Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: kissoftalons on August 29, 2005, 03:53:56 PM
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Sorry for the numerous questions...just trying to get through the AP package. I appreciate all your *delete me*!
The two questions are as follows. Calculate the pH of the following solutions.
a) 0.025mol/L of HCL (aq)
b) 0.025 mol/L of H2SO4 (aq)
From my calculations I've figured out that for a) the pH is about 1.6
I was wondering if the pH for b) was 1.6 also, or do you have to take into account the pH of the acid (H2SO4) or the percentage of dissociation. And if there is, is there any way to figure out the percentage of dissociation? (or just have to commit it to memory?)
Thank you!
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Sorry for the numerous questions...just trying to get through the AP package. I appreciate all your *delete me*!
The two questions are as follows. Calculate the pH of the following solutions.
a) 0.025mol/L of HCL (aq)
b) 0.025 mol/L of H2SO4 (aq)
From my calculations I've figured out that for a) the pH is about 1.6
I was wondering if the pH for b) was 1.6 also, or do you have to take into account the pH of the acid (H2SO4) or the percentage of dissociation. And if there is, is there any way to figure out the percentage of dissociation? (or just have to commit it to memory?)
Thank you!
I dont have the necessery numbers with me to do the problem, but assuming for a), that 1.6 is right....
I would have to guess that H2SO4 is not as strong a pH or an acid as HCl, though it is a strong acid.
Also H2SO4 is diprotic so it technically has 2 steps....
H2SO4 -> H+ + HSO4-
HSO4- -> H+ + SO4-2 , but this step does not effect the pH to a considerable amount so can most often be skipped.
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if you want a complete write out for the pH calculation for H2SO4 let me know and i'll see what I can do.
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b) 0.025 mol/L of H2SO4 (aq)
http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=pH-calculation&right=pH-polyprotic-simplified (http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=pH-calculation&right=pH-polyprotic-simplified)
Problem is, one never know what to do, as the correct answer often dpeneds on the teacher. Some want you to use just first dissociation step, others want you to assume both protons are fully dissociated, others want you to give accurate answer using right Ka values :(
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b) 0.025 mol/L of H2SO4 (aq)
From my calculations I've figured out that for a) the pH is about 1.6
I was wondering if the pH for b) was 1.6 also, or do you have to take into account the pH of the acid (H2SO4) or the percentage of dissociation. And if there is, is there any way to figure out the percentage of dissociation? (or just have to commit it to memory?)
Oops, I haven't read your post precisely before.
Percentage of dissociation is of no use, as it changes with concentration. The anly thing that makes sense is a dissociation constant. Read introduction in my lectures.
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Ahhh! normality rears its ugly head in this problem!