What is the pH of a buffer that is 0.351 M HF and 0.297 M LiF? The Ka for HF is 3.5 x 10-4.

To find the pH of the buffer, we need to calculate the concentration of H+ ions in the solution.

The balanced chemical equation for the dissociation of HF is:
HF ⇌ H+ + F-

The Ka expression for HF is:
Ka = [H+][F-] / [HF]

Given that Ka = 3.5 x 10^-4, we can rearrange the equation to solve for [H+]:
[H+][F-] = Ka * [HF]
[H+] = (Ka * [HF]) / [F-]

First, we need to find the concentration of [F-]. In the buffer solution, LiF dissociates to form Li+ and F- ions. Since LiF is a strong electrolyte, it fully dissociates, and we can assume that the concentration of F- is equal to the concentration of LiF, which is 0.297 M.

Substituting the values into the equation:
[H+] = (3.5 x 10^-4 * 0.351) / 0.297
[H+] = 0.00041475

To find the pH, we can use the equation:
pH = -log[H+]

Substituting the value of [H+]:
pH = -log(0.00041475)
pH = 3.38

Therefore, the pH of the buffer is 3.38.

To determine the pH of the buffer solution, we first need to calculate the concentration of the hydronium ion (H3O+). We can use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA])

Where:
pH is the pH of the buffer
pKa is the negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant (Ka)
[A-] is the concentration of the conjugate base
[HA] is the concentration of the acid

In this case, the acid is HF and the conjugate base is F-. The pKa value for HF is given as 3.5 x 10^-4.

1. Calculate the ratio of [A-]/[HA]:

[A-] / [HA] = (Concentration of F-) / (Concentration of HF)

[A-] / [HA] = 0.297 M LiF / 0.351 M HF

[A-] / [HA] = 0.845

2. Calculate pH using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

pH = pKa + log([A-] / [HA])

pH = -log(3.5 x 10^-4) + log(0.845)

pH = -log(3.5 x 10^-4) + log(0.845)

pH = -(-3.5) + log(0.845)

pH = 3.5 + 0.075

pH ≈ 3.575

Therefore, the pH of the buffer solution is approximately 3.575.