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Ch.17 - Acids and Bases
Chapter 17, Problem 118

Calculate the concentration of all species in a 0.155 M solution of H2CO3.

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Key Concepts

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

Acid-Base Chemistry

Acid-base chemistry involves the study of acids, bases, and their reactions. In this context, H2CO3 (carbonic acid) is a weak acid that partially dissociates in solution to produce H+ ions and HCO3- ions. Understanding the dissociation of weak acids is crucial for calculating the concentrations of all species in the solution.
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Dissociation Equilibrium

Dissociation equilibrium refers to the state where the rate of dissociation of a compound into its ions equals the rate of recombination of those ions into the compound. For H2CO3, the dissociation can be represented as H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3-. The equilibrium constant (Ka) helps determine the concentrations of the ions at equilibrium, which is essential for solving the problem.
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Concentration Calculations

Concentration calculations involve determining the amount of solute present in a given volume of solution. In this case, starting with a 0.155 M solution of H2CO3, one must apply the principles of stoichiometry and equilibrium to find the concentrations of H+, HCO3-, and any undissociated H2CO3. This requires an understanding of molarity and how it relates to the dissociation of the acid.
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