School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

Week 12 Practice Problems Answers

Solubility Product Acids/bases Buffers Titrations
(Attempt the questions marked with an asterisk (*) before attempting the rest)
The Solubility Product Ksp
1)

*Write the solubility product expressions for the following reactions.

a. AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
b. PbI2(s) Pb2+(aq) + 2I-(aq)
c. Ag2CO3(s) 2Ag+(aq) + CO32-(aq)

K sp =[Ag+ ][Cl- ]
K sp =[Pb2+ ][I- ]2
K sp =[Ag+ ]2 [CO32 ]
2)

*Calcium carbonate is a good material for shellfish to use for protection in the oceans as the
equilibrium lies to the left because of the presence of carbonate ions from dissolved CO2 in sea water.
Calcium carbonate does dissolve, slightly, in pure water. The equilibrium constant Ksp = 5.0 x 10-9 at
298 K.
CaCO3(s) Ca2+(aq) + CO32-(aq)
a. Write the correct expression for the equilibrium constant, Ksp.

Ksp [Ca2+ ][CO32- ]

b. If the concentration of carbonate ions, CO32-, present in sea water is 1 x 10-4 M, what concentration
of calcium ions [Ca2+] would need to be added to produce a precipitate at 298 K?
A precipitate will be present if [Ca2+][CO32-] is larger than the Ksp value. CaCO3 will precipitate
until equilibrium is reached and at equilibrium [Ca2+][CO32-]= Ksp.

Ksp = [Ca2+] [CO32]

5.0 109

Ksp = [2] = 1.0 104 = 5.0 x 105 mol L1

3

Therefore, a concentration larger than 5.0 x 10-5 mol L-1 is needed to precipitate CaCO3 from
seawater.

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090
3)

Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false, and explain your reasoning.
a.

The sparingly soluble salt CaCO3 has a solubility of 0.013 g L-1 at 25 C in pure water. The
concentration of CO32- ions at equilibrium in solution will be greater if 10.0 g of calcium
carbonate is added to 2.00 L of water than if only 5.00 g of CaCO3 is added to the same volume
of water.
No, the concentration will be the same, adding 10.0 g of calcium carbonate in 2 L of water
compared to adding 5.00 g. Only 0.026 g can be dissolved in 2 L of water at 25 C. After that,
the excess solid will not dissolve, as these two solutions are both saturated. A saturated
solution is one that contains the maximum concentration of the solute in solution.

b.

Once the equilibrium is reached, the forward and reverse chemical reactions stop.
Chemical equilibria are dynamic, reactions continue in both directions. The rates of the
reactions in both directions are the same, which is why there is no net change.

4)

When 1.0 g of AgCl is placed in a beaker containing 2.00 L of water at room temperature, only a small
amount of AgCl(s) is observed to dissolve. In fact only 8.0 x 10-5 mol of AgCl are found to dissolve.
Calculate the equilibrium constant, Ksp, for the reaction:
AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
Answer:
8.0 105 mol dissolves in 2.00 L.
8.0 105 mol
4.0 105 mol L1
2.00 L
This is the concentration of AgCl in solution, which is the same as [Ag ]and [Cl ].

Concentration =

K sp [Ag+ ][Cl- ] 4.0 10 5 4.0 10 5 1.6 109

5)

*Number the following salts in order of decreasing solubility. (1 most soluble, 5 least soluble)
a. Aluminium phosphate, AlPO4
Ksp = 9.8 x 10-21
b. Calcium sulfate, CaSO4
Ksp = 2.4 x 10-5
c. Silver acetate, Ag(CH3COO)
Ksp = 4.4 x 10-3
d. Silver cyanide, AgCN
Ksp = 2.2 x 10-16
e. Copper(II) carbonate, CuCO3
Ksp = 2.3 x 10-10
Note: Ksps can only be directly compared when the stoichiometry of the salts is the same e.g. all 1:1
or all 1:2. You cannot compare directly solubility by looking at Ksps for salts with different types of
stoichiometry.
Most soluble will have the largest value of Ksp, least soluble will have the smallest value. Ksps can
be compared because all these salts have the same 1:1 stoichiometry.
Silver acetate, Ag(CH3COO)

Ksp = 4.4 x 10-3

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090
Calcium sulfate, CaSO4
Copper(II) carbonate, CuCO3
Silver cyanide, AgCN
Aluminium phosphate, AlPO4

Ksp = 2.4 x 10-5

Ksp = 2.3 x 10-10
Ksp = 2.2 x 10-16
Ksp = 9.8 x 10-21

Does my answer make sense? All acetate salts are soluble, so the silver acetate should be the most
soluble. Silver salts and phosphate salts tend to be mostly insoluble, so they should be towards the
bottom of the list.

