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Ch.14 - Solutions
Chapter 14, Problem 114

When HNO2 is dissolved in water, it partially dissociates according to the equation HNO2 ⇌ H+ + NO2-. A solution is prepared that contains 7.050 g of HNO2 in 1.000 kg of water. Its freezing point is -0.2929 °C. Calculate the fraction of HNO2 that has dissociated.

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Key Concepts

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

Dissociation of Acids

Dissociation refers to the process by which an acid separates into its constituent ions in solution. For weak acids like HNO2, this process is not complete, meaning only a fraction of the acid molecules dissociate into hydrogen ions (H+) and nitrite ions (NO2-). Understanding the degree of dissociation is crucial for calculating properties such as freezing point depression.
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Freezing Point Depression

Freezing point depression is a colligative property that describes how the freezing point of a solvent decreases when a solute is added. The extent of this depression depends on the number of solute particles in solution, which can be calculated using the formula ΔTf = i * Kf * m, where 'i' is the van 't Hoff factor, 'Kf' is the freezing point depression constant, and 'm' is the molality of the solution.
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Molality

Molality is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. It is expressed in moles per kilogram (mol/kg) and is particularly useful in colligative property calculations because it remains unaffected by temperature changes. In this problem, calculating the molality of the HNO2 solution is essential for determining the extent of freezing point depression and, subsequently, the fraction of dissociated HNO2.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Water softeners often replace calcium ions in hard water with sodium ions. Since sodium compounds are soluble, the presence of sodium ions in water does not cause the white, scaly residues caused by calcium ions. However, calcium is more beneficial to human health than sodium because calcium is a necessary part of the human diet, while high levels of sodium intake are linked to increases in blood pressure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that adults ingest less than 2.4 g of sodium per day. How many liters of softened water, containing a sodium concentration of 0.050% sodium by mass, would a person have to consume to exceed the FDA recommendation? (Assume a water density of 1.0 g/mL.)

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Textbook Question

An isotonic solution contains 0.90% NaCl mass to volume. Calculate the percent mass to volume for isotonic solutions containing each solute at 25 °C. Assume a van't Hoff factor of 1.9 for all ionic solutes. a. KCl

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Textbook Question

Magnesium citrate, Mg3(C6H5O7)2, belongs to a class of laxatives called hyperosmotics, which cause rapid emptying of the bowel. When a concentrated solution of magnesium citrate is consumed, it passes through the intestines, drawing water and promoting diarrhea, usually within 6 hours. Calculate the osmotic pressure of a magnesium citrate laxative solution containing 28.5 g of magnesium citrate in 235 mL of solution at 37 °C (approximate body temperature). Assume complete dissociation of the ionic compound.

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Textbook Question

A solution of a nonvolatile solute in water has a boiling point of 375.3 K. Calculate the vapor pressure of water above this solution at 338 K. The vapor pressure of pure water at this temperature is 0.2467 atm.

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Textbook Question

The density of a 0.438 M solution of potassium chromate (K2CrO4) at 298 K is 1.063 g/mL. Calculate the vapor pressure of water above the solution. The vapor pressure of pure water at this temperature is 0.0313 atm. (Assume complete dissociation of the solute.)

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Textbook Question

The vapor pressure of carbon tetrachloride, CCl4, is 0.354 atm, and the vapor pressure of chloroform, CHCl3, is 0.526 atm at 316 K. A solution is prepared from equal masses of these two compounds at this temperature. Calculate the mole fraction of the chloroform in the vapor above the solution. If the vapor above the original solution is condensed and isolated into a separate flask, what will the vapor pressure of chloroform be above this new solution?

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