Determine [OH] of solution?

Question

I need assistance in determining the hydroxide ion concentration ([OH^-]) of a solution that is 0.120 M in carbonate ions ((CO_3^{2-})). Additionally, I would like to calculate the pH and pOH of this solution. I have tried multiple approaches but have not been successful. A detailed answer and explanation would be greatly appreciated!

Fletcher Boehm · Accepted Answer

Carbonate ion undergoes hydrolysis in water solution creating the following equilibrium:
CO32-(aq) + H2O(l) ↔ HCO3-(aq) + OH-(aq)
The Kb constant for this reaction is 2.0 × 10^-4.  The bicarbonate ion also undergoes hydrolysis creating a secondary equilibrium system:
HCO3-(aq) + H2O(l) ↔ H2CO3(aq) + OH-(aq)
The Kb constant for the second reaction is 2.5 × 10^-8.
Since the second equilibrium constant is so much smaller than the first, the concentration of hydroxide ions generated by the second reaction may be considered neglibible.  For the purpose of this problem, let us assume that only the first equilibrium takes place.  Due to the small size of the equilibrium constant (2.0 × 10^-4), we can assume that the original concentration of CO32-(aq) ion remains virtually the same.  The concentrations of both HCO3-(aq) and OH-(aq) ions are equal to each other or to “X”.  The equilibrium constant expression for this reaction would be:
Kb = {[HCO3-][OH-]} / [CO32-]
2.0 × 10^-4 = {[X][X]} / [0.120]
(2.0 × 10^-4)[0.120] = X^2
0.24 × 10^-4 = X^2
0.49 × 10^-2 = X
[OH-] = 4.9 × 10^-3 M
pOH = – log [OH-]
pOH = – log [4.9 × 10^-3]
pOH = – [-2.30980392]
pOH = 2.31
pH + pOH = 14.00
pH = 14.00 – pOH
pH = 14.00 – 2.31
pH = 11.69
Answer:  
The [OH-] of a solution that is .120 M in CO3^2- is 4.9 × 10^-3 M. 
The pH of this solution is 11.69.
The pOH of this solution is 2.31.

Anonymous · Answer

I don’t know where you got the 2.0×10^-4 but that is NOT the Kb for this reaction. The Kb for CO3^2- is 1.8×10-4

Anonymous · Answer

Kb is wrong. Kb is actually 1.8×10^-4

Clare Beer

Determine [OH] of solution?

3 Answers

AI-Powered Insights

Want to answer this question?

Categories

Tags

Related Questions