Acids and Bases and Their Equilibrium

CHEM 136

Nov. 17, 2010

Due: 1:00 p.m. , Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010

Extra Credits (Total Points: 30)

Last Name ____________________ First Name _________________________

Instructions to the assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to reinforce what we have discussed in lecture
and to provide you an opportunity to perform calculations related to acid-base titrations
and buffer solutions. The problems assigned are not exactly the same as what have be
shown in lecture, but the same principles are applied and the similar approaches can be
employed. You need to review the course material, Chapter 16 and Chapter 17 carefully
prior to doing this assignment. To gain the full benefit of this homework, I strongly
suggest that you do the problems by yourself based on your understanding of the course
materials. No credit will be awarded if the assignment is received after 1:00 pm,
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010

To receive the full credit, you must

[a] list the known quantities, the constants and equations used;
[b] write chemical equations where applicable;
[c] use tables to list initial, change and final quantities/concentrations of the reactants and
products where applicable;
[d] show your calculations Neatly in Details and in a Logical order.
[e] carry an additional significant figure of values for your intermediate steps;
[f] include correct units and significant figures in the intermediate steps and final results.

1. A sample of 25.00 mL of 0.100 M HNO2 (in a flask) is tirated with 0.150 M of NaOH
solution (in a buret) at 25ºC. (Hint: Find the constants in your textbook)

(1) Calculate the volume (Ve) of the NaOH solution needed to completely neutralize the
acid in the flask. (0.5 pt)

(2) Calculate the pH for (a) the initial acid solution in the flask, (b) the point at which
8.00 mL of the base has been added, (c) the equivalence point, and (d) the point at which
20.00 mL of the base has been added. Box the pH values calculated (Hint: An
approximation may not be applicable to all of your calculations). (10 pts)

(3) Based on the pH values you have calculated, sketch the titration curve of this acid-
base reaction using either the Excel Program or a graphing paper. (1.5 pts)
2. A sample of 25.00 mL of 0.200 M methylamine (CH3NH2, Kb = 4.4x10-4, in a flask) is
titrated with 0.150 M of HBr solution (in a buret) at 25ºC.

The base dissociation reaction:

CH3NH2 (aq) + H2O (l) === CH3NH3 + (aq) + OH- (aq)

The acid-base reaction:

CH3NH2 (aq) + H+(aq) === CH3NH3 + (aq)

(1) Calculate the volume (Ve) of the HBr solution needed to completely neutralize
CH3NH2 in the flask. (0.5 pt)

(2) Calculate the pH for (a) the initial base solution in the flask, (b) the point at which
20.00 mL of the acid has been added, (c) the equivalence point, and (d) the point at which
40.00 mL of the acid has been added. Box the pH values calculated. (Hint: An
approximation may not be applicable to all of your calculations). (10 pts)

(3) Based on the pH values you have calculated, sketch the titration curve of this acid-
base reaction using either the Excel Program or a graphing paper. (1.5 pts)

3. You are asked to prepare a phosphate buffer solution.

(1) Which of the following compounds would you mix to make a buffer solution with a
pH = 7.50. Explain the reasons for your selection. (1 pt)
H3PO4 (MW = 98.00 g/mol), NaH2PO4 (MW 119.98 g/mol), Na2HPO4 (MW 141.96
g/mol), Na3PO4 (163.94 g/mol)
For H3PO4:
Ka1 = 7.11x10-3 Ka2 = 6.32 x10-8 Ka3= 7.10 x10-13
pKa1 = 2.148 pKa2 = 7.199 pKa3 = 12.149
phosphoric acid is a triprotic acid
H3PO4 ===== H+ + H2PO4-
H2PO4- ===== H+ + HPO42-
HPO42- ===== H+ + PO43-
(2) If you want to prepare 500.0 mL of the buffer solution with a total phosphate
concentration of 0.300 M, how many grams of each of the two selected compounds
would you mix together? (5 pts)