A solution is prepared by dissolving 0.23 mol of hypochlorous acid and 0.27 mol of sodium hypochlorite in water sufficient to yi
eld 1.00 L of solution. The addition of 0.05 mol of HCl to this buffer solution causes the pH to drop slightly. The pH does not decrease drastically because the HCl reacts with the ________ present in the buffer solution. The Ka of hypochlorous acid is 1.36 × 10-3.
The hypochlorous acid, HClO, is a weak acid with Ka = 1.36x10⁻³, when this acid is in solution with its conjugate base, ClO⁻ (From sodium hypochlorite, NaClO) a buffer is produced. When a strong acid as HCl is added, the reaction that occurs is:
HCl + ClO⁻ → HClO + Cl⁻.
Where more hypochlorous acid is produced.
That means, the HCl reacts with the hypochlorite ion present in solution
