Question

formic acid buffer containing 0.50 M HCOOH and 0.50 M HCOONa has a pH of 3.77. What will the pH be after 0.010 mol of NaOH has been added to 100.0 mL of the buffer

Answer 1

Answer:

pH = 3.95

Explanation:

It is possible to calculate the pH of a buffer using H-H equation.

pH = pka + log₁₀ [HCOONa] / [HCOOH]

If concentration of [HCOONa] = [HCOOH] = 0.50M and pH = 3.77:

3.77 = pka + log₁₀ [0.50] / [0.50]

3.77 = pka

Knowing pKa, the NaOH reacts with HCOOH, thus:

HCOOH + NaOH → HCOONa + H₂O

That means the NaOH you add reacts with HCOOH producing more HCOONa.

Initial moles of 100.0mL = 0.1000L:

[HCOOH] = (0.50mol / L) ₓ 0.1000L = 0.0500moles HCOOH

[HCOONa] = (0.50mol / L) ₓ 0.1000L = 0.0500moles HCOONa

After the reaction, moles of each species is:

0.0500moles HCOOH - 0.010 moles NaOH (Moles added of NaOH) = 0.0400 moles HCOOH

0.0500moles HCOONa + 0.010 moles NaOH (Moles added of NaOH) = 0.0600 moles HCOONa

With these moles of the buffer, you can calculate pH:

pH = 3.77 + log₁₀ [0.0600] / [0.0400]

pH = 3.95