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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 12:39:38 PM

Title: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 12:39:38 PM
Can someone tell me how this solution is acceptable?

We calculated the amount of OH- needed to react with all of the H+ -> 10^-5 moles (1 Litre solution).
After it reacts with all of the protons in the solution we have Mg+2 in the solution which is (10^-5)/2 and now we figure out how much more we can add of the base from this point.

Mg(OH)2<----> Mg+2    +     2OH-
-s                     10^-5/2+s        +2s

And then from the ksp we find s, and the total moles of Mg(OH)2 will be 10^-5/2 +s.

I honestly think that is too complicated, first of all, how could the professor get that the number of moles of Mg+2 at the first part is equal to Mg(OH)2, since it's an equilibrium and not a strong base equation.

Secondly, if someone could simplify the second part, id be greatly appreciative.
Thanks
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: chenbeier on December 16, 2019, 01:57:56 PM
I dont know what the s means.

If you have 10-5 H+ for pH 5 then it correspond to the same amount of OH- for neutralization. If a hydroxide, which contain 2 OH- like Mg(OH)2 is used then the half amount 5 * 10-6 mol is needed.

For the solubility check the solubility product.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 02:08:16 PM
But the thing is, the question is not about how much we need to neutralize the acid, but how much can you dissolve without precipitate given ksp. so first the OH- gets neutralized, and then we can dissolve more of our base... atleast that what the professor said.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 16, 2019, 02:43:49 PM
Your problem is a bit vague: pH = 5 may show solutions of a strong acid, weak acid, buffer solutions or solutions of some salts. Assuming that it is a strong acid - after its neutralization, you will have a known concentration of magnesium ions (it is counted). By inserting this concentration into the solubility product you will get the cubic equation. After solving it, you'll get the total magnesium concentration as (0.5·10-5 + x)
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 02:56:27 PM
Thanks AWK.
Can you try to explain to me simply what actually happens after the reaction of OH- with all of H+.

I got that I have only Mg+2 left, but then what happens? I can add more Mg(OH)2? or because all of the OH- reacted, according to chatelier principle, since OH- concentration went lower, the reaction will go to the right, so I will get this:

Mg(OH)2 <------> Mg+2     + OH-1
-x                         +x             +2x

So what's next, how do i figure out the grams of Mg(OH)2 that was added? And why did the professor say that the ratio of moles between Mg+2 concentration and Mg(OH)2 is 2:1... even though it's equilibrium and not a one way reaction.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 16, 2019, 04:26:28 PM
Neutralization of a strong base (Mg(OH)2) with a strong acid (e.g. HCl) will form a neutral solution (although the pH may be slightly different from 7 due to the low ionic strength). Then you will dissolve magnesium hydroxide in a solution containing Mg2+ of known concentration. If, as a result of solving the cubic equation, the OH- ion concentration was less than 20 times lower (or greater) than 10-7, the calculation result would have to be corrected iteratively.

Ksp=(0.5·10-5+x)·(2x)2
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 04:57:25 PM
Okay and one last thing, After i solve for x, i can find the moles of Mg+2 added, would it be equal to the moles of Mg(OH)2?
If the reaction was like that Mg(OH)2-->Mg+2 + 2OH-
then sure it will be equal, but since we have equilibrium here, doesn't that change things??

Thanks for always being a great help AWK
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 16, 2019, 05:01:20 PM
(0.5·10-5+x)·58.32 if [OH-] is sufficiently different from 10-7
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 05:30:49 PM
(0.5·10-5+x) is the moles of Mg+2, so you are saying that we treat the reaction as if it wasnt equilibrium and the ratios are treated as if it was a one way reaction? hence Mg(OH)2 has the same number of moles?
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 16, 2019, 05:37:00 PM
The neutralization reaction goes to the end. Then you have an equilibrium problem of the solubility product with an excess of a common ion.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: Borek on December 16, 2019, 05:39:05 PM
After i solve for x, i can find the moles of Mg+2 added, would it be equal to the moles of Mg(OH)2?

