How Does Rainfall Affect the pH of Unbuffered and Buffered Lakes?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the pH changes in a lake due to rainfall with a pH of 4.82. The lake, with a surface area of 12.2 acres and an average depth of 9.20 ft, initially has a pH of 7.00. The participant successfully calculated the moles of H3O+ from the rain as 32 moles but encountered difficulties in determining the new pH after mixing the rainwater with the lake water. Additionally, the discussion addresses the buffering capacity of the lake, which contains 0.96 mM HCO3- and 0.28 mM H2CO3, affecting the pH calculations.

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Homework Statement


Im having issues with two parts of this problem, not sure what I'm doing wrong...

A lake with a surface area of 12.2 acres (1 acre = 4.840 103 yd2) receives 1.67 in. of rain of pH 4.82. (Assume that the acidity of the rain is due to a strong, monoprotic acid.) How many moles of H3O+ are in the rain falling on the lake? I solved that the mols are 32 H3O.

If the lake is unbuffered (assume pH = 7.00) and its average depth is 9.20 ft before the rain, calculate the pH after the rain has been thoroughly mixed with lake water. (Ignore runoff from the surrounding land.)

New pH = IM HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS ONE

Natural waters are typically buffered by dissolved carbonates. If the lake originally contains 0.96 mM HCO3- and 0.28 mM H2CO3, what is the pH of the lake water before and after the rain? (Ignore runoff).

pH = (before rain) I solved it for 6.90
pH = (after rain) IM HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS ONE

any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.


Homework Equations


ph=pka + log (a/ha)
ph=-log[h]


The Attempt at a Solution


above
 
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You've calculated the moles of H3O+ in the given volume of rainwater from the pH of rainwater. Next, you just need to work backwards. You know the number of moles of H3O+ from rain. Add to this the number of moles of H3O+ in the lake (pH=7), to get the total number of moles of H3O+. With this number and the final volume of the lake, you can calculate the final (unbuffered) pH.
 

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