Chapter 15: Problem 10

How does the strength of an acid relate to the concentration of the acid? How does the strength of an acid relate to the pH of an aqueous solution of the acid? How does the concentration of an acid solution relate to the solution's pH?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The strength of an acid (its ability to donate protons) is not directly related to its concentration (the number of acid molecules in a volume of solution). These both impact the pH of an acid solution in that a stronger acid at any given concentration and a higher concentration of any given acid will yield a lower pH, indicating a stronger acidic solution. Nevertheless, a weak acid may potentially have a lower pH than a strong acid if its concentration is significantly higher.

Step by step solution

Defining the Concepts

Strength of an acid refers to its ability to donate protons (H+ ions). Strong acids essentially disassociate completely into their constituent ions in a solution. Concentration, on the other hand, refers to the number of acid molecules in a given volume of solution. It's important to remember that strength and concentration are not interchangeable. A strong acid can be diluted to have a low concentration, while a weak acid can have a high concentration.

Relating Strength to Concentration

The strength of an acid is intrinsic to its molecular structure and is not directly related to its concentration. A stronger acid does not necessarily imply a higher concentration of the acid. A weak acid can be more concentrated than a strong acid if the weak acid solution has more acid particles per unit volume.

Understanding pH

The pH of a solution is a measure of the concentration of H+ ions in the solution. It is calculated using the formula: pH = -log[H+]. A lower pH means a higher concentration of H+ ions, hence stronger acidity.

Relating Strength to pH

For a given concentration, the strength of an acid will affect the pH of the solution because stronger acids disassociate more completely, releasing more H+ ions and thus leading to a lower pH.

Relating Concentration to pH

The concentration of an acid solution will directly affect its pH, irrespective of whether the acid is strong or weak. A higher concentration of an acid will lead to more H+ ions, hence a lower pH value, i.e., the solution will be more acidic.

Summary

In summary, the strength of an acid is a measure of its ability to disassociate into ions, the concentration measures the number of acidic particles, and pH measures the concentration of H+ ions. All these factors play a role in the overall acidity. A strong acid and a high concentration will both result in a lower pH (stronger acidity), but they do so through different mechanisms.

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How does the strength of an acid relate to the concentration of the acid? How does the strength of an acid relate to the pH of an aqueous solution of the acid? How does the concentration of an acid solution relate to the solution's pH?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Defining the Concepts

Relating Strength to Concentration

Understanding pH

Relating Strength to pH

Relating Concentration to pH

Summary

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