How can it be different? This is just a simple stoichiometry that you need to follow.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 16, 2019, 08:53:37 PM
After i solve for x, i can find the moles of Mg+2 added, would it be equal to the moles of Mg(OH)2?

How can it be different? This is just a simple stoichiometry that you need to follow.

I will elaborate again what's confusing me, sorry if i sound a bit dense in general chem.

A + B <-------> 2C

If you have 2 molar of C in an equilibrium, would it mean you have 1 molar of A? usually no in many problems that I have done.

i.e

A   +   B <--------> 2C
2M      2M               0
-x       -x                 +2x
2-x      2-x               2x

2-x doesn't equal 2x in a usual equilbrium problem.

Back to my problem.
I understand that the OH reacts with H+ not in equilbrium and it's 1:1, but I have some magnesium ions left at the end, but it's equilbrium equation
Mg(OH)2 <-----> Mg+2  + 2OH-

Let's say I have 10 moles left of Mg+2, why should the Mg(OH)2 be 10 moles, still it's still an equilbrium like the example of (a/b/c) above?
Am i having a brain attack ? why is this different? :D

honestly if it was Mg(OH)2 -----> Mg+2 + 2OH-
i would have no problem
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 17, 2019, 12:27:04 AM
Could you solve the first step of your task: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can be dissolved in 1 L of 0.000005 M MgCl2 solution?
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 17, 2019, 01:23:21 AM
Could you solve the first step of your task: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can be dissolved in 1 L of 0.000005 M MgCl2 solution?

MgCl2         -->         Mg+2             +                  2Cl-
 0.000005moles    0.000005moles               

Mg(OH)2<----->Mg+2        +         2OH-
XXX-s                  0.000005+s        +2s

ksp=[0.000005+s][2s]^2
[neglecting +s]
ksp=0.000005*4s^2

then i solve for s
so i can find the concentration of Mg+2 and OH-
but i dont know to find the grams of Mg(OH)2 because, should the moles be " s " ? since i added (XXX) and only s dissolved since it's an equilbrium
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 17, 2019, 01:37:30 AM
Next step: 0.000005 M MgCl2 comes from neutralization of Mg(OH)2.
Compare 0.000005 with the value of "s".
Maybe the solubility of magnesium hydroxide in pH=5 is nearly the same as in water
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 17, 2019, 01:50:49 AM
Yes I checked that s is much smaller after I solved.
I dont mean to be close minded but I think the only logical way I can get this, is that if they put in the question " Assuming that Mg(OH)2 dissociates completely "

if that assumption is not made, we cant say that the moles of OH- is exactly double its moles, since simply the moles of OH- is " 2s " and the moles of Mg(OH)2 if it does NOT dissociate completely is XXX-s, if it did dissociate completely then it is " s ".

I really hope my point is logical a bit
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 17, 2019, 02:07:18 AM
Ksp is used only for ionic compounds.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: sharbeldam on December 17, 2019, 02:30:21 AM
Just so it can be final, can you answer with a yes or no (I know you like to make people think more and not give direct answer AWK :P )

Despite it being equilibrium do we assume that the ionic compounds dissociate completely?
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: AWK on December 17, 2019, 02:41:20 AM
If not then the stability constant of complext is used. Eg Al(OH)3 in water is simply ionic (very good approximation) - use Ksp, in 0.3 M NaOH mainly covalent Al(OH)63- is present.
Title: Re: How many grams of Mg(OH)2 can dissolve in a pH=5 solution
Post by: Borek on December 17, 2019, 03:09:53 AM
A   +   B <--------> 2C
2M      2M               0
-x       -x                 +2x
2-x      2-x               2x

2-x doesn't equal 2x in a usual equilbrium problem.

It doesn't. But first - -x and +2x come from a simple stoichiometry like the one you should follow here, second reaction you wrote is different from the one at hand.

Quote
Mg(OH)2 <-----> Mg+2  + 2OH-

That's not the reaction you are dealing with. Mg(OH)2 is a solid, so it it is not present in a dissolved from in the solution:

Mg(OH)2(s) :lequil: Mg2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq)