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Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution
Chapter 4, Problem 68a

What is the total molar concentration of ions in each of the following solutions, assuming complete dissociation? (a) A 0.750 M solution of K2CO3

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1
Step 1: Identify the ions and their stoichiometric coefficients in the given compound. In K2CO3, we have two K+ ions and one CO3^2- ion.
Step 2: The total molar concentration of ions in a solution is the sum of the molar concentrations of the individual ions. This is calculated by multiplying the molar concentration of the compound by the stoichiometric coefficient of each ion.
Step 3: For K2CO3, the molar concentration of K+ ions is 2 times the molar concentration of K2CO3, because there are two K+ ions in each formula unit of K2CO3.
Step 4: The molar concentration of CO3^2- ions is equal to the molar concentration of K2CO3, because there is one CO3^2- ion in each formula unit of K2CO3.
Step 5: Add the molar concentrations of the K+ and CO3^2- ions to find the total molar concentration of ions in the solution.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Dissociation of Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds, when dissolved in water, separate into their constituent ions. For example, potassium carbonate (K2CO3) dissociates into two potassium ions (K+) and one carbonate ion (CO3^2-) in solution. Understanding this process is crucial for calculating the total molar concentration of ions in a solution.
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Molar Concentration

Molar concentration, or molarity (M), is defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is a key concept in chemistry for quantifying the concentration of a substance in a solution. In the case of K2CO3, a 0.750 M solution means there are 0.750 moles of K2CO3 per liter of solution.
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Total Ion Concentration

The total ion concentration in a solution is calculated by summing the concentrations of all ions produced from the dissociation of the solute. For K2CO3, which dissociates into 2 K+ ions and 1 CO3^2- ion, the total concentration of ions would be the sum of the individual ion concentrations, which is essential for understanding the solution's properties.
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