Question
Question: What is the pH of a \( 0\cdot 6 \) M HNO \( _{3} \) solution?...
What is the pH of a 0⋅6 M HNO 3 solution?
Solution
To calculate the pH of an aqueous solution we need to know about the concentration of H + ion (in terms of molarity) present in the solution. Range of pH scale is from ( 0−14) 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. pH of a solution can be calculated using the formula pH = - log[H+] .
Complete step by step answer:
Before calculating the pH of a solution first we understand what is pH of a solution. pH means power of H i.e., by how much concentration of H + is present in the solution.
pH quantitatively measures the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. If the pH of a solution is less than 7 then solution Is considered to be acidic and if the pH of a solution is greater than 7 then the solution is considered to be basic and at 7 pH solution is neutral.
Let’s see how nitric acid dissociates by writing the balanced chemical equation so that we can conclude about the concentration of H + ion in the solution and then we can use the formula. HNO 3 +H 2 O → H 3 O + + NO 3 − . HERE 0⋅6 M is the concentration of H + in the solution.
pH = −log10(0⋅60)=−(−0⋅22)=0⋅22 . this is our desired pH of the solution.
Note:
You can easily calculate pH in one line just by using the above formula pH = - log[H+] . Just keep in mind that pH is a unitless quantity and it only tells us about the concentration of H + ion present in the solution.