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Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution
Chapter 4, Problem 7

In each of the following pairs, indicate which has the higher concentration of Cl- ion: (a) 0.10 M AlCl3 solution or a 0.25 M LiCl solution (b) 150 mL of a 0.05 M MnCl3 solution or 200 mL of 0.10 M KCl solution (c) a 2.8 M HCl solution or a solution made by dissolving 23.5 g of KCl in water to make 100 mL of solution.

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: For each solution, determine the number of moles of Cl⁻ ions produced per mole of compound. For example, AlCl₃ dissociates into one Al³⁺ ion and three Cl⁻ ions, so it produces 3 moles of Cl⁻ per mole of AlCl₃.
Step 2: Calculate the concentration of Cl⁻ ions for each solution by multiplying the molarity of the solution by the number of Cl⁻ ions produced per formula unit. For example, for a 0.10 M AlCl₃ solution, the concentration of Cl⁻ ions is 0.10 M × 3 = 0.30 M.
Step 3: For part (b), calculate the total moles of Cl⁻ ions in each solution by multiplying the volume (in liters) by the molarity and the number of Cl⁻ ions per formula unit. For example, for 150 mL of 0.05 M MnCl₃, convert the volume to liters and calculate the moles of Cl⁻.
Step 4: Compare the concentrations or total moles of Cl⁻ ions calculated in the previous steps for each pair of solutions to determine which has the higher concentration of Cl⁻ ions.
Step 5: For part (c), convert the mass of KCl to moles using its molar mass, then calculate the concentration of Cl⁻ ions in the solution by dividing the moles of Cl⁻ by the volume of the solution in liters. Compare this with the concentration of Cl⁻ ions in the 2.8 M HCl solution.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ionic Dissociation

Ionic dissociation refers to the process by which an ionic compound separates into its constituent ions when dissolved in a solvent, typically water. For example, when AlCl3 dissolves, it dissociates into one Al³⁺ ion and three Cl⁻ ions, resulting in a higher concentration of Cl⁻ ions compared to a compound that dissociates into fewer ions.
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Molarity and Concentration

Molarity (M) is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is crucial for comparing solutions, as higher molarity indicates a greater amount of solute in a given volume. Understanding how to calculate and compare molarity helps determine which solution has a higher concentration of specific ions.
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Volume and Dilution Effects

The volume of a solution affects the total number of moles of solute present. When comparing solutions, it is important to consider both the concentration and the volume to find the total amount of a specific ion. For instance, a larger volume of a lower concentration solution may contain more total moles of an ion than a smaller volume of a higher concentration solution.
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