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Ch.16 - Acids and Bases
Chapter 16, Problem 111a

Calculate the [H3O+] and pH of each polyprotic acid solution. a. 0.350 M H3PO4

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Key Concepts

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

Polyprotic Acids

Polyprotic acids are acids that can donate more than one proton (H+) per molecule in a solution. Each dissociation step has its own equilibrium constant, known as Ka, which decreases with each successive proton donation. Understanding the behavior of polyprotic acids is crucial for calculating the concentrations of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) and the resulting pH in solutions.
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Dissociation Constants (Ka)

The dissociation constant (Ka) quantifies the strength of an acid in solution, indicating how well it donates protons. For polyprotic acids, there are multiple Ka values corresponding to each dissociation step. These constants are essential for determining the concentration of [H3O+] in a solution, as they help predict the extent of dissociation for each proton donation.
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Characteristics of Ka and Kb

pH Calculation

pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydronium ion concentration: pH = -log[H3O+]. To calculate pH for polyprotic acids, one must first determine the [H3O+] from the dissociation equilibria, considering the contributions from all dissociation steps. This calculation is vital for understanding the acid's strength and its effect on the solution's properties.
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pH Calculation Example