The concentration of H3O^+ ions in a sample of lemon juice is 2.5 × 10^-3 M. Calculate the concentration of OH^- ions, and classify the solution as acidic, neutral, or basic.

Question

The concentration of [latex]H_{3}O^{+}[/latex] ions in a sample of lemon juice is [latex]2.5 imes 10^{-3} M[/latex]. Calculate the concentration of [latex]OH^{-}[/latex] ions, and classify the solution as acidic, neutral, or basic.

STRATEGY

When [latex][H_{3}O^{+}][/latex] is known, the [latex]OH^{-}[/latex] concentration can be found from the expression [latex][OH^{-}] = K_{w}/[H_{3}O^{+}][/latex].

Accepted Answer

[latex][OH^{-}]=\frac{K_{w}}{[H_{3}O^{+}]}=\frac{1.0 imes10^{-14}}{2.5 imes10^{-3}}=4.0 imes10^{-12} M[/latex]

[latex]Because [H_{3}O^{+}]>[OH^{-}][/latex], the solution is acidic.

IDENTIFY
Known	Unknown
$K_{w}=1.0\times 10^{-14}$	$[OH^{-}]$
$[H_{3}O^{+}]=2.5\times 10^{-3} M$

Chapter 15

Q. 15.5

Q. 15.5

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