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A student prepares a \"buffer\" by mixing nitric acid, HNO_3, with sodium nitrat

ID: 1072334 • Letter: A

Question

A student prepares a "buffer" by mixing nitric acid, HNO_3, with sodium nitrate NaNO_3. You, being a mu Ch better chemistry student tell the student that their "buffer" is worthless. Why are you correct. From the list of acids below, select one and describe how you would make buffer using that acid and any other necessary chemicals. Explain is the sufficiently to demonstrate a thorough understanding of buffers. What pH created? (Show your work.) Explain what happens of the buffer you have when HNO_3 is added to your buffer.

Explanation / Answer

Buffer SOlution: A mixture of weak acid or weak base and its salt with strong base or strong acid is known as buffer solution.

Ex: An acid buffer of H2CO3/NaHCO3

Weak acid : H2CO3

Salt with strong base: H2CO3 (aq.) + NaOH (aq.) ------------> NaHCO3 (aq.) + H2O (l)

For a buffer to be good buffer,

take equal concentration of weak acid and its salt.

pH = pKa + Log[salt]/[acid]