Question

5.

Lithium stearate (octadecanoate) is made by neutralising stearic acid (octadecanoic
acid) with lithium hydroxide.
LiOH + CH,(CH₂) 16COOH
CH,(CH₂) 16COO Li* + H₂O
It is used as a component of low melting point greases that can be used down to
-60°C. In an experiment, 0-048 mole of stearic acid was neutralised by a lithium
hydroxide solution of concentration 0-64 mol dm
Calculate the volume of this lithium hydroxide solution needed to neutralise the
[2]
0-048 mole of stearic acid.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to neutralize 0.048 mole of stearic acid with a lithium hydroxide solution of concentration 0.64 mol/dm³, we need to use the balanced equation for the neutralization reaction:

LiOH + CH3(CH2)16COOH → CH3(CH2)16COOLi* + H2O

1 mole of LiOH reacts with 1 mole of stearic acid.

So the number of moles of LiOH required to neutralize 0.048 mole of stearic acid is also 0.048 mole.

The volume of a solution can be calculated by using the formula:

volume = moles x molarity

Therefore, the volume of lithium hydroxide solution needed to neutralize 0.048 mole of stearic acid is:

volume = 0.048 mol x (1/0.64 mol/dm³) = 0.075 dm³

So the volume of lithium hydroxide solution needed to neutralize 0.048 mole of stearic acid is 0.075 dm³.