Skip to main content
Ch.16 - Acids and Bases
Chapter 16, Problem 64

Determine the [H3O+] and pH of a 0.200 M solution of formic acid.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the chemical formula for formic acid, which is HCOOH.
Write the dissociation equation for formic acid in water: \( \text{HCOOH} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_3\text{O}^+ + \text{HCOO}^- \).
Use the acid dissociation constant \( K_a \) for formic acid, which is typically given or can be found in a reference table.
Set up an ICE (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) table to determine the concentrations of the species at equilibrium.
Use the expression for \( K_a = \frac{[\text{H}_3\text{O}^+][\text{HCOO}^-]}{[\text{HCOOH}]} \) to solve for \([\text{H}_3\text{O}^+]\), and then calculate the pH using \( \text{pH} = -\log[\text{H}_3\text{O}^+] \).

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
3m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

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

Acid-Base Chemistry

Acid-base chemistry involves the study of substances that can donate protons (H<sup>+</sup>) or accept protons. In this context, formic acid (HCOOH) is a weak acid that partially dissociates in water to produce H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> ions. Understanding the behavior of weak acids is crucial for calculating the concentration of hydronium ions in solution.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:00
Arrhenius Acids and Bases

Dissociation Constant (K<sub>a</sub>)

The dissociation constant (K<sub>a</sub>) quantifies the strength of an acid in solution. For formic acid, K<sub>a</sub> is used to determine the extent of its dissociation into H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> and its conjugate base (HCOO<sup>-</sup>). This constant is essential for calculating the equilibrium concentrations of the species in the solution.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:14
Equilibrium Constant K

pH Calculation

pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydronium ion concentration: pH = -log[H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>]. To find the pH of the formic acid solution, one must first determine the concentration of H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> using the dissociation constant and then apply the pH formula. This relationship is fundamental in acid-base chemistry.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:30
pH Calculation Example