COMMON ION & BUFFER PROBLEMS KEY

1) What is the pH of a solution containing 0.30 M NH3 and 0.15 M NH4NO3?

Kb for NH3 = 1.8x10-5
NH3 is a weak base: NH3 + H2O NH4+ + OH-
NH4NO3 is a salt: NH4NO3 → NH +4 + NO 3− ; thus NH +4 is a “common ion”
NH3 + H2O NH4+ + OH-
[NH3] M [H2O] [NH +4 ] M [OH-] M
I 0.30 0.15 0
C -x +x +x
E 0.30 - x 0.15 + x x
+
[ NH 4 ][OH − ]
Kb =
[ NH 3 ]

Approximation: ignore –x, +x terms: 1.8x10-5 =

(0.15)x
(0.30)
x = [OH-] = 3.6x10-5 M
pOH = -log 3.6x10-5 = 4.44
pH = 14 – 4.44 = 9.56 pH = 9.56
(This problem can also be solved using the Ka rxn: NH +4 NH3 + H+ ; if you use this
reaction, you must convert Kb to its corresponding Ka value.)

2) A buffer solution contains 0.20 M HCHO2 and 0.30 M NaCHO2. The volume of the solution is
125 mL. Ka for HCHO2 =1.8x10-4
a) What is the pH of this buffer solution?
Salt: NaCHO2 → Na+ + CHO2-
Acid ionization rxn: HCHO2 H+ + CHO2-
I 0.20 0 0.30
C -x +x +x
E 0.20-x +x 0.30+x
Approximation: ignore –x, +x terms
[ H + ][CHO2− ] x(0.30 )
Ka = ⇒ 1.8x10-4= ⇒ x = [H+] = 1.2x10-4
[ HCHO2 ] (0.20)
pH = -log[H+] = -log 1.2x10-4 = 3.92 pH = 3.92
b) If 50.0 mL of 0.10 M NaOH is added to the buffer solution, what is the pH?
Strong base: NaOH → Na+ + OH-

diluted so recalculate M: M HCHO2 =

(0.20 M )(125 ml ) = 0.14 M
(175 ml )

M CHO2- =
(0.30 M )(125 ml ) = 0.21 M; M OH- =
(0.10 M )(50.0 ml ) = 0.029 M
(175 ml ) (175 ml )

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 1

neutralization reaction: OH- + HCHO2 → CHO2- + H2O
Initial 0.029 0.14 0.21
Change -0.029 -0.029 +0.029
Final 0 0.11 0.24
Acid ionization rxn: HCHO2 H+ + CHO2-
I 0.11 0 0.24
C -x +x +x
E 0.11-x +x 0.24+x
[ H + ][CHO2− ] x(0.24)
Ka = ⇒ 1.8x10-4= ⇒ x = [H+] = 8.25x10-5
[ HCHO2 ] (0.11)
pH = -log[H+] = -log 8.25x10-4 = 4.08 pH = 4.08
*For a buffer solution, pH only rises a little if a small amount of strong base is added.
c) If 50.0 mL of 0.10 M HCl is added to the buffer solution, what is the pH?
Strong acid: HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-

diluted so recalculate M: M HCHO2 =

(0.20 M )(125 ml ) = 0.14 M
(175 ml )

M CHO2- =
(0.30 M )(125 ml ) = 0.21 M; M H+ =
(0.10 M )(50.0 ml ) = 0.029 M
(175 ml ) (175 ml )
neutralization reaction: H+ + CHO2- → HCHO2
Initial 0.029 0.21 0.14
Change -0.029 -0.029 +0.029
Final 0 0.18 0.17
Acid ionization rxn: HCHO2 H+ + CHO2-
I 0.17 0 0.18
C -x +x +x
E 0.17-x +x 0.18+x
[ H + ][CHO2− ] x(0.18)
Ka = ⇒ 1.8x10-4= ⇒ x = [H+] = 1.7x10-4
[ HCHO2 ] (0.17 )
pH = -log[H+] = -log 1.7x10-4 = 3.77 pH = 3.77
* For a buffer, pH only drops a little when a small amount of strong acid is added.

