Textbook Question
Indicate whether each of the following statements is correct or incorrect. (c) Conjugate acids of weak bases produce more acidic solutions than conjugate acids of strong bases.
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Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement177
- Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions231
- Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry216
- Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution189
- Ch.5 - Thermochemistry175
- Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms168
- Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements150
- Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding177
- Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories200
- Ch.10 - Gases179
- Ch.11 - Liquids and Intermolecular Forces113
- Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials154
- Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions157
- Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics199
- Ch.15 - Chemical Equilibrium128
- Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria164
- Ch.17 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria163
- Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment105
- Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics164
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry171
- Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry122
- Ch.22 - Chemistry of the Nonmetals82
- Ch.23 - Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry79
- Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry16
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 16, Problem 98
Which member of each pair produces the more acidic aqueous solution: (a) ZnBr2 or CdCl2 (b) CuCl or Cu(NO3)2 (c) Ca(NO3)2 or NiBr2
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Identify the cation and anion in each compound: CuCl contains Cu^+ and Cl^-, while Cu(NO_3)_2 contains Cu^2+ and NO_3^-.
Consider the hydrolysis of the cations: Cu^+ is less likely to hydrolyze compared to Cu^2+, which can hydrolyze to form H^+ ions, increasing acidity.
Evaluate the anions: Cl^- is a weak conjugate base of a strong acid (HCl) and does not affect acidity, while NO_3^- is also a weak conjugate base of a strong acid (HNO_3) and does not affect acidity.
Compare the hydrolysis of the cations: Since Cu^2+ can hydrolyze to produce H^+ ions, Cu(NO_3)_2 is expected to produce a more acidic solution than CuCl.
Conclude that Cu(NO_3)_2 produces a more acidic aqueous solution than CuCl due to the hydrolysis of Cu^2+.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Acidity and pH
Acidity refers to the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution, which determines its pH level. A lower pH indicates a more acidic solution. Understanding how different substances dissociate in water to release H+ ions is crucial for comparing their acidity.
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pH of Strong Acids and Bases
Metal Cation Behavior
Metal cations can influence the acidity of a solution based on their charge and size. Cations like Cu²⁺ can hydrolyze in water, forming acidic solutions by releasing H+ ions. The extent of this hydrolysis is key to determining which compound is more acidic.
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Complex Ion Formation
Complex ions form when metal cations coordinate with ligands, affecting their properties, including acidity. For example, Cu(NO3)2 may form complex ions that can alter the pH of the solution compared to simpler salts like CuCl. Understanding these interactions is essential for predicting acidity.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Identify the Lewis acid and Lewis base among the reactants in each of the following reactions:
(a) Fe(ClO4)3(s) + 6 H2O(l) ⇌ [Fe(H2O)6]3+(aq) + 3 ClO4-(aq)
(b) CN-(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ HCN(aq) + OH-(aq)
(c) (CH3)3N(g) + BF3(g) ⇌ (CH3)NBF3(s)
(d) HIO(lq) + NH2-(lq) ⇌ NH3(lq) + IO-(lq) (lq denotes liquid ammonia as solvent)
Textbook Question
Identify the Lewis acid and Lewis base in each of the following reactions:
(a) HNO2(aq) + OH-(aq) ⇌ NO2-(aq) + H2O(l)
(b) FeBr3(s) + Br-(aq) ⇌ FeBr4-(aq)
(c) Zn2+(aq) + 4 NH3(aq) ⇌ Zn(NH3)42+(aq)
(d) SO2(g) + H2O(l) ⇌ H2SO3(aq)
Textbook Question
Indicate whether each of the following statements is correct or incorrect. (d) K+ ion is acidic in water because it causes hydrating water molecules to become more acidic.