pH & Buffers

AS & A Level
Question Paper 1
Level A Level
Subject Chemistry
Exam Board OCR
Module Physical Chemistry & Transition Elements
Topic pH & Buffers
Paper AS & A Level
Booklet Question Paper 1

Time allowed: 66 minutes

Score: /49

Percentage: /100

Grade Boundaries:

A* A B C D E
>85% 73% 60% 47% 34% 21%

Dr. Asher Rana www.chemistryonlinetuition.com [email protected]

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Question 1

Butanoic acid, CH3(CH2)2COOH, is the ‘butter acid’, formed when butter turns rancid and tastes
sour. A student prepares an aqueous solution of butanoic acid with a concentration of
0.250 mol dm–3.

The Ka of butanoic acid is 1.51  10–5 mol dm–3.

(a) (i) Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant of butanoic acid. [1]

(ii) Calculate the pKa of butanoic acid. [1]

(iii) Calculate the pH of the 0.250 moldm–3 butanoic acid.

Give your answer to two decimal places. [3]

(b) The student adds aqueous butanoic acid to magnesium.

The student then adds aqueous butanoic acid to aqueous sodium carbonate.

(i) Write the ionic equation for the reaction between aqueous butanoic acid and magnesium.
[1]

(ii) Write the ionic equation for the reaction between aqueous butanoic acid and aqueous
sodium carbonate. [1]

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 (c) The student adds 50.0 cm3 of 0.250 mol dm–3 butanoic acid to 50.0 cm3 of 0.0500 mol dm–3
sodium hydroxide. A buffer solution forms.

(i) Explain why a buffer solution forms. [2]

[5]
(ii) Calculate the pH of the buffer solution.

The Ka of butanoic acid is 1.51  10–5 mol dm–3.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

(d) The student adds methanoic acid, HCOOH (Ka = 1.82  10–4 mol dm–3), to butanoic acid. A
reaction takes place to form an equilibrium mixture containing two acid–base pairs.

Complete the equilibrium below and label the conjugate acid–base pairs.

HCOOH + CH3(CH2)2COOH .................................. + .....................................

[2]

[Total16 Marks]

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Question 2

This question looks at acids, bases and buffer solutions.

(a) Nitric acid, HNO3, is a strong Brønsted–Lowry acid.

Nitrous acid, HNO2, is a weak Brønsted–Lowry acid with a Ka value of 4.43 × 10–4 moldm–3.

(i) What is the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid? [1]

(ii) What is the expression for the acid dissociation constant, Ka, of nitrous acid, HNO2? [1]

(iii) Calculate the pH of 0.375 mol dm–3 nitrous acid, HNO2.

Give your answer to two decimal places. [2]

(iv) A student suggests that an acid–base equilibrium is set up when nitric acid is mixed with
nitrous acid.

Complete the equation for the equilibrium that would be set up and label the conjugate
acid–base pairs.

HNO3 + HNO2 ................... + ...................

[2]

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 (b) Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, is a strong Brønsted–Lowry base.

(i) Explain what is meant by the term Brønsted–Lowry base. [1]

(ii) Calculate the pH of 0.0400 moldm–3 Ca(OH)2.

Give your answer to two decimal places. [3]

(c) Aqueous calcium hydroxide is added to nitrous acid, HNO2.

Write the overall equation and the ionic equation for the reaction that takes place. [2]

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 (d) Carbonic acid, H2CO3, is a weak Brønsted–Lowry acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves
in water. Healthy blood is buffered to a pH of 7.40. The most important buffer solution in blood
is a mixture of carbonic acid and hydrogencarbonate ions, HCO3–.

(i) Explain how the carbonic acid–hydrogencarbonate mixture acts as a buffer in the control
of blood pH.

In your answer you should explain how equilibrium allows the buffer solution to control
the pH. [5]

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(ii) Healthy blood at a pH of 7.40 has a hydrogencarbonate : carbonic acid ratio of 10.5 : 1.
A patient is admitted to hospital. The patient’s blood pH is measured as 7.20.

Calculate the hydrogencarbonate : carbonic acid ratio in the patient’s blood. [5]

[Total 22 Marks]

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Question 3

This question is about acids and bases found in the home.

(a) Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, is the acid present in vinegar.

A student carries out an experiment to determine the pKa value of CH3COOH.

• The concentration of CH3COOH in the vinegar is 0.870 mol dm–3.

• The pH of the vinegar is 2.41.

(i) Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant, Ka, of CH3COOH.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the pKa value of CH3COOH.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

[3]

(iii) Determine the percentage dissociation of ethanoic acid in the vinegar.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

[1]

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 (b) Many solid drain cleaners are based on sodium hydroxide, NaOH.

• A student dissolves 1.26 g of a drain cleaner in water and makes up the solution to
100.0cm3.
• The student measures the pH of this solution as 13.48.

Determine the percentage, by mass, of NaOH in the drain cleaner.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

[4]

(c) Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, is a base used in washing soda.

Na2CO3 contains the carbonate ion, CO 2–, shown below.

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O–

C
O O–

Draw the ‘dot-and-cross’ diagram for the carbonate ion.

Show outer electrons only and use different symbols for electrons from C and O, and any
‘extra’ electrons.

[2]

(Total 11 marks)

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