Question

What is the molar concentration of potassium ions in a 0.250 M K₂SO₄(aq) solution? Remember that SO₄²- is the polyatomic ion sulfate.

Answer 1

The molar concentration of potassium ions in a 0.250 M K₂SO₄ solution is 0.500 M, because the dissolution of K₂SO₄ produces two moles of K⁺ ions for every mole of the compound dissolved.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the molar concentration of potassium ions in a 0.250 M K₂SO₄(aq) solution, we should understand that each unit of K₂SO₄ dissociates into two potassium ions (2 K⁺) and one sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻). Therefore, for every mole of K₂SO₄ that dissolves, two moles of potassium ions are released into the solution.

Given that the concentration of K₂SO₄ is 0.250 M, we can set up the proportion as follows:

• 1 mole of K₂SO₄ produces 2 moles of K⁺ ions
• Therefore, 0.250 M K₂SO₄ will produce 0.250 M × 2 = 0.500 M of K⁺ ions

Thus, the molar concentration of potassium ions in the solution is 0.500 M.