/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 5 Why is pure water considered neu... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Why is pure water considered neutral?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Pure water is neutral because it has equal concentrations of H_3O^+ and OH^- ions, resulting in a pH of 7.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding pH Scale

The pH scale is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is. It ranges from 0 to 14, where 0 to 7 indicates an acidic solution, 7 indicates a neutral solution, and 7 to 14 indicates a basic (alkaline) solution.
02

Examining Water's Ionization

Pure water undergoes autoionization, where water molecules ionize to produce equal concentrations of hydronium ions (H_3O^+) and hydroxide ions (OH^-). The reaction can be represented as follows: \[2H_2O(l) \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+(aq) + OH^-(aq)\]
03

Determining Ion Concentration

At 25掳C, the concentrations of H_3O^+ and OH^- in pure water are both 1.0 x 10^-7 M. This balance of ions results in a pH of 7, which defines a neutral solution.
04

Conclusion of Neutrality

Since the concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide ions are equal, pure water does not favor acidity or basicity, making it neutral with a pH of 7.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Neutral Solution
A neutral solution is a type of solution where the concentrations of hydronium ions (H鈧僌鈦) and hydroxide ions (OH鈦) are exactly equal. In the context of pH, a neutral solution is defined as having a pH of 7, which is exactly at the middle of the pH scale that ranges from 0 to 14.

For pure water, this means that the concentrations of H鈧僌鈦 and OH鈦 are each 1.0 x 10鈦烩伔 M at 25掳C. Because these concentrations are equal, there is no excess of either acidic or basic ions, maintaining the solution's neutrality.

In everyday terms, a neutral solution is balanced, not tilting towards acidic or basic. It's important to grasp this idea to better understand other solutions, which might deviate from pH 7.
Autoionization of Water
The autoionization of water is a fascinating process where water molecules naturally dissociate into hydronium ions (H鈧僌鈦) and hydroxide ions (OH鈦). This happens even in pure water without any added substances.

The reaction for autoionization can be written as:
\[2H_2O(l) \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+(aq) + OH^-(aq)\]

This equilibrium means that at any moment, there is a tiny amount of both H鈧僌鈦 and OH鈦 ions present in water.

Even though the concentration of ions produced is very low, it is enough to determine water's pH to be neutral. Understanding this natural process helps explain why water maintains a stable, neutral pH level.
Hydronium Ions
Hydronium ions (H鈧僌鈦) are one of the two types of ions produced during the autoionization of water. In chemical terms, H鈧僌鈦 is a hydrated proton, which simply means a proton bound to a water molecule. This ion is important as it represents the acidic component in solutions.

In pure water at 25掳C, the concentration of hydronium ions is 1.0 x 10鈦烩伔 M. This low but equal concentration with hydroxide ions (OH鈦) means the solution remains neutral.

Understanding hydronium ions is crucial because they are often involved in chemical reactions that are basic or acidic, helping chemists control the behavior of solutions.
Hydroxide Ions
Hydroxide ions (OH鈦) are the counterpart to hydronium ions in the process of autoionization of water. They represent the basic component in solutions and are crucial for determining the basicity of a solution.

Pure water contains hydroxide ions at a concentration of 1.0 x 10鈦烩伔 M at 25掳C, just like the concentration of hydronium ions. This equality contributes to water being neutral.

In practical terms, hydroxide ions take part in many reactions in chemistry where neutralization of acids takes place, once again confirming their importance in the chemical landscape.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Citric acid \(\left(\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}_{7}\right)\) has three hydrogen atoms that can form hydrogen ions in solution. a. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between citric acid and sodium hydroxide. b. If an orange contains \(0.0675 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}_{7}\), how many milliliters of \(0.00332 \mathrm{M} \mathrm{NaOH}\) solution are needed to neutralize the acid?

In the aqueous solutions of some salts, one of the ions from the salt can react with water molecules. In some \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}^{-}\) solutions, the following reaction can occur: \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}^{-}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(\ell) \rightarrow \mathrm{HC}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{OH}^{-}(\mathrm{aq})\) Is \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) acting as an acid or a base in this reaction?

Which solute combinations can make a buffer? Assume all are aqueous solutions. 1\. \(\mathrm{HCl}\) and \(\mathrm{NaCl}\) 2\. \(\mathrm{HNO}_{2}\) and \(\mathrm{NaNO}_{2}\) 3\. \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{NO}_{3}\) and \(\mathrm{HNO}_{3}\) 4\. \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{NO}_{3}\) and \(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\)

Write a balanced chemical equation for the neutralization of \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}(\mathrm{aq})\) with \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(\mathrm{aq}) .\)

Write the chemical equation of the reaction of ammonia in water and label the Br酶nsted-Lowry acid and base.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.