Chapter 16: Problem 105
Write the formulas for three combinations of weak acid and salt that would act as buffered solutions. For each of your combinations, write chemical equations showing how the components of the buffered solution would consume added acid and base.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Three buffered solutions and their corresponding chemical equations for consuming added acid and base are:
1. Acetic Acid (CH鈧僀OOH) and Sodium Acetate (CH鈧僀OONa):
- Consume Added Acid: CH鈧僀OO鈦(aq) + H鈦(aq) 鈫 CH鈧僀OOH(aq)
- Consume Added Base: CH鈧僀OOH(aq) + OH鈦(aq) 鈫 CH鈧僀OO鈦(aq) + H鈧侽(l)
2. Ammonium (NH鈧勨伜) and Ammonia (NH鈧):
- Consume Added Acid: NH鈧(aq) + H鈦(aq) 鈫 NH鈧勨伜(aq)
- Consume Added Base: NH鈧勨伜(aq) + OH鈦(aq) 鈫 NH鈧(aq) + H鈧侽(l)
3. Carbonic Acid (H鈧侰O鈧) and Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO鈧):
- Consume Added Acid: HCO鈧冣伝(aq) + H鈦(aq) 鈫 H鈧侰O鈧(aq)
- Consume Added Base: H鈧侰O鈧(aq) + OH鈦(aq) 鈫 HCO鈧冣伝(aq) + H鈧侽(l)
Step by step solution
01
Buffered Solution 1: Acetic Acid - Sodium Acetate
The first buffered solution consists of acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH) and sodium acetate (CH鈧僀OONa). Acetic acid is a weak acid, while sodium acetate is the salt formed from its conjugate base (acetate ion - CH鈧僀OO鈦).
02
Buffered Solution 1: Consume Added Acid
When an acid (e.g., HCl) is added to this buffered solution, the acetate ion (CH鈧僀OO鈦) will react with the added protons:
CH鈧僀OO鈦(aq) + H鈦(aq) 鈫 CH鈧僀OOH(aq)
03
Buffered Solution 1: Consume Added Base
When a base (e.g., NaOH) is added to this buffered solution, acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH) will react with the added hydroxide ions:
CH鈧僀OOH(aq) + OH鈦(aq) 鈫 CH鈧僀OO鈦(aq) + H鈧侽(l)
04
Buffered Solution 2: Ammonium - Ammonia
The second buffered solution consists of ammonium (NH鈧勨伜) and ammonia (NH鈧). Ammonia is a weak base, while ammonium is its conjugate base formed from the weak acid, ammonium ion (NH鈧勨伜).
05
Buffered Solution 2: Consume Added Acid
When an acid (e.g., HCl) is added to this buffered solution, the ammonia (NH鈧) will react with the added protons:
NH鈧(aq) + H鈦(aq) 鈫 NH鈧勨伜(aq)
06
Buffered Solution 2: Consume Added Base
When a base (e.g., NaOH) is added to this buffered solution, ammonium (NH鈧勨伜) will react with the added hydroxide ions:
NH鈧勨伜(aq) + OH鈦(aq) 鈫 NH鈧(aq) + H鈧侽(l)
07
Buffered Solution 3: Carbonic Acid - Sodium Bicarbonate
The third buffered solution consists of carbonic acid (H鈧侰O鈧) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO鈧). Carbonic acid is a weak acid, while sodium bicarbonate is the salt formed from its conjugate base (bicarbonate ion - HCO鈧冣伝).
08
Buffered Solution 3: Consume Added Acid
When an acid (e.g., HCl) is added to this buffered solution, the bicarbonate ion (HCO鈧冣伝) will react with the added protons:
HCO鈧冣伝(aq) + H鈦(aq) 鈫 H鈧侰O鈧(aq)
09
Buffered Solution 3: Consume Added Base
When a base (e.g., NaOH) is added to this buffered solution, carbonic acid (H鈧侰O鈧) will react with the added hydroxide ions:
H鈧侰O鈧(aq) + OH鈦(aq) 鈫 HCO鈧冣伝(aq) + H鈧侽(l)
This completes the breakdown of the weak acid-salt combinations that act as buffered solutions, as well as the chemical equations showing how they consume added acid and base.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding Weak Acids
A weak acid is a type of acid that only partially dissociates into its ions in an aqueous solution. This limited dissociation is what makes weak acids less capable of conducting electricity compared to strong acids, which fully ionize. When a weak acid like acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH) dissolves in water, only some of its molecules release their hydrogen ions (H鈦), while the majority remain undissociated.
This unique property of weak acids forms the basis for buffered solutions, which are made by combining weak acids with their respective conjugate bases. Buffered solutions are crucial because they help maintain a stable pH in the solution, which is essential in many chemical and biological processes. In our examples, acetic acid, carbonic acid, and ammonia (acting as a base in the ammonium/ammonia buffer) are all weak acids or bases that help form effective buffered systems.
It's important to understand the role of weak acids in buffered solutions, as these solutions resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.
