In: Chemistry
Malonic acid (H2M) is a diprotic acid. You wish to prepare a buffer of malonic acid (pKa1 = 2.847, pKa2= 5.696) with a final pH of 2.90 but you only have disodium malonate (M2-) in your laboratory shelf. You dissolve 100 mmol of this salt in 1 L of water. Assume both dissociation processes are decoupled.
What is the initial pH of the solution? State any assumptions you make.
How many equivalents of strong acid must you add to your solution to end with only HM- ?
What is the approximate pH of this solution of HM- ? Use an adequate mathematical approximation.
How many additional equivalents must you add to reach the desired pH of 2.90?
What is the initial pH of the solution? State any assumptions you make.
Initial [M2-] = 0.1 mol/L (Cbase)
Initial pH:
The simplest calculation
pOH = 0.5pKb -0.5logCbase
= 0.5(14-5.696) -0.5log0.1
= 4.152+0.5 = 4.652
Note. 10-4.652 << Cbase (the simple calculation is justified)
Initial pH = 14 – 4.652 = 9.348
How many equivalents of strong acid must you add to your solution to end with only HM- ?
100 mequiv
What is the approximate pH of this solution of HM- ? Use an adequate mathematical approximation.
HM- is an amphoter
pH = (pKa1+pka2)/2 = 4.271
How many additional equivalents must you add to reach the desired pH of 2.90?
Buffer pH
pka1 < buffer pH < pKa2 and buffer pH-pKa1<1. Then
pH = pKa1 + log ([HM-]/[H2M])
2.90 = 2.847 + log([HM-]/[H2M])
[HM-]/[H2M] = 0.053:1
[HM-] / Ctotal H2M = 0.053/1.053 = 0.050
In the second neutralization step, the addition of acid have to be only
100 x (1 – 0.050) = 95% of the quantity needed for a complete neutralization.
Answer: 95% x 100 mequiv.= 95 mequiv.