What is the pH ( 3 significant digits) of a 0.01 M solution of sulfuric acid? Hint is that the first ionization constant is "large", and the second is finite, and the [H+] donated by the second equilibrium depends upon the amount of [H+] already donated by the first ionization. What is the answer please.
H2SO4 ==> H^+ + HSO4^-
HSO4^- ==> H^+ + SO4^-2
The first ionization is complete; i.e., it produces 0.01 M H^+.
The second ionization is not complete and obeys k2 = (H^+)(SO4^-)/(HSO4^-)
The easiest way to work the problem, I think, is to write the expression for k2, look up k2 for its value, then substitute as follows:
(H^+) = 0.01 + x
(SO4^-2) = x
(HSO4^-) = 0.01 - x
Then solve the quadratic for x.
Total (H^+) then is 0.01 + x.