In: Chemistry
A biochemist dissolved 5.00 g citric acid in 250 mL of water. The pKa of citric acid is 3.13 and the molecular weight is 192 g/mol. Determine the pH of the solution and the ratio of conjugate base to weak acid at equilibrium.
moles of acid = mass / molar mass
= 5.00 / 192
= 0.0260
volume = 0.250 L
molarity = moles / volume
= 0.0260 / 0.250
= 0.104 M
acid = HA
HA <----------------------------> H+ + A-
0.104 0 0
0.104-x x x
Ka = x^2 / 0.104 -x
10^-3.13 = x^2 / 0.104 -x
7.41 x 10^-4= x^2 / 0.104 -x
x = 8.42 x 10^-3
[H+] = 8.42 x 10^-3 M
pH = -log [H+]
pH = -log (8.42 x 10^-3)
pH = 2.07
conjugate base = 8.42 x 10^-3
acid = 0.104 - (8.42 x 10^-3) = 0.0956 M
ratio of conjugate base / weak acid = 8.42 x 10^-3 /0.0956
= 0.0881