Question

Which of the following solutions contains the greatest total ion concentration in 1.0 L of solution?

Options:
a) 0.1 M NaCl
b) 0.2 M KNO3
c) 0.15 M CaCl2
d) 0.25 M H2SO4

Answer 1

The solution with the highest total ion concentration is 0.25 M H2SO4, which dissociates into ions resulting in a total ion concentration of 0.75 M in the solution.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine which of the following solutions contains the greatest total ion concentration in 1.0 L of solution, we must calculate the number of moles of ions produced when each compound dissolves. Remember, the total ion concentration is the sum of the concentrations of the individual ions in the solution. Here are the calculations:

• 0.1 M NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl-, producing a total of 0.1 M + 0.1 M = 0.2 M ions.
• 0.2 M KNO3 dissociates into K+ and NO3-, producing a total of 0.2 M + 0.2 M = 0.4 M ions.
• 0.15 M CaCl2 dissociates into Ca2+ and 2Cl-, producing a total of 0.15 M + 2(0.15 M) = 0.45 M ions.
• 0.25 M H2SO4 dissociates into 2H+ and SO4^2-, producing a total of 2(0.25 M) + 0.25 M = 0.75 M ions.

Therefore, the solution with the highest total ion concentration is 0.25 M H2SO4, with a total ion concentration of 0.75 M.