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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Noname16 on December 06, 2008, 08:03:19 PM

Title: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Noname16 on December 06, 2008, 08:03:19 PM
1.6gram sample with a weak acid HX (82g) is dissolved in 60ml of H2O, titrated with .250M NaOH. When 1/2 of the HX is neutralized the pH is 5.0; and at the equivalence point the pH is 9.0. Find the % of HX in the original sample and the Ka of HX.

Even with help i was only able to get the Ka=1.0E-5 (which is correct) but my % was 51.3% (which is wrong).

My steps:

HX --> H+ + X-
     Ka=[H+] [X-] / [HX]
 
@ 1/2 neutralization
     Ka= [H+][1/2X-] / [1/2HX]
    Ka = [H+]    and since pH=5 @ 1/2 neutralization
                                             pH = -log [H+]
                                             5 = -log [H+]
                                             [H+] = 1E-5
     Ka = 1E-5

then after this point my answers start going wrong. I found the Ka but don't know how to get the %HX.

Can anyone please help me on how to approach this. You don't even need to do the answer, just explain to me how to think going about the problem. Thanks
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Borek on December 07, 2008, 05:55:04 AM
How do you calculate pH at the equivalence point?
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Noname16 on December 07, 2008, 01:31:49 PM
Nevermind, this problem is impossible.
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Borek on December 07, 2008, 02:19:52 PM
I think it is possible. Slightly unorthodox, but possible. Answer my question please.
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Noname16 on December 07, 2008, 04:12:38 PM
To get the pH=9 @ the equivalence point

[OH-] = square root of [(0.1)(Kb)]
[OH-] = 1e-5
pOH = 5
pH = 14-5
pH=9

The (.1) is the concentration of [X-]

Getting the pH is pretty basic stuff, so if you had to ask how to calculate it, i don't think i will get much help on this answer. But thanks for the effort.
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Borek on December 07, 2008, 05:37:24 PM
The (.1) is the concentration of [X-]

Where did you got it from?
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Noname16 on December 07, 2008, 05:55:13 PM
Given : @ equivalent point pH=9

pKw=pH+ pOH
14 = 9 + pOH
pOH = 5
[OH-] = 1e-5

X- + H20 = HX + OH-

Kb = [HX] [OH-] / [X-]

1e-9 = (1e-5)^2 / [X-]
[X-] = 0.1

Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Borek on December 07, 2008, 07:07:46 PM
Oops. I am terribly sorry. Somehow I have managed to misread the question  :'( Probably shouldn't do three things at the same time :(

I feel like an idiot if it helps.
Title: Re: Find % of a weak acid and i got half of it right, but other half wrong. Help plz
Post by: Noname16 on December 07, 2008, 07:29:54 PM
THanks for the try. And thanks for Chembuddy. It's been added to my favorites. I see alot of use for it in my future.