Question

The next few questions will walk you through solving the following problem: At a given temperature, a 5.0M solution of hydrazine (N2H4) as a pH of 11.34. Hydrazine is base.
A. What is the concentration of hydroxide ion at equilibrium?
B. What is the pK for hydrazine reacting with water at this temperature?

Answer 1

Answer:

A. [OH⁻] = 2.188x10⁻³M

B. pKb = 6.02

Explanation:

When hydrazine is in equilbrium with water, its reaction is:

N₂H₄(aq) + H₂O(l) ⇄ HN₂H₄⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq)

Where Kb, is defined as the ratio between concentrations in equilibrium of the species, thus:

Kb = [HN₂H₄⁺] [OH⁻] / [N₂H₄]

A. From pH, you can find [OH⁻], thus:

pH = -log [H⁺]

11.34 = -log [H⁺]

4.57x10⁻¹² = [H⁺]

As 1x10⁻¹⁴ = [OH⁻] [H⁺]

1x10⁻¹⁴ / 4.57x10⁻¹² = [OH⁻]

[OH⁻] = 2.188x10⁻³M

B. Concentrations in equilibrium of the species are:

[N₂H₄] = 5.0M - X

[HN₂H₄⁺] = X

[OH⁻] = X

Where X is reaction coordinate

As [OH⁻] = 2.188x10⁻³M

X = 2.188x10⁻³M

Replacing:

[N₂H₄] = 5.0M - 2.188x10⁻³M = 4.9978M

[HN₂H₄⁺] = 2.188x10⁻³M

[OH⁻] = 2.188x10⁻³M

Replacing in Kb expression:

Kb = [HN₂H₄⁺] [OH⁻] / [N₂H₄]

Kb = [2.188x10⁻³M] [2.188x10⁻³M] / [4.9978M]

Kb = 9.577x10⁻⁷

pKb is defined as -log Kb

pKb = -log 9.577x10⁻⁷

pKb = 6.02