What is the equation for calculating [H3O+] in a salt of weak acid and base?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of hydronium ion concentration ([H3O+]) in solutions of salts derived from weak acids and weak bases. Participants explore various approaches to understanding the equilibrium relationships and mathematical formulations involved in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the hydrolysis reactions of the salt components depend on each other, leading to a single degree of hydrolysis being used for calculations.
  • Another participant proposes a general approach involving mass balances and equilibrium equations to derive the necessary relationships for calculating [H3O+].
  • A different viewpoint introduces specific charge balance equations and equilibrium constants, leading to a complex expression for [H3O+].
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the derived results, indicating uncertainty about the validity of the final expression for [H3O+].
  • There are suggestions for improving clarity in the mathematical presentation, including the use of LaTeX for formatting equations.
  • Another participant presents a derived formula for [H3O+] under certain assumptions about the concentrations of the weak acid and base components.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct approach or final expression for calculating [H3O+]. Multiple competing views and methods are presented, reflecting uncertainty and differing interpretations of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the complexity of the relationships between the concentrations and equilibrium constants, indicating that assumptions about concentration magnitudes may significantly affect the results. The discussion includes unresolved mathematical steps and dependencies on specific conditions.

Salt of weak acid and base

  • Salt

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • pH

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    0
Kathe
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
TL;DR
Because of character limit I have exposed my question in the attached pdf
Because of character limit I have exposed my question in the attached pdf
 

Attachments

Chemistry news on Phys.org
I wish I could view the file WITHOUT downloading it. I will NOT download the file.
 
Let me explain: at the beginning I thought I had to insert the post in the "summary" box and it gave me a limit of 250 characters, so I wrote the post in the form of a PDF attachment. I'll rewrite it. Please help me if you can.
In general, when dealing with a weak acid salt and weak base, it is assumed that the three reactions
(hydrolysis of BH+,of A-and self water autolysis) depend on each other and there for only one degree
of hydrolysis is used. In reality if the acidity constant of the base is different from that of the basicity of
the acid the degree of ionization of BH+ is different from that of A-. Assuming that Cs is the initial
concentration of the BHA salt then(BH+)i=(A-)i=Cs. At equilibrium [BH+]=Cs-x or for x=Csα1 then
[BH+]=Cs(1-α1) and [ B]=[H3O+]=x; At equilibrium [A-]=Cs-y or for y=Csα2 then [A-]=Cs(1-α2)
and [HA]=[OH-]=y; If x is different from y how is the pH calculated?Note that Ka. of the base=([ B][H3O+])/[BH+] and Kb of the acid=([HA[OH-])/[A-] where Ka of the acid=Kw/Kb of the acid.Please help me!
 
Hello Borek, I read the link and I was inspired but I made some changes because in my case [BH +] = Cs- and [A -] = Cs- [HA]. From the charge balance [A -] + [OH-] = [BH +] + [H3O +]. The Ka of BH + is ([H3O +]) / [BH +] = ( [H3O +]) / (Cs- ) and for Cs >> we have that Ka of BH + is equal ad ([H3O +])/ Cs; similarly the Ka of HA is ([A -] [H3O +]) / [HA] = ((Cs- [HA]) [H3O +]) / [HA]; and for Cs >> [HA] we have that Ka of HA is equal to (Cs [H3O +]) / [HA]. So = Ka di BH+ * Cs / [H3O +]; [HA] = (Cs * [H3O +]) / Ka of HA. Always from the charge balance (Cs - [HA]) + Kw / [H3O +] = (Cs - ) + H3O +. Cs - (Cs * [H3O +] / Ka of HA) + Kw / [H3O +] = Cs - (Ka of BH + * Cs / [H3O +]. From which - (Cs * [H3O +] / Ka of HA) + Kw / [H3O +] = - (Ka of BH + * Cs / [H3O +]. Therefore, rearranging (Ka of BH + * Cs / [H3O +] + Kw / [H3O +] = (Cs * [H3O +] / Ka of HA) + [ H3O +]. Applying the logarithms at the end results that 4pH = (pka of BH +) + (pka of HA) + pkw I honestly do not believe that this is the result.
 
Last edited:
I don't know why it never appears in the post.
 
[ B] marks the beginning of the bolded text, add a space after the opening square bracket to to avoid that.

Please try to use LaTeX to format your equations (there is a link just below the edit field that explains how to do so):

[tex]K_a = \frac {[H^+][A^-]}{[HA]}[/tex]

I am afraid at the moment your post is unreadable so quite difficult to follow.
 
Hello, today taking inspiration from you, I went to review the demonstration of the polyprotic acids and I finally succeeded in extracting that [H3O +] = {(Kw + Ka of the base * [BH +]) / (1+ [A -] / Ka acid)} ^ 1/2. If [BH +] ~ Cs and [A-] ~ Cs then [BH +] = [A -] = Cs. Then [H3O +] = {(Kw + Ka of the base *Cs) / (1+ Cs / Ka of the acid)} ^ 1/2. For Ka of the base * Cs >> Kw and Cs / Ka of the acid >> 1 then [H3O +] = {(Ka of the base * Cs) * (Ka of the acid/Cs)} ^ 1/2. So [H3O +] = (Ka of the base * Ka of the acid/Cs)^ 1/2.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
4K
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
8K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K