6)

***PAST EXAM QUESTION*** Semester 1 2013, Question 18

Barium sulphate is a partially soluble salt which is swallowed to enable X-ray imaging of the intestines.
It has a solubility product, Ksp = 1.1 x 10-10. What is the maximum concentration of an aqueous BaSO4
solution prepared using pure water at 25 C?
BaSO4(s) Ba2+(aq) + SO42-(aq)
K sp [Ba 2+ ][SO24 ]
For every s moles of BaSO4 that dissolves, there will be s moles of Ba 2 and s moles of SO24 ions in solution.
K sp s s
s 2 1.1 1010
s 1.1 1010 1.0 105 mol L1

Therefore the maximum concentration of a BaSO4 solution in pure water at 25 C will be

1.0 x 10-5 mol L-1.

7)

***PAST EXAM QUESTION*** Semester 1 2013, Question 4

A scientist has two beakers each containing aqueous solutions. Beaker A contains 100 mL of 0.10 M
silver nitrate (AgNO3) and Beaker B contains 100 mL of 0.10 M calcium chloride (CaCl2). These solutions
are mixed together in a new beaker, C.
a. How many moles of chloride ions are in Beaker C in total? (Show all steps in any calculations
below).
All of the Cl- ions come originally from the contents of Beaker B.
Number of moles Cl- = 2 x concentration CaCl2 mol L-1 x Volume (L)
= 2 x 0.10 mol L-1 x 0.1 L = 2.00 x 10-2 mol

b. A white precipitate of silver chloride appears on mixing.

i. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

2AgNO3(aq) + CaCl2(aq) 2AgCl(s) + Ca(NO3)2(aq)

ii.

Assuming the reaction goes to completion, calculate the mass of the silver chloride
formed.
AgNO3 is the limiting reagent.
Number of moles AgCl = 0.100 mol L-1 x 0.1 L = 1.0 x 10-2 mol
Mass AgCl = 1.0 x 10-2 mol x (atomic mass Ag + atomic mass Cl)
= 1.0 x 10-2 mol x (107.87 + 35.45) g mol-1
= 1.43 g

iii.

Describe the type of bonding that exists between the particles in the white solid.
Ionic.

Acids and Bases

8)

Complete the following table

Name
Sulfuric acid
Ammonia
Hydrofluoric acid
Magnesium hydroxide
Nitric acid
Phosphoric acid

9)

Formula
H2SO4
NH3
HF
Mg(OH)2
HNO3
H3PO4

Acid or Base
Acid
Base
Acid
Base
Acid
Acid

Strong or Weak?
Strong (first proton)
Weak
Weak
Strong
Strong
Weak

What is the BrnstedLowry definition of an acid?

An acid is a proton donor i.e. it can give a proton away to another species.

10)

Which of the following cannot act as a Brnsted-Lowry base? H2O, HCO3-, H2PO4-, HPO42-, NH4+.
A Brnsted-Lowry base is a proton-ion acceptor. NH4+ is the only one of the species shown that
cannot accept a proton.

11)

What is the definition of Kw?

12)

Kw is the dissociation constant for water.

