Find the ratio of the volumes of NaC3H5O3 soloution to HC3H5O3 (lactic acid) required to prepare a buffer with a pH of 3.90. the solutions are equal in molarity. Ka = 1.4 x 10-4 for HC3H5O3.

ratio = ________ mL of NaC3H5O3 per mL of HC3H5O3

To find the ratio of volumes of NaC3H5O3 solution to HC3H5O3 required to prepare a buffer with a pH of 3.90, we need to use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

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

Where pH is the desired pH of the buffer, pKa is the acid dissociation constant, [A-] is the concentration of the conjugate base (NaC3H5O3), and [HA] is the concentration of the acid (HC3H5O3).

Since the solutions are equal in molarity, we can express the concentrations as:

[A-] = [HA]
Let's assume the initial concentration is 'C'.

So, [A-] = C and [HA] = C.

Also, we can convert the pKa to Ka:

Ka = 10^(-pKa)

Therefore, Ka = 10^(-4.90) = 1.4 x 10^(-5)

Now, let's substitute the values into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

3.90 = -log(1.4 x 10^(-5)) + log(C/C)

Simplifying the equation:

3.90 = -(-4.85) + log(1)

3.90 + 4.85 = log(1) + log(C/C)

8.75 = log(C/C)

Now, let's convert the logarithmic equation into an exponential equation:

10^8.75 = C/C

Simplifying:

C^2 = 10^8.75

Taking the square root:

C = sqrt(10^8.75)

C ≈ 5.623 x 10^4

Therefore, the concentration of both NaC3H5O3 and HC3H5O3 is approximately 5.623 x 10^4 M.

To find the ratio of volumes, we need to calculate the moles of NaC3H5O3 and HC3H5O3 required.

Moles = Concentration x Volume

Let's assume the volume of HC3H5O3 is 'V'.

Moles of HC3H5O3 = (5.623 x 10^4) x V

To maintain the equal molarities, the volume of NaC3H5O3 will also be 'V'.

Moles of NaC3H5O3 = (5.623 x 10^4) x V

The ratio of volumes of NaC3H5O3 solution to HC3H5O3 is:

Volume ratio = Volume of NaC3H5O3 / Volume of HC3H5O3
= (5.623 x 10^4) x V / V
= 5.623 x 10^4

Therefore, the ratio is approximately 5.623 x 10^4 mL of NaC3H5O3 per mL of HC3H5O3.

To find the ratio of the volumes of NaC3H5O3 solution to HC3H5O3 required to prepare the buffer, we need to use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of a buffer solution to the pKa of the acidic component and the ratio of its concentrations.

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is given by:

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

In this case, NaC3H5O3 is the conjugate base (A-) and HC3H5O3 is the acid (HA) in the buffer solution. We are given that the pH of the buffer is 3.90 and the pKa of HC3H5O3 is 1.4 x 10^-4.

Rearranging the equation, we have:

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

Taking the antilog of both sides, we have:

[A-] / [HA] = 10^(pH - pKa)

Since the solutions are equal in molarity, we can substitute [A-] / [HA] with the ratio of their volumes. Let's call the volume of NaC3H5O3 solution V_Na and the volume of HC3H5O3 solution V_H.

(V_Na / V_H) = 10^(pH - pKa)

Now, let's plug in the values:

pH = 3.90
pKa = 1.4 x 10^-4

(V_Na / V_H) = 10^(3.90 - 1.4 x 10^-4)

Calculating this on a calculator, we find that the ratio of the volumes of NaC3H5O3 solution to HC3H5O3 required to prepare the buffer is approximately:

ratio = 244657 : 1 (rounded to the nearest whole number)

Therefore, the ratio is 244657 mL of NaC3H5O3 per mL of HC3H5O3.