Tag: dissociation constants

Questions Related to dissociation constants

By adding which of the following in 1 L 0.1 M solution of HA, $(Ka=10^{-5})$, the degree of dissociation of HA decreases appreciably?

  1. ${10^{-3} M : HCl, 1\; L}$

  2. ${0.5 M : HX (Ka=2\times 10^{-6}), 1 : L}$

  3. ${0.1 M : HNO _{3}, 1: L}$

  4. All of these


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

$HA,  \alpha =\sqrt{\displaystyle\frac{10^{-5}}{0.1}}=0.01$ 
(A) On adding $HCl, \left [ HA \right ]=\frac{0.1}{2},\left [ HCl \right ]=\displaystyle\frac{10^{-3}}{2}$
$HCl \rightarrow H^{+}+Cl^{-}$
$HA \rightleftharpoons H^{+}  +A^{-}$
$\displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}\left ( 1- \alpha  \right )\left (\displaystyle\frac{10^{-3}}{2}+\displaystyle\frac{0.1 \alpha }{2}  \right ) \displaystyle\frac{0.1 \alpha }{2} $
$\Rightarrow 10^{-5}=\displaystyle\frac{\displaystyle\frac{0.1\alpha }{2} \times \left (\displaystyle\frac{10^{-3}}{2}+\displaystyle\frac{0.1 \alpha }{2}  \right ) }{\displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}\left ( 1-\alpha  \right )}$
Neglecting $\alpha $
$10^{-5}=\alpha \times \left ( \displaystyle\frac{10^{-3}}{2}+\displaystyle\frac{0.1\alpha  }{2} \right )$
$\Rightarrow 0.1 \alpha ^{2}+10^{-3} \alpha -2\times 10^{-5}=0$
$\Rightarrow  \alpha ^{2}+10^{-2}\alpha -2\times 10^{-4}=0$
$\Rightarrow \alpha =\displaystyle\frac{-10^{-2}+\sqrt{10^{-4}+8\times 10^{-4}}}{2}=\displaystyle\frac{2\times 10^{-2}}
{2}=2$
Which is similiar to initial.
(B) In case of two weak acids
$\left [\mathrm H^{+}  \right ]=\sqrt{10^{-5}\times \frac{0.1}{2}+2\times 10^{-6}\times \displaystyle\frac{0.5}{2}}$
$=\sqrt{\displaystyle\frac{10^{-6}}{2}+\displaystyle\frac{10^{-6}}{2}}=10^{-3}$
$\alpha =\displaystyle\frac{10^{-5}}{10^{-3}}=10^{-2}$
which is same as earlier
(C) $HNO _{3}\rightarrow H^{+}+NO _{3}^{-}$
$\displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}       \displaystyle\frac{0.1M}{2}$
$HA \rightleftharpoons H^{+}   +  A^{-}$
$\displaystyle\frac{0.1M}{2}\left ( 1-\alpha  \right )  \displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}+\displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}\alpha                
\displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}\alpha$
$\Rightarrow 10^{-5}=\displaystyle\frac{\frac{0.1\alpha }{2}\times \displaystyle\frac{0.1 }{2} \left (1+\alpha  \right )  }{\displaystyle\frac{0.1}{2}\left (1-\alpha  \right )}$
Neglecting $\alpha $ due to common ion effect.
$\Rightarrow 10^{-5}=\displaystyle\frac{0.1 \alpha }{2}$
$\Rightarrow \alpha =2\times 10^{-4}$
Hence, it decreases from $0.01  to  2\times 10^{-4}$.

