For each of the following, classify the substance as a strong acid, strong base, weak acid, or weak base (or perhaps not acidic or basic). Then determine the pH of the solution and calculate the concentrations of all aqueous species present in the solution. a. 2.0 × 10 ^–2 M HBrb. 1.0 × 10^–4 M NaOHc. 0.0015 M Ba(OH)2 d. 0.25 M HCN e. 2.0 × 10 ^–10 M KOH f. 0.050 M NH3 g. 0.100 M NH4Cl h. 0.200 M CaF2 i. 0.0500 M Ba(NO3)2 j. 0.100 M Al(NO3)3

a. Strong acid, pH = 1.69

b. Strong base, pH = 10

c. Strong base, pH = 11

d. Weak acid, pH = 4.90

e. Strong base, pH ≅ 7 (pH should be higher than 7, but the base is so diluted)

f. Weak base, pH = 10.96

g. Acidic salt, pH = 5.12

h. Basic salt, pH = 8.38

i. Neutral salt, pH = 7

j. Acidic salt, pH < 7

Explanation:

a. HBr →  H⁺  +  Br⁻

Hydrobromic acid is a strong acid.

pH = - log [H⁺]

- log 0.02 = 1.69

b. NaOH → Na⁺  +  OH⁻

Sodium hydroxide is a strong base.

pH = 14 - pOH

pOH = - log [OH⁻]

pH = 14 - (-log 0.0001) = 10

c. Ba(OH)₂ → Ba²⁺  +  2OH⁻

Barium hydroxide is a strong base

[OH⁻] = 2 . 0.0015 = 0.003M

pH = 14 - (-log 0.003) = 11

d. HCN + H₂O ⇄  H₃O⁺  + CN⁻

This is a weak acid, it reacts in water to make an equilibrium between the given protons and cyanide anion.

To calculate the [H₃O⁺] we must apply, the Ka

Ka = [H₃O⁺] . [CN⁻] / [HCN]

6.2×10⁻¹⁰ = x² / 0.25-x

As Ka is really small, we can not consider the x in the divisor, so we avoid the quadratic formula.

[H₃O⁺] = √(6.2×10⁻¹⁰ . 0.25) = 1.24×10⁻⁵

-log 1.24×10⁻⁵ = 4.90 → pH

e.  KOH →  K⁺  +  OH⁻

2×10⁻¹⁰ M → It is a very diluted concentration, so we must consider the OH⁻ which are given, by water.

In this case, we propose the mass and charges balances equations.

Analytic concentration of base = 2×10⁻¹⁰ M = K⁺

[OH⁻] = K⁺ + H⁺ → Charges balance

The solution's hydroxides are given by water and the strong base.

Remember that Kw = H⁺ . OH⁻, so H⁺ = Kw/OH⁻

[OH⁻] = K⁺ + Kw/OH⁻. Let's solve the quadratic equation.

[OH⁻] = 2×10⁻¹⁰ + 1×10⁻¹⁴ /OH⁻

OH⁻² = 2×10⁻¹⁰. OH⁻ + 1×10⁻¹⁴

2×10⁻¹⁰. OH⁻ + 1×10⁻¹⁴ - OH⁻²

We finally arrived at the answer [OH⁻] = 1.001ₓ10⁻⁷

pH = 14 - (- log1.001ₓ10⁻⁷) = 7

The strong base is soo diluted, that water makes the pH be a neutral value.

Be careful, if you determine the [OH⁻] as - log 2×10⁻¹⁰, because you will obtain as pOH 9.69, so the pH would be 4.31. It is not possible, KOH is a strong base and 4.30 is an acid pH.

f. Ammonia is a weak base.

NH₃ +  H₂O  ⇄  NH₄⁺  + OH⁻

Kb = OH⁻  .  NH₄⁺  /  NH₃

1.74×10⁻⁵ = x² / 0.05 - x

We can avoid the x from the divisor, so:

[OH⁻] = √(1.74×10⁻⁵ . 0.05) = 9.32×10⁻⁴

pH = 14 - (-log 9.32×10⁻⁴ ) = 10.96

g. NH₄Cl, an acid salt. We dissociate the compound:

NH₄Cl →  NH₄⁺  +  Cl⁻.  We analyse the ions:

Cl⁻ does not make hydrolisis to water. In the opposide, the ammonium can react given OH⁻ to medium, that's why the salt is acid, and pH sould be lower than 7

NH₄⁺  +  H₂O  ⇄  NH₃  +  H₃O⁺   Ka

Ka = NH₃  .   H₃O⁺ / NH₄⁺

5.70×10⁻¹⁰ = x² / 0.1 -x

[H₃O⁺] = √ (5.70×10⁻¹⁰  . 0.1) = 7.55×10⁻⁶

pH = - log 7.55×10⁻⁶ = 5.12

As Ka is so small, we avoid the x from the divisor.

h. CaF₂  →  Ca²⁺  +  2F⁻

This is a basic salt.

The Ca²⁺ does not react to water. F⁻ can make hydrolisis because, the anion is the strong conjugate base, of a weak acid.

F⁻  +  H₂O  ⇄  HF  +  OH⁻          Kb

Kb = x² / 2 . 0.2 - x

Remember that, in the original salt we have an stoichiometry of 1:2, so 1 mol of calcium flouride may have 2 moles of flourides.

As Kb is small, we avoid the x, so:

[OH⁻] = √(1.47×10⁻¹¹ . 2 . 0.2) = 2.42×10⁻⁵

14 - (-log 2.42×10⁻⁵) = pH → 8.38

i . Neutral salt

BaNO₃₂  →   Ba²⁺  +  2NO₃⁻

Ba²⁺ comes from a strong base, so it is the conjugate weak acid and it does not react to water. The same situation to the nitrate anion. (The conjugate weak base, from a strong acid, HNO₃)

pH = 7

j.  Al(NO₃)₃, this is an acid salt.

Al(NO₃)₃  →  Al³⁺  +  3NO₃⁻

The nitrate anion is the conjugate weak base, from a strong acid, HNO₃ so it does not make hydrolisis. The Al³⁺ comes from the Al(OH)₃ which is an amphoterous compound (it can react as an acid or a base) but the cation has an acidic power.

Al·(H₂O)₆³⁺  + H₂O ⇄  Al·(H₂O)₅(OH)²⁺  + H₃O⁺