Name:

Lab section (eg. MW 11 2):

Chemistry 120B

Exam #2 03/26/10

Exam # A___

Instructions:
o Your cell phone must be off and all other materials must be put away
before beginning the exam.
o You are only allowed to use a SINGLE LINE NON-PROGRAMMABLE
CALCULATOR.
o Do not start the exam until you are told to do so.
o Print your name on the top of every page. One point will be removed
from your total score for every page on which you do not write your name.
o Read each problem carefully before you begin.
o Make sure you answer what the problem is asking.
o Answer each problem clearly and legibly.
o Check your work for errors.

Always ask yourself Does this answer make sense?.
o Partial credit will be awarded for partial answers so always try!
o If there is any evidence of cheating (either during the exam or while it is
being graded) you will receive a zero for the exam and you will be
reported to the Dean of Students in the Office of Judicial Affairs.

This exam consists of this cover page, and 7 pages of problems. Make sure that all
8 pages are present.

Sign your name below and include the last four digits of your CWID (student ID
number). Failure to include the last four digits of your CWID will result in an automatic
score of zero.
Your signature indicates that you have read and understand these instructions.

Signature

Last 4 digits of CWID

Question # Points possible Your points

1
18
2
15
3
23
4
24
5
20

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 1 of 8

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Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
1) Answer the following questions about acid and base strength.

(18 points total)

a) Rank the following 0.100 M solutions in order of decreasing pH. For each solution
identify if the pH would be greater than, less than, or equal to 7.00.
(12 points)
barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2)
hypochlorous acid (HClO)
nitric acid (HNO3)
potassium hydroxide (KOH)
potassium fluoride (KF)
sodium bromide (NaBr)
high pH       low pH


 HClO  HNO3
KOH
KF
NaBr
Ba(OH)2 
pH > 7.0
pH > 7.0
pH > 7.0
pH = 7.0
pH < 7.0
pH < 7.0

b) Does a 0.100 M solution of ammonium cyanide (NH4CN) have a pH greater than,

less than, or equal to 7.00? Show your work or explain your reasoning.
(6 points)
Ka, HCN = 4.9 x 10-10, Kb, NH3 = 1.8 x 10-5
1.0 x10 14
= 2.0 x10 5
4.9 x10 10
1.0 x1014
=
= 5.6 x10 10
5
1.8 x10

K b,CN =
K a , NH 4 +

Because Kb, CN- > Ka, NH4+ the solution will be basic.

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 2 of 8

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Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
2) The role of a buffer solution is to control the pH of a solution over a narrow pH range
and to protect a solution against pH variations from the addition of acids and bases.
(15 points total)
a) What is the composition of an effective buffer solution? Include the type of
(6 points)
compounds and range of concentration ratio.

An effective buffer solution consists of a weak conjugate acid/base pair that has a
conjugate base / acid ratio between 0.1 and 10.
b) For each of the following pairs of compounds, identify if each mixture will or will not
produce an effective buffer in a 1.0 L solution. Show your work or explain your
reasoning for each pair.
(9 points)
1. 0.10 mol NaOH and 0.10 mol HNO3

This will not make a buffer because it is a mixture of a strong acid and strong
base.
2. 0.10 mol NH3 and 0.10 mol NH4Cl

This will make a buffer because NH3 and NH4+ is a weak conjugate acid base
pair and the ratio is 1.
3. 0.10 mol HCl and 0.20 mol CH3COOH

This will not make a buffer because it is a mixture of a strong acid and weak
acid.

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 3 of 8

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Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
3) When 13.2 g of BaF2 (s) (MW = 175.33 g/mol) is placed in 500.0 mL of water it has a
molar solubility of 1.83 x 10-2 M according to the reaction:
(23 points total)
BaF2 (s)  Ba2+ (aq) + 2 F- (aq)

Ksp, BaF2 = 2.45 x 10-5

Ka, HF = 3.5 x 10-4

a) Qualitatively explain (without using math) whether a solution of BaF2 in water is

acidic, basic or neutral with respect to both ions in solution.
(5 points)

This solution should be basic. The Ba2+ ion is neutral because it is the cation of a
strong base. The F- should be basic because it is the anion of a weak acid. Basic +
neutral = basic.
b) Quantitatively show (using math) whether a solution of BaF2 in water is acidic, basic
or neutral. (HINT: Calculate the pH of the above solution. Ka, HF = 3.5 x 10-4)
(8 points)

BaF2 (s)  Ba2+ (aq) + 2 F- (aq)

Initial
0
0
Change
+x
+2x
Equilibrium
x
2x
-2
Because the molar solubility = 1.83 x 10 M, the concentration of F- = (2)(1.83 x 10-2)
= 3.66 x 10-2 M
F- (aq)
+ H2O (l)  HF (aq) + OH- (aq)
Initial
3.66 x 10-2 M
0
0
Change
-x
+x
+x
x
x
Equilibrium 3.66 x 10-2 - x
K a Kb = K w
Kb =
Kb =

K w 1.0 x10 14
=
= 2.86 x10 11
4
K a 3.5 x10
[OH ]eq [ HF ]eq

[ F ]eq

( x)( x)
= 2.86 x1011
(3.66 x10 2 x)

Assume x << 3.66 x 10-2

( x)( x)
= 2.86 x1011 x = 1.02 x10 6
2
(3.66 x10 )
Check assumption
(1.02 x10 6 )
x100 < 5%
(3.66 x10 2 )
2.79 x10 3 < 5%
Assumption good!
[OH-] = 1.02 x 10-6 M
pOH = -log (1.02 x 10-6) = 5.99
pH = 14 pOH = 8.01

