Academic Subjects
Chemistry
General Chemistry
Acids & Bases
NaCH3CO2 + CH3CO2 H Buffer Solution

What mass of solid NaCH3CO2 (molar mass = 82.0 g/mol) should be added to 1.00 L of 0.350 M CH3CO2H to make a buffer of pH = 5.20?

(Ka for CH3CO2H = 1.8 × 10-5)



When working with buffers, we want to employ the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

pH = pKa + log
[A] / [HA]


Info Provided
pH = 5.20
pKa = 4.74
[A] = base concentration= ?
[HA] = acid concentration = 0.350

setting up information to solve equation

we are given the Ka,
so we can find the pKa
a lowercase p simply means
'take the negative log of'

- log (1.8 x 10-5) = -(-4.74) = 4.74


5.20 = 4.74 + log
[A] / [0.350]


0.46 = log
[A]/ [0.350]


100.46 =
[A] / [0.350]


2.884 =
[A]/ [0.350]


[A] = 1.0094

So, the concentration of the base (NaCH3CO2) is 1.0094 moles

Now, we use the molecular weight provided to find grams

1.0094 moles NaCH3CO2
82.00 grams NaCH3CO2 / 1 mole NaCH3CO2
= 82.77 g NaCH3CO2



One should add 82.8 g of solid NaCH3CO2 to prepare this buffer