

If x x is the amount of H X 3 O X + \ce{H3O+} (and of O H X \ce{OH-} ) from the dissociation of water, the total concentration of the H X 3 O X + \ce{H3O+} in the solution will be this amount plus the amount from the added acid which is 1.00 × 1 0 8 M 1.00 \times 10^{-8} \text{ M} :

[ H X 3 O X + ] = x + 1.00 × 1 0 8 M \ce{[H3O+]} = x + 1.00 \times 10^{-8} \text{ M}

Therefore, [ H X 3 O X + ] [ O H X ] = 1.00 × 1 0 14 ( x + 1 0 8 ) x = 1 0 14 x 2 + 1 0 8 x 1 0 14 = 0 x = 9.512 × 1 0 8 \begin{aligned} \ce{[H3O+][OH- ]} & = 1.00 \times 10^{-14} \\ (x+10^{-8})x & = 10^{-14} \\ x^2 + 10^{-8}x - 10^{-14} & = 0 \\ \Rightarrow x & = 9.512 \times 10^{-8} \end{aligned}

And we have:

[ H X 3 O X + ] = x + 1.00 × 1 0 8 = 9.512 × 1 0 8 + 1.00 × 1 0 8 = 1.0512 × 1 0 7 = pH 6.98 \begin{aligned} \ce{[H3O+]} & = x + 1.00 \times 10^{-8} \\ & = 9.512 \times 10^{-8} + 1.00 \times 10^{-8} \\ & = 1.0512 \times 10^{-7} \\ & = \text{pH } 6.98 \end{aligned}

Therefore, the p H \ce{pH} of 1 0 8 10^{-8} M solution of H C l \ce{HCl} in water is at 2 5 C 25^\circ C is between 6 and 7 \boxed{\text{between 6 and 7}} .

For more information, read Very Dilute Strong Acids and Bases .

Akhil Bansal
Feb 3, 2016

No matter, what is the concentration of HCl \text{HCl} , its pH \text{pH} will always be less than 7 7 at 25 25℃ .
In the present case, the solution is very dilute, pH \text{pH} will be between 6 6 and 7 7

Moderator note:

Good reasoning that works because of the unique values given.

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