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

Calculate the [H3O+] and pH of each polyprotic acid solution.
b. 0.125 M H3C6H5O7

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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. Each dissociation step has its own equilibrium constant, known as Ka, which decreases with each successive proton donation. Understanding the behavior of polyprotic acids is crucial for calculating the concentration of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) and the resulting pH in solutions.
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Polyprotic Buffers

Dissociation Constants (Ka)

The dissociation constant (Ka) quantifies the strength of an acid in solution, indicating how well it donates protons. For polyprotic acids, there are multiple Ka values corresponding to each dissociation step. These constants are essential for calculating the concentrations of ions in solution, particularly for determining the [H3O+] and pH of the acid solution.
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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, one must first determine the [H3O+] from the dissociation of the acid, which may involve using the Ka values and the initial concentration of the acid. Understanding this relationship is key to solving the problem presented.
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pH Calculation Example