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Ch.16 - Acids and Bases
Chapter 16, Problem 57a

For each strong acid solution, determine [H3O+], [OH], and pH. a. 0.25 M HCl

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<strong>Step 1:</strong> Recognize that HCl is a strong acid, which means it completely dissociates in water. Therefore, the concentration of hydronium ions, [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>], is equal to the initial concentration of HCl, which is 0.25 M.
<strong>Step 2:</strong> Use the relationship between [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>] and [OH<sup>-</sup>] given by the water dissociation constant, K<sub>w</sub> = 1.0 x 10<sup>-14</sup> at 25°C. The formula is [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>] x [OH<sup>-</sup>] = K<sub>w</sub>. Substitute [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>] = 0.25 M into the equation to solve for [OH<sup>-</sup>].
<strong>Step 3:</strong> Calculate the pH of the solution using the formula pH = -log[H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>]. Substitute [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>] = 0.25 M into the equation to find the pH.
<strong>Step 4:</strong> Verify your calculations by checking that the product of [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>] and [OH<sup>-</sup>] equals 1.0 x 10<sup>-14</sup>, ensuring that the calculations are consistent with the properties of water at 25°C.
<strong>Step 5:</strong> Summarize the results: [H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>] = 0.25 M, [OH<sup>-</sup>] calculated from K<sub>w</sub>, and pH calculated from the pH formula.

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Key Concepts

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

Strong Acids

Strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), completely dissociate in water, meaning that all the acid molecules break apart into their constituent ions. For a 0.25 M HCl solution, this results in a hydronium ion concentration, [H3O+], of 0.25 M, as each HCl molecule produces one H3O+ ion.
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pH Calculation

The pH of a solution is a measure of its acidity, calculated using the formula pH = -log[H3O+]. For the 0.25 M HCl solution, the pH can be determined by substituting the [H3O+] value into the formula, yielding a pH of approximately 0.60, indicating a highly acidic solution.
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Water Ion Product

In pure water at 25°C, the product of the concentrations of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions is constant, known as the water ion product (Kw = [H3O+][OH-] = 1.0 x 10^-14). To find the hydroxide ion concentration, [OH-], in a strong acid solution, use the relationship [OH-] = Kw / [H3O+]. For the 0.25 M HCl solution, this results in [OH-] being approximately 4.0 x 10^-14 M.
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