Titrations and buffers help, test tommorow

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    Buffers Test
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a problem related to buffer solutions, specifically how to calculate the amount of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) needed to create a buffer with a specific pH using ammonia (NH3) as the base. The participants explore different methods and concepts related to buffer calculations, including the use of ICE tables and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how to solve the problem, stating they understand the reverse process but struggle with the current question.
  • The same participant sets up an ICE table but encounters difficulties in calculating the concentration of NH4+ needed for the buffer.
  • Another participant questions whether the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation has been covered in class, indicating that they have not learned about pKa values and only simple buffers.
  • A different participant suggests that using ICE tables for buffer calculations is inefficient and recommends the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation as a more effective method, providing a brief outline of how to convert Kb to pKa.
  • There is a note about the importance of using correct notation in chemical formulas to avoid ambiguity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the best method for solving the buffer problem. Some advocate for the use of the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, while others express uncertainty about their understanding of the necessary concepts.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations in their current knowledge, such as not having covered the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation or pKa values, which may affect their ability to solve the problem effectively.

Nelo
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I don't understand how to do this problem, but i Understand how to do the reverse of it.

"You have 25mL of 0.10M nh3 solution. How many grams of nh4Cl do you need to add to make a buffer with a ph of 9?) answer is 0.18M of nh4+.

What I've done is set up the initial table.
nh3 + h20 ----> nh4+ oh-
I 0.10 0.10
C-x +x x

edit::(this table is posting wrong.. but you get the point... x is on nh4 and oh h2o is neglected)
E0.10-10^-9 (keeping values same basically)

Second thing i did was solve x by doign the antilog of the -ph.
giving me 1*10^-9. which i believe is correct.

kb for nh4 is 1.8*10^-5.

I set up this : 1.8*10^-5 = 0.10x/ 0.10

End up getting the same answer as the constant. Cant be right, what am i doing wrong when the ph of the buffer is given?
 
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Nelo said:
I don't understand how to do this problem, but i Understand how to do the reverse of it.

"You have 25mL of 0.10M nh3 solution. How many grams of nh4Cl do you need to add to make a buffer with a ph of 9?) answer is 0.18M of nh4+.

What I've done is set up the initial table.
nh3 + h20 ----> nh4+ oh-
I 0.10 0.10
C-x +x x

edit::(this table is posting wrong.. but you get the point... x is on nh4 and oh h2o is neglected)
E0.10-10^-9 (keeping values same basically)

Second thing i did was solve x by doign the antilog of the -ph.
giving me 1*10^-9. which i believe is correct.

kb for nh4 is 1.8*10^-5.

I set up this : 1.8*10^-5 = 0.10x/ 0.10

End up getting the same answer as the constant. Cant be right, what am i doing wrong when the ph of the buffer is given?

Have you covered the Henderson Hasselbach equation in class?
 
No, we have not. we don't use pKa values at all. We simply have covered simple buffers. However I don't understand how to solve this question.. and apparently normal buffer questions when mol/L are different
 


Using ICE tables for buffer calculations - while sometimes possible - is a waste of time. There is a much better tool for that - Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

This question is quite easy to solve - convert Kb to pKa (pKa + pKb = 14, pKb = -log(Kb)), plug everything given into HH equation, and solve for the only unknown - [HN4+].

Please don't ignore capital letters in formulas, they are there to avoid ambiguity. co doesn't meant anything as CO and Co are completely different things.
 

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