at the equivalence point of a strong acid-strong base titration, all of the acid and base have reacted producing water and a salt. what affects the ph at this point in the titration?
What affects the pH at the equivalence point of a strong acid-strong base titration?
Answer:
At the equivalence point of a strong acid-strong base titration, the pH is primarily determined by the nature of the salt formed in the reaction. When a strong acid reacts with a strong base, the resulting salt is a neutral salt.
The pH of the solution at the equivalence point will be 7 if the cation and anion of the salt do not undergo any hydrolysis. For example, the salt NaCl (sodium chloride) formed from the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) does not undergo hydrolysis, hence the pH at the equivalence point is 7.
However, if the cation or anion of the salt undergoes hydrolysis, affecting the pH. The cation or anion may react with water, resulting in an acidic or basic solution.
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If the cation is derived from a strong base, it will not hydrolyze, and the anion from a strong acid will not hydrolyze either. Therefore, the solution will remain neutral at the equivalence point.
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If the cation or anion of the salt hydrolyzes, it will react with water to produce acidic or basic conditions, thus affecting the pH of the solution.
Therefore, the pH at the equivalence point of a strong acid-strong base titration is influenced by the hydrolysis of the salt formed during the reaction.