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Ch.17 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibria
Chapter 17, Problem 112

Calculate the molar solubility of SrF2 in: (a) 0.010 M Sr(NO3)2 (b) 0.010 M NaF.

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Write the dissolution equation for SrF2: SrF2(s) ⇌ Sr²⁺(aq) + 2F⁻(aq).
Step 2: Write the expression for the solubility product constant (Ksp) of SrF2: Ksp = [Sr²⁺][F⁻]².
Step 3: For part (a), consider the common ion effect from Sr(NO3)2. The concentration of Sr²⁺ from Sr(NO3)2 is 0.010 M. Let the molar solubility of SrF2 be 's'. The total [Sr²⁺] = 0.010 + s and [F⁻] = 2s.
Step 4: Substitute the concentrations into the Ksp expression for part (a): Ksp = (0.010 + s)(2s)². Since s is small compared to 0.010, approximate [Sr²⁺] ≈ 0.010.
Step 5: For part (b), consider the common ion effect from NaF. The concentration of F⁻ from NaF is 0.010 M. Let the molar solubility of SrF2 be 's'. The total [F⁻] = 0.010 + 2s and [Sr²⁺] = s. Substitute these into the Ksp expression: Ksp = s(0.010 + 2s)². Since s is small compared to 0.010, approximate [F⁻] ≈ 0.010.

Key Concepts

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

Molar Solubility

Molar solubility refers to the maximum amount of a solute that can dissolve in a given volume of solvent at a specific temperature, expressed in moles per liter (M). It is a crucial concept in understanding how solutes interact with solvents and is often used to describe the solubility of ionic compounds in solution.
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Common Ion Effect

The common ion effect describes the decrease in solubility of an ionic compound when a common ion is added to the solution. This phenomenon occurs because the addition of a common ion shifts the equilibrium position of the dissolution reaction, leading to reduced solubility. In the case of SrF2, the presence of Sr^2+ or F^- ions from other sources will affect its solubility.
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Equilibrium and Ksp

The solubility product constant (Ksp) is an equilibrium constant that applies to the dissolution of sparingly soluble ionic compounds. It quantifies the extent to which a compound can dissolve in water, represented by the concentrations of the ions at equilibrium. For SrF2, the Ksp expression involves the concentrations of Sr^2+ and F^- ions, which are essential for calculating molar solubility in different ionic environments.
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