Question #66b60

1 Answer
May 15, 2015

Here's what's going to happen this time. The balanced chemical equation for your neutralization reaction was

CH3COOH(aq)+OH(aq)CH3COO(aq)+H2O(l)

Calculate how many moles of acetic acid and of sodium hydroxide you add together

C=nVn=CV

nCH3COOH=0.100 M25103L=0.0025 moles

nNaOH=0.100 M25103L=0.0025 moles

Since you add equal numbers of moles of acetic acid and sodium hydroxide, both compounds will be completely consumed by the reaction.

In the process, the reaction will produce 0.0025 moles of acetate anions, CH3COO.

nCH3COOH=0.00250.0025=0

nNaOH=0.00250.0025=0

nCH3COO=0.0025 moles

The acetate anion can act as a weak base and react with water to produce hydroxide ions and reform acetic acid according to the following equilibrium

CH3COO(aq)+H2O(l)CH3COOH(aq)+OH(aq)

To determine the concentration of the acetate anion, use the total volume of the solution, which is

Vsol=Vacetic acid+Vsodium hydroxide

Vsol=25+25=50. mL

This will get you

[CH3COO]=0.0025 moles50.103L=0.0500 M

Use an ICE table to determine the concentration of the hydroxide ions in solution

CH3COO(aq)+H2O(l)CH3COOH(aq)+OH(aq)
I.......0.0500.............................................0.............................0
C........(-x).................................................(+x)..........................(+x)
E......0.0500-x..........................................x..............................x

By definition, the base dissociation constant, Kb, will be

Kb=[OH][CH3COOH][CH3COO]=xx0.0500x=x20.0500x

Since Kb is so small, you can approximate (0.0500 - x) with 0.0500. This will get you

Kb=x20.0500=5.61010x=5.29106

Since x=[OH], you have

[OH]=5.29106M

The pOH of the solution will be

pOH=log([OH])=log(5.29106)=5.28

Therefore, the pH of the solution will be

pHsol=14pOH=145.28=8.72