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A student must make a buffer solution with a pH of 2.5. Determine which of the a

ID: 550090 • Letter: A

Question

A student must make a buffer solution with a pH of 2.5. Determine which of the acids and conjugate bases listed below are the best options to make a buffer at the specified pH. Weak acids: Incorrect phosphoric acid, Ka-7.52x10-3, 1.00 M formic acid, Ka=1.77x10-4, 2.00 M sodium disulfate monohydrate, O Scroll down for more. Ka-1.20x102, 3.00 M O acetic acid, Ka=1.75x10-5, 5.00 M Conjugate bases: sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate NaH2PO H20 sodium formate, HCOONa sodium acetate trihydrate, CH3COONa 3H20 O sodium sulfate decahydrate, Na2SO4 10H20 Scroll down to view more.

Explanation / Answer


if pH = pka, the buffer capacity is more.

so that, for pH = 2.5

the suitable weak acid = phosphoric acid, Ka = 7.52*10^-3,1.00 M

            conjugate bases = sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate,NaH2PO4*H2O

no of mol of buffer = M*V = 0.1*100/1000 = 0.01 mol

no of mol of conjugate base = x mol

pH = pka + log(conjugate base/acid)

pka = -logka

      = -log(7.52*10^-3)

      = 2.124

pH = 2.5

2.5 = 2.124 + log(x/(0.01-x))

x = 0.007

no of mol of conjugate base = x = 0.007 mol

mass of conjugate base must add = 0.007*138 = 0.966 g

no of mol of weak acid = 0.01-x = 0.01-0.007 = 0.003 mol

volume of phosphoric acid = n/v = 0.003/1 = 0.003 L

                   = 3 ml