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Ch.17 - Acids and Bases
Chapter 17, Problem 116a

Calculate the [H3O+] and pH of each polyprotic acid solution.
a. 0.125 M H2CO3

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Key Concepts

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

Polyprotic Acids

Polyprotic acids are acids that can donate more than one proton (H+) per molecule in a solution. For example, carbonic acid (H2CO3) can lose two protons, resulting in bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO3^2-). Understanding the stepwise dissociation of these acids is crucial for calculating the concentrations of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) and the resulting pH.
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Dissociation Constants (Ka)

Each dissociation step of a polyprotic acid has a corresponding acid dissociation constant (Ka), which quantifies the strength of the acid in each step. For H2CO3, the first dissociation (H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3-) has a different Ka than the second (HCO3- ⇌ H+ + CO3^2-). These constants are essential for calculating the equilibrium concentrations of the species in solution and ultimately determining [H3O+].
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Characteristics of Ka and Kb

pH Calculation

pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydronium ion concentration: pH = -log[H3O+]. To calculate pH for a polyprotic acid, one must first determine the [H3O+] from the dissociation equilibria, considering both dissociation steps. This requires applying the principles of equilibrium and the dissociation constants to find the final concentration of hydronium ions.
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