10. Predict whether the salt
NaHCO
3
will form an acidic or basic solution given
K
a
(H
2
CO
3
) = 4.3 x 10
-7
and
K
a
(HCO
3
-
) = 5.6 x 10
-11
.
Dissociation equations:
HCO
3
-
(aq)
H
+
(aq) + CO
3
2-
(aq)
HCO
3
-
(aq) + H
2
O (l)
H
2
CO
3
(aq) + OH
-
(aq)
K
b
(HCO
3
-
) = 2.3 x 10
-8
Which is the correct prediction?
a)
NaHCO
3
will form a BASIC solution because
K
b
(HCO
3
-
) > K
a
(HCO
3
-
)
b)
NaHCO
3
will form a ACIDIC solution because
K
b
(HCO
3
-
) > K
a
(HCO
3
-
)
c)
NaHCO
3
will form a NEUTRAL solution because
K
b
(HCO
3
-
)
is sufficiently close to
K
a
(HCO
3
-
)
d)
NaHCO
3
will form a BASIC solution because
K
b
(HCO
3
-
)
is sufficiently close to
K
a
(HCO
3
-
)
