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Ch.17 - Aqueous Ionic Equilibrium
Chapter 17, Problem 62c

Two 25.0-mL samples, one 0.100 M HCl and the other 0.100 M HF, are titrated with 0.200 M KOH. c. Which titration curve has the lower initial pH?

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Key Concepts

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

Strong vs. Weak Acids

Strong acids, like HCl, completely dissociate in solution, resulting in a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) and a lower initial pH. In contrast, weak acids, such as HF, only partially dissociate, leading to a higher initial pH due to a lower concentration of H+ ions in solution.
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Weak Acid-Strong Base Titration Curve

Titration Curves

A titration curve plots pH against the volume of titrant added. The shape of the curve is influenced by the strength of the acid and base involved. For strong acid-strong base titrations, the initial pH is low, while weak acid-strong base titrations show a more gradual increase in pH, reflecting the acid's partial dissociation.
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Acid-Base Titration Curves

pH Scale

The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, ranging from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), with 7 being neutral. The pH is logarithmically related to the concentration of H+ ions; thus, a small change in pH corresponds to a significant change in H+ concentration, which is crucial for understanding the initial conditions of the titration.
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