In: Chemistry
Calculate the [H3O+] of the following polyprotic acid solution: 0.400 M H3PO4.
Solution :-
ka1 = 7.2*10^-3
ka2 = 6.3*10^-8
ka3 = 4.2*10^-13
lets write the equation of the H3PO4 in water
H3PO4 + H2O ------ > H3O+ + H2PO4^-
0.400 0 0
-x +x +x
0.400-x x x
ka1 = [H3O+] [H2PO4^-]/[H3PO4]
7.2*1^-3 = [x][x]/[0.400-x]
7.2*10^-3 *0.400-x =x^2
solving for the x we get
0.0502 = x
so the concentration of the H3O+ from the ka1 = 0.0502 M
the ka2 and ka3 values are very small therefore it will not add much to the H3O+ concentration
Therefore the concentration of the H3O+ = 0.0502 M