If you have CL2 + H2o ---> H+ + Cl- + HOCl
and you are given [HOCl] = 0.06 M
and you have to find pH....
can you assume that [HOCl] =[H+] = 0.06 M
since H+ and HOCl both have a coefficient of 1?
Thank you
I think I've answered this somewhere. If not, I'll come back and pick it up. The short answer is no, you may not assume that.
no because HOCl is not a strong acid.
In this reaction, HOCl acts as both an acid and a product. The balanced equation shows that one molecule of HOCl produces one H+ ion and one Cl- ion.
Given that the concentration of HOCl ([HOCl]) is 0.06 M, you cannot assume that the concentrations of H+ and HOCl are the same. However, you can assume that the concentration of H+ is a result of the dissociation of HOCl.
To find the pH, you need to calculate the concentration of H+ ions ([H+]).
Since the coefficient of H+ in the balanced equation is 1, it means that for every molecule of HOCl that dissociates, you get one H+ ion. Therefore, the concentration of H+ ions produced is also 0.06 M.
To find the pH, you can use the formula:
pH = -log[H+]
Substituting the value of [H+] into the equation, you have:
pH = -log(0.06)
Using a calculator, you can calculate the pH value. Note that the negative sign indicates that the pH is on a logarithmic scale, where the higher the concentration of H+ ions, the lower the pH value.