Chapter 17: Problem 59
Which salt would you expect to dissolve more readily in acidic solution, barium sulfate or barium fluoride? Explain.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Barium fluoride dissolves more readily in acidic solution than barium sulfate.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Solubility in Acidic Solutions
When a salt dissolves in acidic solutions more than in neutral solutions, it typically means the anion from the salt reacts with the hydrogen ions (H鈦) in the solution. This can shift the dissolution equilibrium toward more dissolution according to Le Chatelier's Principle.
02
Analyze the Anion Reactivity - Barium Sulfate
Barium sulfate (BaSO鈧) dissociates into Ba虏鈦 and SO鈧劼测伝 ions when it dissolves. The sulfate ion (SO鈧劼测伝) is a weak base and doesn't readily react with H鈦 ions. Thus, the solubility of BaSO鈧 does not increase significantly in acidic solutions.
03
Analyze the Anion Reactivity - Barium Fluoride
Barium fluoride (BaF鈧) dissociates into Ba虏鈦 and F鈦 ions when it dissolves. Fluoride ions (F鈦) can react to form hydrogen fluoride (HF) when in an acidic environment. This reaction removes F鈦 from the solution and shifts the equilibrium toward further dissolution of BaF鈧.
04
Comparing Dissolution Trends
Comparing the anion reactivities, since fluoride ions from BaF鈧 react with H鈦 ions forming HF, the dissolution of BaF鈧 is enhanced in acidic solutions. BaSO鈧, with SO鈧劼测伝 as a less reactive ion with H鈦 ions, doesn't increase its solubility significantly in acidic conditions.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Le Chatelier's Principle
Le Chatelier's Principle is a key concept in understanding how changes in a system can influence chemical equilibria. It's like a balancing act where the system strives to maintain stability. When a chemical system at equilibrium experiences a change in concentration, temperature, or pressure, the equilibrium will shift to counteract the change. This principle is very useful in predicting how changes in conditions can affect reactions.
For example, if you add more reactants to the system, the equilibrium will shift to the right, favoring the formation of products. Conversely, if you remove products, the equilibrium will also shift to the right to create more products. This is a basic tool in chemistry to predict how an equilibrium will adjust to changes. In the context of solubility in acidic solutions, when a salt's anion reacts with added hydrogen ions (H鈦), Le Chatelier's Principle helps us understand why more salt may dissolve.
For example, if you add more reactants to the system, the equilibrium will shift to the right, favoring the formation of products. Conversely, if you remove products, the equilibrium will also shift to the right to create more products. This is a basic tool in chemistry to predict how an equilibrium will adjust to changes. In the context of solubility in acidic solutions, when a salt's anion reacts with added hydrogen ions (H鈦), Le Chatelier's Principle helps us understand why more salt may dissolve.
Barium Sulfate
Barium sulfate (BaSO鈧) is a chemical compound that is notorious for being insoluble in water. When it dissolves, it forms Ba虏鈦 ions and sulfate ions (SO鈧劼测伝). However, these sulfate ions are not very reactive with hydrogen ions (H鈦).
The lack of reactivity with H鈦 means that there's little additional dissolution of barium sulfate in acidic solutions compared to neutral ones. This stability is the reason, for instance, why barium sulfate is used in medical imaging: it minimizes the risk of dissolving and harming the body. Its solubility behavior underlines how critical the reactivity of anions is in changing dissolution processes.
The lack of reactivity with H鈦 means that there's little additional dissolution of barium sulfate in acidic solutions compared to neutral ones. This stability is the reason, for instance, why barium sulfate is used in medical imaging: it minimizes the risk of dissolving and harming the body. Its solubility behavior underlines how critical the reactivity of anions is in changing dissolution processes.
Barium Fluoride
Barium fluoride (BaF鈧) is a salt that behaves differently than barium sulfate in acidic conditions. It dissociates to form Ba虏鈦 ions and fluoride ions (F鈦). In an acidic solution, fluoride ions react more readily with H鈦 ions to form hydrogen fluoride (HF).
This reaction decreases the concentration of free fluoride ions in the solution, which shifts the dissolution equilibrium toward additional dissolution of BaF鈧. As the equilibrium moves, more BaF鈧 dissolves to replenish the fluoride ions that have reacted to form HF. This process exemplifies how some salts can become more soluble when subjected to acidic conditions, highlighting the influence of anion reactivity.
This reaction decreases the concentration of free fluoride ions in the solution, which shifts the dissolution equilibrium toward additional dissolution of BaF鈧. As the equilibrium moves, more BaF鈧 dissolves to replenish the fluoride ions that have reacted to form HF. This process exemplifies how some salts can become more soluble when subjected to acidic conditions, highlighting the influence of anion reactivity.
Dissolution Equilibrium
Dissolution equilibrium is a state where the process of dissolving a solute in a solvent occurs at the same rate as the reverse process鈥攑recipitation. At this point, the solution contains the maximum concentration of dissolved solute, given the conditions.
For salts like barium sulfate and barium fluoride, the equilibrium balances between their solid state and dissolved ions in the solution. When an acid is added, and if the ions interact with H鈦 in a way that removes them from the equilibrium (like fluoride ions in BaF鈧), the system shifts to favor more solute dissolving. This behavior follows Le Chatelier's Principle, making the study of dissolution equilibrium crucial for understanding how and why solubility can change with varying conditions.
For salts like barium sulfate and barium fluoride, the equilibrium balances between their solid state and dissolved ions in the solution. When an acid is added, and if the ions interact with H鈦 in a way that removes them from the equilibrium (like fluoride ions in BaF鈧), the system shifts to favor more solute dissolving. This behavior follows Le Chatelier's Principle, making the study of dissolution equilibrium crucial for understanding how and why solubility can change with varying conditions.