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 2

 TITRATION PROBLEMS KEY
1. A 20.00 ml sample of 0.150 M HCl is titrated with 0.200 M NaOH. Calculate the pH of the
solution after the following volumes of NaOH have been added: a) 0 mL; b) 10.00 mL; c)
15.0 mL; d) 20.00 mL.
a) 0 ml of NaOH added – only SA is present initially:
For strong acid: [H+] = [HCl] = 0.150 M HCl
pH = -log[H+] = -log(0.150) = 0.824
b) 10.00 ml of NaOH
neutralization reaction: HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
SA SB
 1 L  0.150 moles HCl  -3
moles HCl = 20.00 ml    = 3.00x10 moles HCl
 1000 mL  L 
 1 L  0.200 moles NaOH  -3
moles NaOH = 10.00 ml    = 2.00x10 moles NaOH
 1000 mL  L 
After neutralization:
moles excess acid = 3.00x10-3 moles - 2.00x10-3 moles = 1.00x10-3 moles HCl
1.00 x10 −3 moles
M H+ = M HCl = = 0.0333 M
0.03000 L
pH = - log [H+] = - log 0.0333 = 1.478
c) 15.0 mL of NaOH
From part b, moles HCl = 3.00x10-3 moles HCl
 1 L  0.200 moles NaOH  -3
moles NaOH = 15.00 ml    = 3.00x10 moles NaOH
 1000 mL  L 
moles HCl = moles NaOH
at equivalence pt: pH = 7.000 (for SA/SB titration)
d) 20.00 mL
from part b, moles HCl = 3.00x10-3 moles HCl
 1 L  0.200 moles NaOH  -3
moles NaOH = 20.00 ml    = 4.00x10 moles NaOH
 1000 mL  L 
After neutralization:
moles excess base = 4.00x10-3 moles – 3.00x10-3moles = 1.00x10-3 moles NaOH
1.00 x10 −3 moles
M OH- = M NaOH = = 0.0250 M OH-
0.040 L
pOH = -log 0.0250 = 1.602 pH = 14 – 1.602 = 12.398

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 3

2. A 50.0 mL sample of 0.50 M HC2H3O2 acid is titrated with 0.150 M NaOH. Ka = 1.8x10-5 for
HC2H3O2. Calculate the pH of the solution after the following volumes of NaOH have been
added: a) 0 mL; b) 166.7 mL; c) 180.0 mL.
a) 0 ml of base; only a weak acid is initially present so [H+] ≠ [HA]
-
HC2H3O2 H+ + C2H3O2
I 0.50 0 0
C -x x x
E 0.50-x x x
−
[ H + ][C 2 H 3 O2 ] x2
Ka = 1.8x10-5 =
[ HC 2 H 3 O2 ] 0.50

[H +] = x = 0.50(1.8 x10 −5 ) = 3.0x10-3

pH = -log 3.0x10-3 = 2.52
b) 166.7 ml of NaOH are added
from part b, moles HC2H3O2 = 2.5x10-2 moles HC2H3O2
 1 L  0.150 moles NaOH  -2
moles NaOH = 166.7 ml    = 2.50x10 moles NaOH
 1000 mL  L 
- -
neutralization: HC2H3O2 + OH → C2H3O2 + H2O
I 0.025 0.0250 0
C -0.025 -0.025 +0.025
Final 0 0 0.025
only acetate remains – a weak base:
- 2.5 × 10 −2 moles
[C2H3O2 ] = = 0.115 M
0.2167 L
- -
base hydrolysis: C2H3O2 + H2O HC2H3O2 + OH
I 0.115 0 0
C -x x x
E 0.115-x x x
1 × 10 −14
Kb for C2H3O2- = = 5.6x10-10
1.8 x10 −5
[ HC 2 H 3O2 ][OH − ] x2
Kb = 5.6x10-10 =
[C 2 H 3O2− ] 0.115

x = [OH-] = ( )
0.115 5.6 × 10 −10 = 8.0x10-6
pOH = -log 8.0x10-6 = 5.10 pH = 14 – 5.10 = 8.90
⇒ At the equivalence point for a WA/SB titration, the pH > 7 due to the OH- produced by
the conjugate base hydrolysis reaction.
c) 180.0 mL of NaOH are added
from part b, moles HC2H3O2 = 2.5x10-2 moles HC2H3O2

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 4

  1 L  0.150 moles NaOH  -2
moles NaOH = 180.00 ml    = 2.7x10 moles NaOH
 1000 mL  L 
moles excess base = 2.7x10-2 moles - 2.5x10-2 moles = 2.0x10-3 moles NaOH
2.0 x10 −3 moles
M OH- = M NaOH = = 8.7x10-3 M OH-
0.23 L
pOH = -log 8.7x10-3 = 2.06 pH = 14 – 2.06 = 11.94
*Excess NaOH remains - this is the primary source of OH-. We can neglect
the hydrolysis of the conjugate base because this would contribute a relatively
small amount of OH- compared to the amount that comes directly from the
excess NaOH.

