Question

a) What substances are present in an aqueous buffer composed of HC2H3O2 and C2H3O2 - ?b) What happens when LiOH is added to a buffer composed of HC2H3O2 and C2H3O2 - ? Write a chemical equation for that reaction.c) What happens when HBr is added to this buffer? Write a chemical equation for that reaction.

Answer 1

Answer:

a) HC₂H₃O₂, C₂H₃O₂⁻, H₃O⁺, H₂O, OH⁻

b) HC₂H₃O₂ + LiOH ⇄ H₂O + LiC₂H₃O₂

c) C₂H₃O₂⁻ + HBr ⇄ HC₂H₃O₂ + Br⁻

Explanation:

a) In a HC₂H₃O₂/C₂H₃O₂⁻ buffer system, the following reactions take place:

HC₂H₃O₂ + H₂O ⇄ C₂H₃O₂⁻ + H₃O⁺

C₂H₃O₂⁻ + H₂O ⇄ HC₂H₃O₂ + OH⁻

Thus, the species present are: HC₂H₃O₂, C₂H₃O₂⁻, H₃O⁺, H₂O, OH⁻.

b) When LiOH is added to the buffer system, it is partially neutralized according to the following equation.

HC₂H₃O₂ + LiOH ⇄ H₂O + LiC₂H₃O₂

c) When HBr is added to the buffer system, it is partially neutralized according to the following equation.

C₂H₃O₂⁻ + HBr ⇄ HC₂H₃O₂ + Br⁻