What is the pH of a solution made by mixing 0.30 mol NaOH, 0.25 mol Na2HPO4, and 0.20 mol H3PO4 with water and diluting to 1.00 L?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the species present in the solution. NaOH is a strong base, Na2HPO4 is a salt that can act as a weak base, and H3PO4 is a weak acid.
2. Step 2: Determine the reactions that will occur. NaOH will react with H3PO4 to form water and Na2HPO4. Write the balanced chemical equation for this reaction: \[ \text{NaOH} + \text{H}_3\text{PO}_4 \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{HPO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \].
3. Step 3: Calculate the moles of each reactant and product after the reaction. Use stoichiometry to determine the limiting reactant and the amount of each species remaining or formed.
4. Step 4: Determine the dominant species in the solution after the reaction. Consider the remaining moles of NaOH, Na2HPO4, and H3PO4 to identify the predominant acid-base pair.
5. Step 5: Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to calculate the pH of the solution. The equation is \[ \text{pH} = \text{pK}_a + \log \left( \frac{[\text{A}^-]}{[\text{HA}]} \right) \], where \([\text{A}^-]\) is the concentration of the conjugate base and \([\text{HA}]\) is the concentration of the weak acid.

Key Concepts

pH and pOH

pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration (pH = -log[H+]). A pH less than 7 indicates an acidic solution, while a pH greater than 7 indicates a basic solution. Understanding pH is crucial for determining the nature of the solution formed by mixing different substances.

Buffer Solutions

A buffer solution is a system that resists changes in pH upon the addition of small amounts of acid or base. In this case, the combination of Na2HPO4 (a weak base) and H3PO4 (a weak acid) can create a buffer system. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be used to calculate the pH of such a buffer solution, which is essential for understanding the final pH of the mixed solution.

Stoichiometry of Acid-Base Reactions

Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. In this scenario, the amounts of NaOH, Na2HPO4, and H3PO4 must be considered to determine how they interact in solution. The neutralization reaction between the strong base (NaOH) and the weak acid (H3PO4) will affect the overall pH, making it important to analyze the stoichiometric relationships between these components.