This unique property of weak acids forms the basis for buffered solutions, which are made by combining weak acids with their respective conjugate bases. Buffered solutions are crucial because they help maintain a stable pH in the solution, which is essential in many chemical and biological processes. In our examples, acetic acid, carbonic acid, and ammonia (acting as a base in the ammonium/ammonia buffer) are all weak acids or bases that help form effective buffered systems.
It's important to understand the role of weak acids in buffered solutions, as these solutions resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.
The Role of Conjugate Bases
A conjugate base is the species formed when an acid loses a hydrogen ion. In other words, it is what's left of the acid molecule after it donates a proton. For example, when acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH) loses a proton, it forms its conjugate base, the acetate ion (CH鈧僀OO鈦). Similarly, when carbonic acid (H鈧侰O鈧) dissociates, it forms the bicarbonate ion (HCO鈧冣伝) as its conjugate base.
In buffered solutions, the conjugate base plays a vital role. It helps to neutralize any added acids by reacting with the hydrogen ions (H鈦) introduced to the system. For instance, when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added to an acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer, the acetate ions react with H鈦 to form more acetic acid, thus minimizing the impact on the pH.
In buffered solutions, the conjugate base plays a vital role. It helps to neutralize any added acids by reacting with the hydrogen ions (H鈦) introduced to the system. For instance, when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added to an acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer, the acetate ions react with H鈦 to form more acetic acid, thus minimizing the impact on the pH.
- Conjugate bases stabilize the pH of the solution by consuming added hydrogen ions.
- They are integral in forming effective buffer solutions alongside weak acids.
Chemical Equilibrium in Buffer Solutions
Chemical equilibrium is a state in a chemical reaction where the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant over time. In the context of buffered solutions, equilibrium helps maintain a stable pH by balancing the acidic and basic components.
When weak acids and their conjugate bases are combined in a solution, they establish an equilibrium between the undissociated acid and its dissociated ionic components. For example, in the acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH) and sodium acetate (CH鈧僀OONa) buffer, the equilibrium is defined by the equation: \[ \text{CH}_3\text{COOH}_{(aq)} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-_{(aq)} + \text{H}^+_{(aq)} \]
This balance enables the solution to resist changes in pH when small amounts of acids or bases are introduced. If more H鈦 ions are added, the equilibrium shifts to form more acetic acid. Conversely, if OH鈦 ions are added, the equilibrium shifts to produce more acetate ions.
When weak acids and their conjugate bases are combined in a solution, they establish an equilibrium between the undissociated acid and its dissociated ionic components. For example, in the acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH) and sodium acetate (CH鈧僀OONa) buffer, the equilibrium is defined by the equation: \[ \text{CH}_3\text{COOH}_{(aq)} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-_{(aq)} + \text{H}^+_{(aq)} \]
This balance enables the solution to resist changes in pH when small amounts of acids or bases are introduced. If more H鈦 ions are added, the equilibrium shifts to form more acetic acid. Conversely, if OH鈦 ions are added, the equilibrium shifts to produce more acetate ions.
- Equilibrium is crucial for the buffer action, ensuring a nearly constant pH.
- Equilibrium shifts help the buffer to neutralize added acids and bases effectively.
The Dynamics of Acid-Base Reactions
An acid-base reaction involves the transfer of hydrogen ions from an acid to a base. In the context of buffered solutions, these reactions are used to illustrate how buffers maintain a stable pH when facing external acids or bases.
When an acid is added to a buffer, the conjugate base present in the solution neutralizes it through an acid-base reaction. For example, in the acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer, the added hydrogen ions (H鈦) react with the acetate ions (CH鈧僀OO鈦) to form more acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH), thus minimizing pH change. The equation representing this neutralization is:
\[ \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-_{(aq)} + \text{H}^+_{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COOH}_{(aq)} \]
When a base is added, the weak acid in the buffer neutralizes the hydroxide ions.For instance, when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is introduced into the buffer, the hydroxide ions (OH鈦) react with the acetic acid present, forming acetate ions and water:\[ \text{CH}_3\text{COOH}_{(aq)} + \text{OH}^-_{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-_{(aq)} + \text{H}_2\text{O}_{(l)} \]
Such reactions illustrate the dynamic nature of buffers in maintaining a stable pH:
When an acid is added to a buffer, the conjugate base present in the solution neutralizes it through an acid-base reaction. For example, in the acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer, the added hydrogen ions (H鈦) react with the acetate ions (CH鈧僀OO鈦) to form more acetic acid (CH鈧僀OOH), thus minimizing pH change. The equation representing this neutralization is:
\[ \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-_{(aq)} + \text{H}^+_{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COOH}_{(aq)} \]
When a base is added, the weak acid in the buffer neutralizes the hydroxide ions.For instance, when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is introduced into the buffer, the hydroxide ions (OH鈦) react with the acetic acid present, forming acetate ions and water:\[ \text{CH}_3\text{COOH}_{(aq)} + \text{OH}^-_{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-_{(aq)} + \text{H}_2\text{O}_{(l)} \]
Such reactions illustrate the dynamic nature of buffers in maintaining a stable pH:
- Buffers perform acid-base reactions to neutralize added acids and bases.
- The presence of both the weak acid and its conjugate base allows for effective pH stabilization.