What is the pH of #1.2 * 10^-3# HBr solution?
1 Answer
Explanation:
Even without doing any calculations, you can say that the pH of this solution will be a little lower than
Why is that the case?
Hydrobromic acid,
#"HBr"_text((aq]) + "H"_2"O"_text((l]) -> "H"_3"O"_text((aq])^(+) + "Br"_text((aq])^(-)#
Now, when an acid ionizes completely, you can expect all the molecules to donate their proton to the water. This of course means that the initial concentration of hydrobromic acid will now be equivalent to the concentration of hydronium ions and bromide anions.
Since every molecule of
#["H"_3"O"^(+)] = ["HBr"] = 1.2 * 10^(-3)"M"#
As you know, the pH of the solution is a measure of the concentration of hydronium ions
#"pH" = -log( ["H"_3"O"^(+)])#
In this case, the pH of the solution will be
#"pH" = - log(1.2 * 10^(-3)) = color(green)(2.92)#
As predicted, the pH is a little lower than
Since
#1.2 * 10^(-3)"M" > 1.0 * 10^(-3)"M"#
the pH will be lower than