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Acid-Base Equilibria

pH of strong acids and strong bases

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 1

Overview

Recall questions on calculating the pH of a strong monoprotic and a diprotic acid from its concentration, calculating the pH of a strong base through Kw, working backwards from a pH to a concentration, and the effect of a tenfold dilution on the pH.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Explain why the hydrogen ion concentration of a strong monobasic acid can be taken as its stated concentration.

Numbers

Calculate the pH of 0.0500 mol dm⁻³ hydrochloric acid.

Numbers

Calculate the pH of 0.200 mol dm⁻³ nitric acid.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Explain why the hydrogen ion concentration of a strong monobasic acid can be taken as its stated concentration.

    Model answer

    A strong acid is completely dissociated, so every mole of acid supplies one mole of hydrogen ions.

  2. 2

    Calculate the pH of 0.0500 mol dm⁻³ hydrochloric acid.

    Model answer

    pH = −log(0.0500) = 1.30.

  3. 3

    Calculate the pH of 0.200 mol dm⁻³ nitric acid.

    Model answer

    pH = −log(0.200) = 0.70.

  4. 4

    Calculate the pH of 0.0100 mol dm⁻³ sulfuric acid, assuming both protons are fully released.

    Model answer

    [H⁺] = 0.0200 mol dm⁻³, so pH = −log(0.0200) = 1.70.

  5. 5

    Calculate the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution of pH 2.40.

    Model answer

    [H⁺] = 10⁻²·⁴⁰ = 4.0 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³.

  6. 6

    Explain why the pH of a strong acid rises by exactly one unit when the solution is diluted tenfold.

    Model answer

    Tenfold dilution divides the hydrogen ion concentration by ten, and taking the logarithm of a tenfold change gives one unit.

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