Recitation Section Problems

February 17, 2020

Solutions

1. The pKa of chlorous acid (HClO2 ) is 1.96. A buffer is made that is 1.20 M in chlorous
acid and 0.50 M in sodium chlorite (NaClO2 ). Calculate the pH of the resulting solution.
You must solve the full quadratic equation for this system.
Answer:
−
) H3 O+
HClO2(aq) + H2 O(`) * (aq) + ClO2(aq)

[ClO− +
2 ][H3 O ]
Ka = = 10−1.96 = 1.1 × 10−2
[HClO2 ]

[HClO2 ] [ClO−2] [H3 O+ ]

initial 1.20 M 0.50 M 0M
change -y y y
equilibrium (1.20 -y) M (0.50 + y) M yM

y(y + 0.50)
= 1.1 × 10−2
1.20 − y

y 2 + 0.51y − 0.013 = 0
−0.51 ± [(0.51)2 + 4(0.013)]1/2
y= = 2.5 × 10−2 negative solution ignored
2
[H3 O+ ] = 2.5 × 10−2 M pH = − log10 (2.5 × 10−2 ) = 1.61

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 2. If 0.10 moles of hydronium ions are added to 1.00 L of the solution in the previous
problem, calculate the final pH.
Answer:
nHClO2 nClO2− nH3 O+
initial 1.20 0.50 0M
change 0.10 -0.10 y
equilibrium 1.30 M 0.40 M yM

y(0.40)
= 1.1 × 10−2
1.30
1.30
 
y = 1.1 × 10−2 = 3.6 × 10−2
0.40
pH = − log10 (3.6 × 10−2 ) = 1.45

2
 3. The pKb of methylamine (CH3 NH2 ) is 3.36. A buffer is made that is 0.25 M in
methylamine and 0.35 M in the methlyammonium ion. Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch
equation to determine the pH of the buffer solution.
Answer:
CH3 NH+ * +
3(aq) + H2 O(`) ) CH3 NH2(aq) + H3 O(aq)

pKa = 14.00 − pKb = 10.64

[CH3 NH2 ]
pH = pKa + log10
[CH3 NH+
3]
0.25
= 3.36 + log10 = 3.21
0.35

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 4. Calculate the pH of a solution that is made by combining 0.100 L of the buffer from
problem 3 with 0.0100 L of 0.100 M sodium hydroxide.
Answer:
nCH3 N H2 = (0.25 mol L−1 )(0.100 L) = 0.025 mol
nCH3 N H + = (0.35 mol L−1 )(0.100 L) = 0.35 mol
3

nOH − added = (0.100 mol L−1 )(0.0100 L) = 0.0010 mol

[CH3 NH2 ]
pH = pKa + log10
[CH3 NH+
3]
0.025 + 0.0010
= 3.36 + log10 = 3.24
0.035 − 0.0010