Question #90a90

1 Answer
Oct 25, 2015

alpha = 0.147α=0.147
K_a = 1.86 * 10^(-3)Ka=1.86103

Explanation:

First thing first, I think that you have some incorrect data in your question.

For example, if you use the information provided by the question, the molar conductivity of the chloroacetic solution will have different value than what you list here, "362 S m"^2"mol"^(-1)362 S m2mol1.

I assume that this value was supposed to be the molar conductivity at infinite dilution, Lamda_0Λ0. Moreover, I think that the value you provided is incorrect.

More specifically, this value should either be

Lamda_0 = 362 * 10^(-4)"S m"^2"mol"^(-1)Λ0=362104S m2mol1

or

Lamda_0 = "362 S cm"^2"mol"^(-1)Λ0=362 S cm2mol1

With this being said, the equation that establishes a relationship between conductivity, kk, and molar conductivity, LamdaΛ, looks like this

color(blue)(Lamda = k/c)" "Λ=kc , where

cc - the molarity of the solution.

This is where things usually get a little tricky. You need to make sure that you use the right units. For example, molar concentration must be used in moles per cubic meter, which means that you must convert the given moles per liter

0.0625"moles"/color(red)(cancel(color(black)("liter"))) * (10^3color(red)(cancel(color(black)("liters"))))/"1 m"^3 = 0.0625 * 10^(3)"mol m"^(-3)0.0625molesliter103liters1 m3=0.0625103mol m3

Likewise, notice that the conductivity uses "cm"^(-1)cm1, so convert it to

3.319 * 10^(-3)"S"/color(red)(cancel(color(black)("cm"))) * (10^2color(red)(cancel(color(black)("cm"))))/"1 m" = 3.319 * 10^(-1)"S m"^(-1)3.319103Scm102cm1 m=3.319101S m1

The molar conductivity of the solution will thus be

Lamda = (3.319 * 10^(-1)"S m"^(-1))/(0.0625 * 10^3"m"^(-3)) = 5.3104 * 10^(-3) "S m"^(-2)"mol"^(-1)Λ=3.319101S m10.0625103m3=5.3104103S m2mol1

Now, the equation that connects the degree of ionization of a weak electrolyte, alphaα, and its molar conductivity looks like this

alpha = Lamda/Lamda_0α=ΛΛ0

In your case, the degree of dissociation for chloroacetic acid will be - keep in mind that alphaα must come out to be unitless!

alpha = (5.3104 * 10^(-3)color(red)(cancel(color(black)("S m"^(-2)"mol"^(-1)))))/(362 * 10^(-4)color(red)(cancel(color(black)("S m"^(-2)"mol"^(-1))))) = color(green)(0.147)α=5.3104103S m2mol1362104S m2mol1=0.147

The acid dissociation constant, K_aKa, can be calculated using Ostwald's dilution law, which establishes a relationship between the dissociation constant and the degree of ionization of a weak electrolyte

color(blue)(K_a = alpha^2/(1 - alpha) * c)Ka=α21αc

In your case, the value of K_aKa will be - use the molarity in moles per liter

K_a = (0.147^2)/(1-0.147)^2 * "0.0625 M" = color(green)(1.86 * 10^(-3)"M")Ka=0.1472(10.147)20.0625 M=1.86103M

The listed value for the acid dissociation constant of chloroacetic acid is 1.4 * 10^(-3)"M"1.4103M, so the result is good enough.

You can check this result by using the molar conductivity

color(blue)(K_a = Lamda^2/((Lamda_0 - Lamda) * Lamda_0) * c)Ka=Λ2(Λ0Λ)Λ0c

This calculation will give you

K_a = 1.58 * 10^(-3)"M"Ka=1.58103M