Question #41ee5

2 Answers
Jan 24, 2016

Watch this video.

Explanation:

This is an example of a titration of a weak acid by a strong base. In order to find the pH of the solution after each addition, you will have to follow 11 steps.

The following video explains all these steps one by one. I hope you will find it useful to calculate the pH after every addition of the base.

Acid - Base Equilibria | Weak Acid - Strong Base Titration.
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Jan 25, 2016

(a)

pH=2.46

(b)

pH=2.67

(c)

pH=8.45

Explanation:

a)

The reaction is:

C6H5COOH(aq)+KOH(aq)C6H5COOK(aq)+H2O(l)

The no. moles of benzoic acid is given by:

nba=c×v=0.25×251000=0.00625

The no. moles KOH is given by:

nKOH=0.125×51000=0.000625

So the number of moles of benzoic acid remaining after some has been neutralised is given by:

nba=0.006250.000625=0.005625

The new total volume = 25+5=30ml=0.03L

So the new concentration of benzoic acid is given by:

[C6H5COOH]=nbav=0.0056250.03=0.1875mol/l

Benzoic acid is a weak acid which dissociates according to the general equation:

HXH++X

Given its pKa value a handy expression to find its pH is :

pH=12(pKalog[Acid]) (1)

pH=12[4.2log(0.1875)]

pH=12[4.2(0.7267)]

pH=2.463

(b)

The question is not clear if the KCl solution is added before or after the KOH. I'll assume its added after the KOH solution.

I will assume that the addition of KCl(aq) just dilutes the solution.

The new total volume =5+25+50=80ml=0.08L

[C6H5COOH]=0.0056250.08=0.0703mol/l

Using (1) gives:

pH=12[4.2log(0.0703)]=12[4.2(1.152967)]

pH=12(5.352967)

pH=2.676

So the dilution has raised the pH slightly.

(c)

This neutralisation reaction is between a weak acid and a strong base.

This means that, even if they combine in the ratios specified by the stoichiometry of the equation, the resulting solution may not be neutral.

This is due to "salt hydrolysis". The benzoate ions formed formed are basic due to:

C6H5COO+H2OC6H5COOH+OH

So the resulting solution at the equivalence point is slightly alkaline.

(This is why old fashioned soap - which was the salt of a weak acid and strong base - could sting your eyes)

To find the pH of the resulting solution we need to find Kb for the benzoate ion. We get this using:

pKw=pKa+pKb

Kw is the ionic product of water and =1014mol2/l2 @298K.

pKb=144.2=9.8

Now we use the equivalent expression for bases as in (1):

pOH=12(pKblog[base]) (2)

To find [base] which is [benzoate] we know that we started with 0.00625 moles of benzoic acid which, when neutralised gives 0.00625 moles of benzoate ions.

This would therefore require 0.00625 moles of KOH.

Since c=nv then v=nc=0.006250.125=0.05L=50ml of KOH

So the total volume at the equivalence point = 25+50+50=125ml=0.125L (I added the 50ml of KCl)

[benzoate]=0.006250.125=0.05mol/l

So from (2)

pOH=12[9.8log(0.05)]

pOH=12(11.1)

pOH=5.5

pH=145.5=8.45