pH of 0.1(M)0.1(M) NaH_2PO_4NaH2PO4 is what?

2 Answers
Aug 8, 2017

pH = 4.10

Explanation:

If it was a strong acid then the concentration of H^+H+ that dissociates from NaH_2PO_4NaH2PO4 would be 2 xx 0.1 = 0.2M2×0.1=0.2M

But NaH_2PO_4NaH2PO4 is a weak acid. It will dissociated partially.

If xx represents concentration of acid that dissociates then

x = sqrt(K_a xx C)x=Ka×C
(see Ernest answer for more details about this formula)

In order to find pH of a weak acid we should know acid dissociation constant (K_aKa) value.

K_aKa of NaH_2PO_4NaH2PO4 is 6.2 xx 10^-86.2×108

x = sqrt(6.2 xx 10^-8 xx 0.1)x=6.2×108×0.1

x = 7.9 xx 10^-5 Mx=7.9×105M

pH = -log[H^+]pH=log[H+]

pH = -log[7.9 xx 10^-5]pH=log[7.9×105]

pH = 4.10pH=4.10

Aug 9, 2017

"pH = 4.10"pH = 4.10

Explanation:

"NaH"_2"PO"_4NaH2PO4 dissociates completely in solution:

"NaH"_2"PO"_4 → "Na"^"+" + "H"_2"PO"_4^"-"NaH2PO4Na++H2PO-4

The dihydrogen phosphate ion is a weak acid:

"H"_2"PO"_4^"-" + "H"_2"O" ⇌ "H"_3"O"^"+" + "HPO"_4^"2-"; K_text(a) = 6.23 × 10^"-8"H2PO-4+H2OH3O++HPO2-4;Ka=6.23×10-8

We can use an ICE table to calculate the concentrations of the ions in solution.

Let's rewrite the equation as

color(white)(mmmmmmmm)"HA"^"-" +color(white)(ll) "H"_2"O" ⇌ "H"_3"O"^"+" + "A"^"2-"mmmmmmmmHA-+llH2OH3O++A2-
"I/mol·L"^"-1":color(white)(mmm)0.1color(white)(mmmmmmmll)0color(white)(mmm)0I/mol⋅L-1:mmm0.1mmmmmmmll0mmm0
"C/mol·L"^"-1":color(white)(mmm)"-"xcolor(white)(mmmmmmml)"+"xcolor(white)(mm)"+"xC/mol⋅L-1:mmm-xmmmmmmml+xmm+x
"E/mol·L"^"-1":color(white)(mm)"0.1 -"xcolor(white)(mmmmmmm)xcolor(white)(mmm)xE/mol⋅L-1:mm0.1 -xmmmmmmmxmmmx

K_text(a) = (["H"_3"O"^"+"]["A"^"2-"])/(["HA"]) = (x × x)/("0.1 -"color(white)(l)x) = x^2/("0.1 -"color(white)(l)x) = 6.23 × 10^"-8"Ka=[H3O+][A2-][HA]=x×x0.1 -lx=x20.1 -lx=6.23×10-8

Check for negligibility:

0.1/(6.23 × 10^"-8") = 2 × 10^6 ≫ 4000.16.23×10-8=2×106400.

x ≪ 0.1x0.1.

Then

x^2/0.1 = 6.23 × 10^"-8"x20.1=6.23×10-8

x^2 = 0.1 × 6.23 × 10^"-8" = 6.2 × 10^"-9"x2=0.1×6.23×10-8=6.2×10-9

x = 7.9 × 10^"-5"x=7.9×10-5

["H"_3"O"^"+"] = x color(white)(l)"mol/L" = 7.9 × 10^"-5"color(white)(l)"mol/L"[H3O+]=xlmol/L=7.9×10-5lmol/L

"pH" = "-log"["H"_3"O"^"+"] = "-log"(7.9 × 10^"-5") = 4.10pH=-log[H3O+]=-log(7.9×10-5)=4.10