$\displaystyle { BaCl } _{ 2 }$ dissociates in water to give one $\displaystyle { Ba }^{ 2+ }$ ion and two $\displaystyle { Cl }^{ - }$ ions. If concentrated $\displaystyle HCl$ is added to this solution :

  1. $\displaystyle \left[ { Ba }^{ 2+ } \right] $ increases

  2. $\displaystyle \left[ { Ba }^{ 2+ } \right] $ remains constant

  3. $\displaystyle \left[ { OH }^{ - } \right] $ increases

  4. The number of moles of undissociated $\displaystyle { BaCl } _{ 2 }$ increases

  5. $\displaystyle \left[ { H }^{ + } \right] $ decreases


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The common ion effect describes the changes that occur with the introduction of ions to a solution containing that same ion.
The role that the common ion effect in solutions is mostly visible in the decrease of solubility of solids. Through the addition of common ions, the solubility of a compound generally decreases due to a shift in equilibrium.
$BaCl _2\rightarrow Ba^{2+} + 2Cl^{-}$
$HCl \rightarrow H^{+} + Cl^{-}$
As $Cl^{-} $ is the common ion so, the $ Ba^{2+}$and $ 2Cl^{-}$ combines ( associate ) to give the undissociated $BaCl _2$. 
Hence , there is increase in concentration of undissociated $BaCl _2$.

The following reaction occurs in a beaker: $\displaystyle { Ag }^{ + }\left( aq \right) +{ Cl }^{ - }\left( aq \right) \rightarrow AgCl\left( s \right) $. If a solution of sodium chloride were added to this beaker,

  1. The solubility of the sodium chloride would decrease

  2. The reaction would shift to the left

  3. The concentration of silver ions in solution would increase

  4. The solubility of the silver chloride would decrease

  5. The equilibrium would not shift at all


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

$Ag^+ + Cl^- \rightarrow AgCl$
$NaCl \rightarrow Na^+ + Cl^-$
As $Cl^- $ is the common ion in both the solution ( i.e. $NaCl $ and $AgCl$ ) , hence $AgCl$ being weaker electrolyte is precipitated or solubility of the silver chloride would decrease.
Common ion Effect : The common ion effect is responsible for the reduction in the solubility of an ionic precipitate when a soluble compound containing one of the ions of the precipitate is added to the solution in equilibrium with the precipitate. It states that if the concentration of any one of the ions is increased, then, according to Le Chatelier's principle, some of the ions in excess should be removed from solution, by combining with the oppositely charged ions. Some of the salt will be precipitated until the ion product is equal to the solubility product. In short, the common ion effect is the suppression of the degree of dissociation of a weak electrolyte containing a common ion

Which of the following has maximum $pK _a$ :-

  1. $CH _2FCOOH$

  2. $CH _3ClCOOH$

  3. $CH _3COOH$

  4. $HCOOH$


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The correct answer is $(A)$.

Because,
$C{H _2}FCOOH$ is the strongest acid in the following:
Hence,
Fluorine is an electron withdrawing group the acidic strength increases.

Basic strength of $NH _{4}OH$   in presence of $NH _{4}CI$  

  1. Increase

  2. Remains unchanged

  3. Decreases

  4. Some times increases or sometimes decrease


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

While the NH4OH is weak base it does not ionises completely. Thus due to presence of common ion NH4+ in NH4Cl, it supresses the ionisation of weak base NH4OH in order to decrease the OH-concentration so that higher group cations will not get precipitated. 

A solution contains both $Mg^{2+}$(aq) and $Sr^{2+}$(aq) at the same concentration.
The solution is divided into two equal portions. Aqueous sodium hydroxide is added dropwise to one portion. Dilute sulfuric acid is added dropwise to the other portion.
Which row is correct?

precipitate seen first when NaOH(aq) is added precipitate seen first when $H _2SO _4$(aq) is added
A magnesium hydroxide magnesium sulfate
B magnesium hydroxide strontium sulfate
C strontium hydroxide magnesium sulfate
D strontium hydroxide strontium sulfate


  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

$\text{On reacting with NaOH(aq) the Mg+2 gives precipitation reaction.}$


$\text{Sr2+ forms strontium sulfate by reaction with sulphuric acid.}$

$\text{So option B is correct.}$