Concentration of [H+] ions in a solution

[Trooper100]

Hey guys, just a quick question:

If you have a solution of nitric acid, and if you were asked to find the concentration of H+ ions in the solution, would you find the concentration of H+ ions in the acid plus in the water?

Re-wording of question: you find the moles of H+ ions in acid + plus, then divided by total volume (if asked for molarity).

 

[Borek]

In general yes.

See pH of strong acid (base) solution.

In a diluted solution H⁺ from water dissociation is important, in more concentrated ones (that is, concentration higher than about 5x10^-7) it can be safely ignored.

In the case of nitric acid once its concentration gets close to 1M you have to remember it is not 100% dissociated, although at this stage ionic strength of the solution plays much more important role.