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Ch.17 - Aqueous Ionic Equilibrium
Chapter 17, Problem 52

A 100.0-mL buffer solution is 0.100 M in NH3 and 0.125 M in NH4Br. What mass of HCl can this buffer neutralize before the pH falls below 9.00?

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Key Concepts

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

Buffer Solutions

Buffer solutions are mixtures that resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added. They typically consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. In this case, the NH3/NH4Br system acts as a buffer, maintaining the pH around 9.00 despite the addition of HCl.
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Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of a buffer solution to the concentration of its acidic and basic components. It is expressed as pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA]). For the NH3/NH4+ buffer, knowing the pKa allows us to calculate how much HCl can be added before the pH drops below a specified value.
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Neutralization Reaction

A neutralization reaction occurs when an acid reacts with a base to form water and a salt. In this scenario, HCl (strong acid) will react with NH3 (weak base) to form NH4Cl and water. The extent of this reaction determines how much HCl can be added to the buffer before the pH changes significantly.
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