Kw=[H3O+][OH-] and has a value of 1.0 x 10-14 for pure water at 25 C.
* Complete the following table:

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

Solution

pH

pOH

[H3O+] mol L-1

[OH-] mol L-1

4.50

=14-pH

=10-pH

=10-pOH =3.16 x10-10 mol L-1

= 9.50

=3.16 x 10-5 mol L-1

or Kw/[H3O+]=
1.0x10-14/3.16 x 10-5 =
3.16 x10-10 mol L-1

1.22

1.66 x10-13 mol L-1

6.03 x 10-2 mol L-1

6.41

2.6 x 10-8 mol L-1

3.8x10-7 mol L-1

3.42

2.60 x 10-11 mol L-1

3.84 x 10-4 mol L-1

=14-pOH
=12.78
=-log10[H3O+]

=7.59
4

13)

10.58

3.0 g of sodium hydroxide was added to 3 L of water. What is the pH of the resulting solution?
3.0 g NaOH.
Formula mass = atomic mass Na +atomic mass O + atomic mass H
=40.0 g mol1
Moles NaOH =

3.0 g
=7.5 10 2 mol.
1
40.0 g mol

Concentration OH =

mol 7.5 102 mol

=
=2.5 102 mol L1
V(L)
3L

First method: pOH = -log10 [OH ] -log10 (2.5 10 2 ) 1.60

pKw pH + pOH
pH = pKw pOH 14 1.60 12.40
Second method: Kw [H3O+ ][OH- ]
[H3O+ ]

Kw
1.0 1014

4.0 1013 mol L1

2
[OH ] 2.5 10

pH -log10 [H3O+ ] -log10 (4.0 10 13 ) 12.40

14)

Either method can be used. Either method would receive full marks in an exam if used correctly.
2.5 x 10-3 moles of HCl(g) was added to 1.0 L of water. What is the pH of the resulting solution?

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090
pH = -log10[H3O+] = 2.60

Buffers Solutions

15)

*Ethanoic or Acetic acid is a weak acid with a Ka of 1.8 x 10-5.

a. Give the balanced equation for the reaction between ethanoic (acetic) acid and water.
CH3COOH (aq) + H2O (l) CH3COO (aq) + H3O+ (aq)
b.

Give an expression for the Ka of this reaction.

Ka
16)

[H3O+ ][CH3COO- ]
[CH3COOH]

* Of the following solutions, identify which solutions could function as buffer solutions. (i.e. Pick weak
acid/weak base solution)
a. 0.1 M Na2HPO4/ 0.15 M NaH2PO4
Yes, weak acid and its conjugate base
b.

0.1 M Acetic acid / 0.25 M potassium acetate

Yes, weak acid and its conjugate base

c.

1.0 M Nitric acid/ 0.85 M Lithium nitrate

No, nitric acid is a strong acid

d.

0.5 M Hydrochloric acid/ 0.5 M ammonium chloride

No, HCl is a strong acid, NH4Cl is a weak acid

e.

0.1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide

No, this is a strong base

17)

0.4 moles of ethanoic acid (Ka 1.810-5) and 0.5 moles of sodium ethanoate were added to a 500 mL
volumetric flask, and water was added up to the 500 mL mark. What is the resulting pH of the buffer?
Step 1: Write the relevant equilibrium

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l)

CH3COO-(aq) + H3O+(aq)

Step 2: Write the Ka expression.

[H3O+ ][CH3COO- ]
Ka
[CH3COOH]
We have been given Ka and information about the number of moles of the ethanoic acid and
ethanoate ion.

[CH3COO- ]
moles CH3COO- / 0.5 L

[CH3COOH] moles CH3COOH / 0.5 L

moles CH3COOmoles CH3COOH

[CH3COO- ]
K a [H3O ]
[CH3COOH]
+

moles CH3COOK a [H3O ]

moles CH3COOH

0.5
0.4

K a [H3O ] 1.25
K a [H3O ]

Ka
1.8 105
[H3O ]

1.44 105 mol L1

1.25
1.25
pH log10 [H3O ] log10 (1.44 10 5 ) 4.84

Therefore the pH of the resulting buffer solution will be 4.84.

Does this answer make sense? We know that if the acid and conjugate base concentrations are
equal that pH = pKa. Here, we have slightly more of the conjugate base, so the pH will be slightly
greater than the pKa. A Ka value of 1.8 x 10-5 corresponds to a pKa of 4.84, so this answer does seem
reasonable.

Titrations
18)

*A 50 mL solution of hydrochloric acid (HCl) of unknown concentration was titrated with lithium
hydroxide (LiOH). If 65 mL of 0.04 M LiOH solution is required to reach the equivalence point, what
was the concentration of the original HCl solution?

