Question

A chemist must prepare 300.0mL of nitric acid solution with a pH of 0.70 at 25°C. He will do this in three steps: Fill a 300.0mL volumetric flask about halfway with distilled water. Measure out a small volume of concentrated (7.0M) stock nitric acid solution and add it to the flask. Fill the flask to the mark with distilled water. Calculate the volume of concentrated nitric acid

Answer 1

Answer: The volume of concentrated solution required is 9.95 mL

Explanation:

To calculate the pH of the solution, we use the equation:

$pH=-\log[H^+]$

We are given:

pH = 0.70

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$0.70=-\log[H^+]$

$[H^+]=10^{-0.70}=0.199M$

1 mole of nitric acid produces 1 mole of hydrogen ions and 1 mole of nitrate ions.

Molarity of nitric acid = 0.199 M

To calculate the volume of the concentrated solution, we use the equation:

$M_1V_1=M_2V_2$

where,

$M_1\text{ and }V_1$ are the molarity and volume of the concentrated nitric acid solution

$M_2\text{ and }V_2$ are the molarity and volume of diluted nitric acid solution

We are given:

$M_1=7.0M\\V_1=?mL\\M_2=0.199M\\V_2=350mL$

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$7.0\times V_1=0.199\times 350.0\\\\V_1=\frac{0.199\times 350}{7.0}=9.95mL$

Hence, the volume of concentrated solution required is 9.95 mL