After using the negative logarithmic value of $\ce{H^+}$ ion concentration, I get a value of pH that results in base. Can you please help me?
Thank you in advance
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Sign up to join this communityAfter using the negative logarithmic value of $\ce{H^+}$ ion concentration, I get a value of pH that results in base. Can you please help me?
Thank you in advance
Well this is not pretty difficult, let's go !
Because chloride ions don't react with water we have, $$c_0=\ce{[HCl]=[Cl^-]}\tag1$$
Now for hydrogen ions, $$\ce{[H^+]=[HO^-]}\ce{+[Cl^-]}\tag2$$
We all, must, know that $$K_e=\ce{[H^+][HO^-]}\tag3$$
Then we have $$\ce{[H^+]}^2-c_0\ce{[H^+]}-K_e=0\tag4$$
You'll find your pH solving $(4)$.
Now between theory and practice you may not find a big difference...
When you want to find $\mathrm{pH}$ of acid whose concentration is less than $10^{-6}$ you have to consider water's dissociation as $\ce{H+}$ and $\ce{OH-}$ too. Which is $10^{-7}$ at $\pu{25 ^\circ C}$. So concentration of $\ce{H+}$ into this case is actually, $10^{-6} + 10^{-7}$, giving $1.1 \times 10^{-6}$. Which will give you a $\mathrm{pH}$ of about $6.9$. We usually ignore water's dissociation because it is negligible but in cases like this it becomes necessary to consider it too.