IB DP Chemistry 18.2 Calculations involving acids and bases HL Paper 1

Question

What is the approximate pH of a \({\text{0.01 mol}}\,{\text{d}}{{\text{m}}^{ – 3}}\) ammonia solution?

A.     2

B.     More than 2 but less than 7

C.     More than 7 but less than 12

D.     12

▶️Answer/Explanation

C

NH3+H2ONH4+ + OH− 

Since Ammonia is a weak base, it does not dissociate completely in water.

If not completely dissociated, [OH] formed would be less than 0.01 mol/dm3

pOH = -Log[OH], 

pOH >2, pH <12. And since it is a base, pH>7. 

Question

\({\text{100 c}}{{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}}\) of a NaOH solution of pH 12 is mixed with \({\text{900 c}}{{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}}\) of water. What is the pH of the resulting solution?

A.     1

B.     3

C.     11

D.     13

▶️Answer/Explanation

C

pOH = -Log[OH]

pH+pOH =14 

pOH = 14-12=2 

[OH] = 10-2 mol/l in 100cm3 or 0.1 l NaOH, i.e. 10-3moles NaOH are mixed with 900cm3 water.

Volume of final solution =1000cm3 or 1ltr having 10-3moles NaOH.

[NaOH]=10-11moles/ltr 

pOH = -Log[OH] = 3

pH = 14-3=11

Question

The indicator, HIn is used in a titration between an acid and base. Which statement about the dissociation of the indicator, HIn is correct?

\[{\text{HIn(aq)}} \rightleftharpoons {{\text{H}}^ + }{\text{(aq)}} + {\text{I}}{{\text{n}}^ – }{\text{(aq)}}\]

colour A                             colour B

A.     In a strongly alkaline solution, colour B would be observed.

B.     In a strongly acidic solution, colour B would be observed.

C.     \({\text{[I}}{{\text{n}}^ – }{\text{]}}\) is greater than [HIn] at the equivalence point.

D.     In a weakly acidic solution colour B would be observed.

▶️Answer/Explanation

A

Option A: In a strongly alkaline solution hydroxide ions will absorb H+ ions, hence equilibrium will shift towards forward direction and colour B of Inwill be observed here. 

Question

At the same concentration, which acid would have the lowest pH?

\(\begin{array}{*{20}{l}} {{\text{A.}}}&{{\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}}&{{K_{\text{a}}} = 5.6 \times {{10}^{ – 4}}{\text{ mol}}\,{\text{d}}{{\text{m}}^{ – 3}}} \\ {{\text{B.}}}&{{\text{HF}}}&{{K_{\text{a}}} = 6.8 \times {{10}^{ – 4}}{\text{ mol}}\,{\text{d}}{{\text{m}}^{ – 3}}} \\ {{\text{C.}}}&{{{\text{C}}_{\text{6}}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{5}}}{\text{COOH}}}&{{K_{\text{a}}} = 6.3 \times {{10}^{ – 5}}{\text{ mol}}\,{\text{d}}{{\text{m}}^{ – 3}}} \\ {{\text{D.}}}&{{\text{HCN}}}&{{K_{\text{a}}} = 4.9 \times {{10}^{ – 10}}{\text{ mol}}\,{\text{d}}{{\text{m}}^{ – 3}}} \end{array}\)

▶️Answer/Explanation

B

The acid with highest Ka will be strongest and will have highest H+ concentration, hence lowest pH. 

Question

Ammonia acts as a weak base when it reacts with water. What is the \({K_{\text{b}}}\) expression for this reaction?

A.     \(\frac{{[{\text{NH}}_4^ + ][{\text{O}}{{\text{H}}^ – }]}}{{[{\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3}][{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O]}}}}\)

B.     \(\frac{{[{\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3}{\text{][}}{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O]}}}}{{{\text{[NH}}_4^ + {\text{][O}}{{\text{H}}^ – }{\text{]}}}}\)

C.     \(\frac{{[{\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3}]}}{{[{\text{NH}}_4^ + ][{\text{O}}{{\text{H}}^ – }]}}\)

D.     \(\frac{{[{\text{NH}}_4^ + ][{\text{O}}{{\text{H}}^ – }]}}{{[{\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3}]}}\)

▶️Answer/Explanation

D

NH3+H2ONH4++OH

\({K_{\text{b}}}\) = \(\frac{{[{\text{NH}}_4^ + ][{\text{O}}{{\text{H}}^ – }]}}{{[{\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3}]}}\)

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