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 4 of 8

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Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
c) Qualitatively explain (without using math) whether the solubility of BaF2 will
increase, decrease, or stay the same in the following solutions relative to pure water.
(9 points)

1. 0.0100 M LiF

The solubility of BaF2 should decrease because you are increasing the
concentration of products which shifts the equilibrium to the reactants and
decreases solubility. This is known as the common ion effect.
2. 0.0100 M Na2SO4 (NOTE: Ksp, BaSO4 = 1.07 x 10-10)

The Ba2+ will react with the SO42- to form a precipitate. This is essentially
removing product which shifts the equilibrium to the products and increases
solubility.
3. 0.100 M HNO3

The F- will react with the HNO3 in a weak base strong acid reaction. This is
essentially removing product which shifts the equilibrium to the products and
increases solubility.

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 5 of 8

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Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
4) An unknown solution labeled 1.0 x 10-3 M is found on a lab bench. You complete
two different pH titrations to determine the composition of the solution, 1) a titration with
a strong acid, 2) a titration with a strong base. Before adding strong acid or strong base,
the 1.0 x 10-3 M solution has a pH = 4.78. Below are the plots of your results.
(24 points total)

Mixture of strong
and weak base

Buffer
pH region
pH = 4.78

Equivalence
Point, pH > 7.0
mL titrant added

a) One of the plots above corresponds to a reaction titration between an acid and base.
Only on the reaction titration plot, identify:
(14 points)
1. if strong acid or strong base is added to the unknown solution

Strong base
2. if the unknown solution with pH = 4.78 and an initial concentration of 1.0 x 10-3
M is a weak or strong acid or base? Explain your reasoning.

The unknown solution must be an acid because you need to react acid with base.
If it were a strong acid with concentration 1.0 x 10-3 it would have an initial pH =
3.0. Because the pH = 4.78 it must be a weak acid.
3. the buffer region(s)
4. mixtures of weak and strong acids or bases. Indicate acid or base mixture.
5. the equivalence point(s) / amphoteric compound(s). Be specific.
6. if the pH at the equivalence point of the titration is greater than, less than, or equal
to 7.00. Explain.

The pH of the equivalence point is greater than 7.0 because only weak conjugate
base is present.

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 6 of 8

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Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
b) Given the initial concentration of the 1.0 x 10-3 M solution and pH = 4.78 (10 points)
1. Calculate the % ionization (% dissociation) of the solution

HA (aq)
+ H2O (l)  A- (aq) + H3O+ (aq)
-3
Initial
1.0 x 10 M
0
0
Change
-x
+x
+x
Equilibrium 1.0 x 10-3 - x
x
x
pH = 4.78  [H3O+] = 10-4.78  [A]- = 10-4.78 = 1.66 x 10-5 M
% ionization =
% ionization =

[ A ]eq
[ HA]o

x100%

10 4.78
x100% = 1.7%
1.0 x10 3

2. Calculate the Ka (or Kb) of the solution

HA (aq)
+ H2O (l)  A- (aq) + H3O+ (aq)
Initial
1.0 x 10-3 M
0
0
Change
-x
+x
+x
x
x
Equilibrium 1.0 x 10-3 - x
pH = 4.78  [H3O+] = 10-4.78 = 1.66 x 10-5 M

Ka =

Hudson

[ H 3O + ]eq [ A ]eq
[ HA]eq

(104.78 )(10 4.78 )

= 2.80 x10 7
3
4.78
(1.0 x10 10 )

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 7 of 8

SHOW ALL WORK

Name:
Watch your units and significant figures.
5) Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a weak diprotic acid. After losing one proton it forms the
amphoteric compound HCO3- which can act as either an acid or a base. (20 points total)

HCO3- (aq) + H2O (l)  CO32- (aq) + H3O+ (aq)

Ka2 removing the second proton

(acid)

HCO3- (aq) + H2O (l)  H2CO3 (aq) + OH- (aq)

Kb2 adding the second proton

(base)

Pairs
Acid
HCO3H2CO3

Pairs
Base
CO32HCO3-

Base
H2O
OH-

Acid
H3O+
H2O

a) Given the reactions above:

(10 points)
1. Complete the ionization equilibria where HCO3 acts as an acid and a base.
Include the appropriate phases and charges of reaction products.
2. Identify each equilibrium as either Ka1, Ka2, Kb1, or Kb2
3. Identify the correct conjugate acid base pairs for each equilibrium reaction. Be
specific as to which compound is the acid and which compound is the base of
each pair.
b) Determine the pH of a buffer solution that is formed when 30.0 mL 0.200 M NaHCO3
is titrated with 14 mL 0.100 M NaOH.
(10 points)
pKa1, H2CO3 = 6.37, pKa2, H2CO3 = 10.25

 CO32- (aq) + H2O (l)

HCO3- (aq)
+
OH- (aq)
Initial
6.0 x 10-3 mol
1.4 x 10-3 mol
0
Change
-x
-x
+x
Equilibrium 6.0 x 10-3 mol - x
0
x
x = 1.4 x 10-3 mol
[HCO3-] = 6.0 x 10-3 1.4 x 10-3 = 4.6 x 10-3 mol  0.105 M
[CO32-] = 1.4 x 10-3 mol  0.0318 M
This is a buffer with pKa2 because HCO3- and CO32- are in equilibrium with each
other.

0.0318
= 10.25 + (0.519 ) = 9.73
pH = pK a 2 + log
0.105

Hudson

Chemistry 120B Exam #3A

pg. 8 of 8