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Ch.18 - Aqueous Ionic Equilibrium
Chapter 18, Problem 103b

Calculate the molar solubility of calcium hydroxide in a solution buffered at each pH. b. pH = 7

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1
Identify the chemical equation for the dissolution of calcium hydroxide: \( \text{Ca(OH)}_2 (s) \rightleftharpoons \text{Ca}^{2+} (aq) + 2\text{OH}^- (aq) \).
Write the expression for the solubility product constant \( K_{sp} \) for calcium hydroxide: \( K_{sp} = [\text{Ca}^{2+}][\text{OH}^-]^2 \).
Determine the concentration of \( \text{OH}^- \) ions in the solution using the relationship between pH and pOH: \( \text{pOH} = 14 - \text{pH} \), then \( [\text{OH}^-] = 10^{-\text{pOH}} \).
Substitute the \( [\text{OH}^-] \) value into the \( K_{sp} \) expression and solve for \( [\text{Ca}^{2+}] \), which represents the molar solubility of calcium hydroxide.
Use the known \( K_{sp} \) value for calcium hydroxide to calculate the molar solubility by substituting the \( [\text{OH}^-] \) concentration into the equation and solving for \( [\text{Ca}^{2+}] \).

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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 (mol/L). For calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), which is a sparingly soluble salt, its molar solubility can be influenced by the pH of the solution, as it dissociates into calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
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pH and Hydroxide Ion Concentration

pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution, with lower values indicating higher acidity and higher values indicating higher basicity. In a buffered solution at pH 7, the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) is 1 x 10⁻⁷ M. This concentration is crucial for calculating the solubility of calcium hydroxide, as the presence of additional hydroxide ions can shift the equilibrium of the dissolution reaction.
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Le Chatelier's Principle

Le Chatelier's Principle states that if a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by changing the conditions, the system will adjust to counteract the change and restore a new equilibrium. In the context of calcium hydroxide solubility, increasing the pH (and thus the concentration of OH⁻) will shift the dissolution equilibrium to the left, reducing the solubility of Ca(OH)2. Understanding this principle is essential for predicting how changes in pH affect solubility.
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