Question
Question: What amount of sodium propanoate should be added to one liter of a aqueous solution containing 0.02 ...
What amount of sodium propanoate should be added to one liter of a aqueous solution containing 0.02 mole of propanoic acid [Ka=1.34 x 10−5 at 25∘C] to obtain a buffer solution at pH 4.75
(a)- 4.52 x 10−2 M
(b)- 3.52 x 10−2 M
(c)- 2.52 x 10−2 M
(d)- 1.7 x 10−2 M
Solution
The concentration of the salt can be calculated by the formula- pH=pKa+log[Acid][Salt], where pH of the buffer solution is 4.75. pKa is the negative logarithm of the dissociation constant of the acid. The number of moles can be calculated by multiplying the concentration of the salt to the volume of the solution.
Complete step by step answer:
First, we have to calculate the concentration of the salt.
From the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:
pH=pKa+log[Acid][Salt]
We can find the concentration of salt (sodium propanoate)
The number of moles of propanoic acid is given 0.02 and the volume of the solution is 1L.
So the concentration of the acid will be:
[Acid]=10.02=0.02
We have Ka=1.34 x 10−5, and we know that pKa is the negative logarithm of the dissociation constant of the acid (Ka).
So, pKa=−logKa
pKa=−log(1.34 x 10−5)
pKa=4.870
And given the pH of the buffer solution is 4.75
Now putting all these in the formula, we get
pH=pKa+log[Acid][Salt]
4.75=4.870+log[0.02][Salt]
log[0.02][Salt]=−0.12
[Salt]=Antilog(−0.12) x 0.02
[Salt]=0.017 mol/L
So, the concentration of the salt (sodium propanoate) is 0.017 mol/L
And we know the volume of the solution is 1L
The number of moles can be calculated by multiplying the concentration of the salt to the volume of the solution.
moles=conc x volume
moles=0.017 x 1 = 0.017 = 1.7 x 10−2
So, the moles required is 1.7 x 10−2 M
Hence, the correct answer is an option (d)- 1.7 x 10−2 M
Note: If we want to calculate the concentration of conjugate base, the formula used is pH=pKa+log[Acid][Conjugate base] . If the concentration of base is given then the formula is pH=pKa+log[Base][Salt].
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