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 5

 SOLUBILITY PROBLEMS KEY
1. At 25 °C, 0.0349 g of Ag2CO3 dissolves in 1.0 L of solution. Calculate Ksp for this salt.
0.0349 g Ag 2 CO3 1 mol Ag 2 CO3
solubility = x = 1.3x10-4 M Ag2CO3
1 .0 L 275.8 g Ag 2 CO3
Ag2CO3(s) 2Ag+(aq) + CO 32− (aq) Ksp = [Ag+]2[CO 32− ]
I 0 0
C 2x x
E 2x x
x = molar solubility of Ag2CO3 = 1.3x10-4 M
[CO 32− ] = x = 1.3x10-4 M
[Ag+] = 2x = 2(1.3x10-4 M) = 2.6x10-4 M
Ksp = [2.6x10-4 ]2[1.3x10-4] = 8.8x10-12
2. Silver phosphate, Ag3PO4, is an insoluble salt that has a Ksp = 1.3 x 10-20.
a) Calculate the molar solubility of Ag3PO4 in pure water.
Ag3PO4(s) 3Ag+(aq) + PO43-(aq) Ksp = [Ag+]3[PO43-]
I 0 0
C 3x x
E 3x x
Ksp = (3x)3x
1.3x10-20 = 27x4
x4 = 4.8x10-22
x = 4.7x10-6 M = molar solubility of Ag3PO4 in pure water
b) Calculate the molar solubility of Ag3PO4 in a solution containing 0.020 M Na3PO4 (a
soluble salt).
soluble salt: Na3PO4 → 3Na+ + PO43-
Phosphate is the common ion:
[PO43-] = [Na3PO4] = 0.020 M (since 1 mol Na3PO4 forms 1 mol PO43- ions)
Ag3PO4(s) 3Ag+(aq) + PO43-(aq)
I 0 0.020
C 3x x
E 3x 0.020+x
Ksp = [Ag+]3[PO43-]
1.3x10-20 = = (3x)30.020
6.5x10-19 = 27x3
x3 = 2.4x10-20
x = 2.9x10-7M = molar solubility of Ag3PO4 with a common ion
⇒ Adding common ion decreases the solubility of Ag3PO4

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 6

3. Does AgCl precipitate from a solution containing 1.0 x 10-5 M Cl- and 1.5 x 10-4 M Ag+?
Ksp = 1.8 x 10-10
Calculate Q for AgCl(s) Ag+ + Cl-
Q = [Ag+][Cl-] = [1.5x10-4][1.0x10-5] = 1.5x10-9
1.5x10-9 > 1.8x10-10; Q > Ksp
Equilibrium shifts left & solid forms; AgCl precipitates
4. If you mix 10.0 ml of 0.0010 M Pb(NO3)2 with 5.0 ml of 0.015 M HCl, does PbCl2 precipitate?
Ksp of PbCl2 = 1.6 x 10-5
Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → PbCl2(s) + 2HNO3(aq)
Net ionic: Pb2+ + 2Cl- → PbCl2(s)
Solubility reaction: PbCl2(s) Pb2+ + 2Cl-
Calculate Q for PbCl2: Q = [Pb2+][Cl-]2

 10.0 ml 
[Pb2+] = 0.0010 M Pb2+   = 6.7x10-4 M Pb2+
 10.0 ml + 5.0 ml 
 5.0 ml 
[Cl-] = 0.015 M Cl-   = 5.0x10-3 M Cl-
 5 . 0 ml + 10 . 0 ml 
Q = (6.7x10-4)(5.0x10-3)2 = 1.7x10-8

Q < Ksp, so PbCl2 does not precipitate.

Buffer, Titration and Solubility problems Key 7