Textbook Question
The precipitation of Al(OH)3 (Ksp) = 1.3⨉10-33) is sometimes used ot purify water. (a) Estimate the pH at which precipitation of Al(OH)3 will begin if 5.0 lb of Al2(SO4)3 is added to 2000 gal of water
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Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement177
- Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions231
- Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry216
- Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution189
- Ch.5 - Thermochemistry175
- Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms168
- Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements150
- Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding177
- Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories200
- Ch.10 - Gases179
- Ch.11 - Liquids and Intermolecular Forces113
- Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials154
- Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions157
- Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics199
- Ch.15 - Chemical Equilibrium128
- Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria164
- Ch.17 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria163
- Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment105
- Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics164
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry171
- Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry122
- Ch.22 - Chemistry of the Nonmetals82
- Ch.23 - Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry79
- Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry16
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 18, Problem 92b
The pH of a particular raindrop is 5.6. (b) What experiments could you do to test the hypothesis that the rain also contains sulfur-containing species that contribute to its pH? Assume you have a large sample of rain to test.
Verified step by step guidance1
Collect a large sample of rainwater and divide it into smaller samples for different tests.
Perform a qualitative analysis to detect the presence of sulfur-containing species, such as sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻), using a barium chloride (BaCl₂) test. A white precipitate of barium sulfate (BaSO₄) indicates the presence of sulfate ions.
Conduct a quantitative analysis using ion chromatography to measure the concentration of sulfate ions in the rainwater sample.
Use a pH meter to measure the pH of the rainwater sample and compare it with the pH of distilled water to determine the acidity level.
Perform a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to detect and identify any volatile sulfur compounds, such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂), that may be present in the rainwater.
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Video duration:
4mKey Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
pH Scale
The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, ranging from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, while values below 7 indicate acidity and above 7 indicate basicity. The pH of 5.6 suggests that the rain is slightly acidic, which can be influenced by dissolved gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides.
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The pH Scale
Acid-Base Reactions
Acid-base reactions involve the transfer of protons (H+) between substances. In the context of rain, sulfur-containing species such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4) can form when sulfur oxides react with water. Understanding these reactions is crucial for identifying the sources of acidity in rainwater.
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Analytical Chemistry Techniques
Analytical chemistry techniques, such as titration and spectroscopy, are essential for identifying and quantifying chemical species in a sample. To test for sulfur-containing species in rain, experiments like ion chromatography or spectrophotometry can be employed to detect specific ions or compounds, providing evidence for their contribution to the rain's pH.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
The pH of a particular raindrop is 5.6.
(a) Assuming the major species in the raindrop are H2CO3(aq), HCO3-(aq) and CO32- (aq), Calculate the concentrations of these species in the raindrop, assuming the total carbonate concentration is 1.0 * 10-5 M. The appropriate Ka values are given in Table 16.3.
(b) What experiments could you do to test the hypothesis that the rain also contains sulfur-containing species that contribute to its pH? Assume you have a large sample of rain to test.
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Textbook Question
The valuable polymer polyurethane is made by a condensa- tion reaction of alcohols (ROH) with compounds that con- tain an isocyanate group (RNCO). Two reactions that can generate a urethane monomer are shown here: (i)
(ii)
(c) If you wanted to promote the formation of the isocyanate intermediate in each reaction, what could you do, using Le Châtelier's principle?
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