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Chapter 15: Problem 65

Consider the three molecular compounds \(\mathrm{HCl}\), \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COOH}\), and \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \cdot\) (a) When they dissolve in water they all produce a common ion. What is it? (b) Why is it proper to call all three compounds electrolytes? (c) \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COOH}\) is the only weak electrolyte among the three compounds above. Write an equilibrium to show this using a set of unequal-length double arrows.

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) The common ion produced by HCl, CH3COOH, and H2SO4 when they dissolve in water is the hydrogen ion, H+. (b) It is proper to call HCl, CH3COOH, and H2SO4 electrolytes because they dissociate into ions in the solution, which enables them to conduct electricity. (c) The equilibrium expression for the weak electrolyte CH3COOH is CH3COOH \(\rightleftharpoons\) H+ + CH3COO-.

Step by step solution

01

(a) Identifying the common ion when the compounds dissolve in water

The given molecular compounds are HCl, CH3COOH, and H2SO4. When they dissolve in water, they ionize as follows: HCl \(\rightarrow\) H+ + Cl- CH3COOH \(\rightarrow\) H+ + CH3COO- H2SO4 \(\rightarrow\) 2H+ + SO4^2- Comparing the ions formed, we can see that the common ion produced by all three compounds when they dissolve in water is the hydrogen ion, H+.
02

(b) Explaining why these compounds are called electrolytes

An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in a solvent, such as water, due to the presence of dissociated ions. In this case, all three compounds dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, as shown in the previous step. These ions are available to carry an electric current across the solution, thus acting as electrolytes. Hence, it is proper to call HCl, CH3COOH, and H2SO4 electrolytes because they dissociate into ions in the solution, which enables them to conduct electricity.
03

(c) Writing the equilibrium expression for the weak electrolyte CH3COOH

Among the three compounds, CH3COOH is the only weak electrolyte, meaning it does not dissociate completely into ions in the solution. Instead, it reaches a state of equilibrium, as represented by an unequal-length double arrow. We can write the equilibrium expression as follows: CH3COOH \(\rightleftharpoons\) H+ + CH3COO- Here, the unequal-length double arrow (\(\rightleftharpoons\)) represents the equilibrium state, signifying that the forward and backward reactions occur simultaneously between the non-ionized CH3COOH and the dissociated H+ and CH3COO- ions.

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