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

Break these problems down into smaller steps, which will make them much easier to do.
Step 1 Write the relevant reaction:
HCl (aq) + LiOH (aq) H2O (l) + LiCl (aq)
Step 2 Work out what information you have been given.
Information
Volume
Concentration

HCl
50 mL
? (We are trying to find
this)
? (We dont know this
either)

Number of moles

LiOH
65 mL
0.04 mol L-1
?

There is more information about the LiOH solution so that would be the place to start.
We have concentration and volume, so can work out number of moles.

Moles LiOH = concentration mol L1 Volume (L)

=0.04 mol L1 65 mL

1L
1000 mL

2.60 103 mol

Moles HCl = moles LiOH 2.60 103 mol

Step 3 We know the volume of the HCl solution and we have just worked out the number of moles,
so we can work out the concentration of the HCl solution.

Concentration HCl =

moles HCl
Volume (L)

2.60 103 mol

0.050 L
5.20 102 mol L1

Step 4 Does this answer make sense?

19)

It took 65 mL of 0.04 mol L-1 LiOH to react with 50 mL of 0.052 mol L-1 HCl. It makes sense that a
smaller volume must have a higher concentration, since the number of moles LiOH is the same as
the number of moles of HCl.
A 2.0 M solution of sulphuric acid is diluted by dissolving 0.25 mL of the solution in 149.75 mL of water.
This solution is then titrated with sodium hydroxide, and the equivalence point is reached after 200
mL of sodium hydroxide solution has been added. What was the concentration of the sodium
hydroxide solution?
Write the reaction equation:

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

H2SO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l)

Number of moles H2SO4 2.0 mol L-1 0.25 mL

1L
1000 mL

5.0 104 mol

Moles NaOH = 2 Number of moles H2SO4
2 5.0 104 mol
1.0 103 mol

Concentration NaOH =

moles
1.0 10 3 mol

Volume(L)
0.200 L

5.0 103 mol L1

Therefore, the concentration of the NaOH solution was 5.0 x 10-3 mol L-1.

20)

To prepare for a titration, a strong acid solution is prepared by dissolving 383.7 mg of hydroiodic acid
(HI) in 500 mL of water. A strong base solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was then titrated with
this acidic solution, and 125 mL of acidic solution was required to reach the equivalence point. If the
concentration of the KOH solution was 0.05 M, what was its volume?
HI (aq) + KOH (aq) KI (aq) + H2O (l)
Mass of HI in 125 mL solution =383.7 mg

1g
125 mL

1000 mg 500 mL

9.59 102 g
Moles of HI =

9.59 102 g
9.59 10 2 g

molar mass HI g mol1 (1.01 + 126.90) g mol1

7.50 104 mol

From the reaction equation, 1 mole of HI reacts with 1 mole KOH.
Moles of KOH Moles of HI 7.50 10 4 mol
Volume =

moles
concentration (mol L1)

7.50 104 mol

0.05 mol L1
1.50 102 L or 15.0 mL

Therefore, the volume of the KOH solution used was 15.0 mL.

21)

***CHALLENGE***
9.37 g of a strong base, MOH, are dissolved in 750 mL of water. When the solution is titrated with 0.25
M nitric acid, 250 mL is required to reach the equivalence point. What is the identity of the strong
base? It is known that the ratio of metal to hydroxide ions is 1:1.
MOH (aq) + HNO3 (aq) MNO3 (aq) + H2O (l)

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Chemistry PASS
CHEM1090

Moles HNO3 concentration (mol L1) Volume (L)

=0.25 mol L1 250 mL

1L
1000 mL

6.25 102 mol

From the equation, MOH and HNO3 react in a 1:1 ratio.
Moles MOH = moles HNO3 6.25 102 mol
9.37 g
149.92 g mol1
6.25 102 mol
Formula weight = Atomic mass M Atomic mass O+Atomic mass H
Formula weight =

Atomic mass M =Formula weight 17.01 g mol1

149.92 g mol1 17.01 g mol1
132.91 g mol1

This is the atomic mass of Cs.

Therefore, MOH is cesium hydroxide, CsOH.