A flask containing 450 mL of 0.500 M HBr was accidentally knocked to the floor. How many grams of K2CO3 would you need to put on the spill to neutralize the acid according to the following equation?

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First, we need to understand the balanced chemical equation for the reaction. In this case, the reaction between hydrobromic acid (HBr) and potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is: 2HBr + K2CO3 -> 2KBr + H2O + CO2. From this equation, we can see that 2 moles of HBr react with 1 mole of K2CO3.

Next, we need to calculate the number of moles of HBr that were spilled. We can do this by multiplying the volume of the solution (in liters) by the molarity of the solution. Remember that molarity is defined as moles of solute per liter of solution.

Once we have the number of moles of HBr, we can use the stoichiometry of the reaction to find the number of moles of K2CO3 needed to neutralize the acid. According to the balanced chemical equation, 1 mole of K2CO3 is needed to neutralize 2 moles of HBr.

After finding the number of moles of K2CO3, we can convert this to grams by using the molar mass of K2CO3. The molar mass of K2CO3 is approximately 138.21 g/mol.

Finally, multiply the number of moles of K2CO3 by its molar mass to find the mass in grams of K2CO3 needed to neutralize the acid.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Neutralization Reaction

A neutralization reaction occurs when an acid reacts with a base to produce water and a salt. In this case, HBr, a strong acid, reacts with K2CO3, a weak base, to form potassium bromide, water, and carbon dioxide. Understanding this reaction is crucial for determining the stoichiometry involved in neutralizing the acid spill.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on balanced equations. It allows us to determine the exact amounts of substances needed for a reaction. In this scenario, knowing the molar ratios from the balanced equation will help calculate how many grams of K2CO3 are required to neutralize the given amount of HBr.

Molarity and Volume Calculations

Molarity (M) is a measure of concentration defined as moles of solute per liter of solution. To find the number of moles of HBr in the spill, we multiply the molarity by the volume in liters. This calculation is essential for determining how much K2CO3 is needed for neutralization, as it directly relates the concentration of the acid to the amount of base required.

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