Question #b8408

1 Answer
Mar 7, 2017

["H"_3"O"^(+)] = 1 * 10^(-2)"M"

["OH"^(-)] = 1 * 10^(-12)"M"

Explanation:

The thing to keep in mind here is that nitric acid is a strong acid, which means that it will ionize completely in aqueous solution to produce hydronium cations, "H"_3"O"^(+), and nitrate anions, "NO"_3^(-).

"HNO"_ (3(aq)) + "H"_ 2"O"_ ((l)) -> "H"_ 3"O"_ ((aq))^(+) + "NO"_ (3(aq))^(-)

Notice that every mole of nitric acid that is dissolved in water produces 1 mole of hydronium cations.

This means that the concentration of hydronium cations will be equal to the concentration of nitric acid.

["H"_3"O"^(+)] = ["HNO"_3 ] = "0.01 M"

As you know, an aqueous solution at 25^@"C" has

["H"_3"O"^(+)] * ["OH"^(-)] = 10^(-14)

This means that you will have

["OH"^(-)] = 10^(-14)/(["H"_3"O"^(+)])

which will get you

["OH"^(-)] = 10^(-14)/0.01 = 1 * 10^(-12)color(white)(.)"M"