At 25∘C, 20.0 mL of 0.2 M weak monoprotic acid HX is titrated against 0.2 M NaOH. The pH of the solution (a) at the start of the titration (when NaOH has not been added) and (b) when 10 mL of NaOH is added respectively, are :
To find the pH of the solution at different stages of the titration, we analyze the system in two parts:
Part (a): At the start of the titration (0 mL of NaOH added)
At the beginning, the solution contains only the weak monoprotic acid HX with concentration C=0.2 M and dissociation constant Ka=5×10−4.
Since α≪1, the degree of dissociation is small, and the concentration of hydrogen ions [H+] can be calculated using the approximation formula:
[H+]=Ka⋅C
Substitute the given values into the equation:
[H+]=(5×10−4)×0.2=10−4=10−2 M
The pH at the start is:
pH=−log10([H+])=−log10(10−2)=2.0
Part (b): When 10 mL of 0.2 M NaOH is added
First, let's calculate the initial millimoles of the weak acid and the base:
Millimoles of HX=20.0 mL×0.2 M=4.0 mmol
Millimoles of NaOH added=10.0 mL×0.2 M=2.0 mmol
The neutralization reaction occurs as follows:
HX+NaOH→NaX+H2O
Millimoles at equilibrium:
HX remaining=4.0 mmol−2.0 mmol=2.0 mmol
NaX formed=2.0 mmol
Since both the weak acid HX and its conjugate base X− are present in equal amounts in the solution, an acidic buffer is formed. Applying the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:
pH=pKa+log10([HX][X−])