Question

You are asked to prepare 500 mL 0.200 M acetate buffer at pH 5.00 using only pure acetic acid ( MW=60.05 g/mol, pKa=4.76), 3.00 M NaOH, and water. Answer the questions regarding the preparation of the buffer. 1. How many grams of acetic acid will be needed to prepare the 500 mL buffer? Note that the given concentration of acetate refers to the concentration of all acetate species in solution.

Answer 1

You need to weight 6,005 g of acetic acid

Step-by-step explanation:

Using Henderson-Hasselbalch formula you will obtain:

5,00 = 4,76 +log₁₀
`([Ac^-])/([Acac])`

Where Ac⁻ is the salt of acetic acid (Acac).

Solving:

1,738 =
`([Ac^-])/([Acac])` (1)

Also, yo know that:

0,200 M = [Ac⁻] + [Acac] (2)

Replacing (2) in (1):

[Acac] = 0,0730 M.

Thus:

[Ac⁻] = 0,127 M

The moles of each compound are:

Acac = 0,0730 M × 0,500 L = 0,0365 mol

Ac⁻ = 0,127 M × 0,500 L = 0,0635 mol

To prepare these moles it is necessary to use:

Acac + NaOH → AcNa + H₂O

The initial moles of Acac must be:

0,0365 moles + 0,0635 moles = 0,100 moles

To obtain 0,0635 moles of Ac⁻ you need to take this quantity of NaOH moles.

Thus, to obtain a acetate buffer of 5,00 you need to add 0,100 moles of acetic acid and 0,0635 moles of NaOH because This NaOH will react with acetic acid producing 0,0635 moles of Ac⁻ and surplus 0,0365 moles of acetic acid.

Now, to obtain 0,100 moles of acetic acid from pure acetic acid:

0,100 moles ×
`(60,05 g)/(1 mol)` = 6,005 g

You need to weight 6,005 g of acetic acid

I hope it helps!