In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) followed by a...
Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion.
As, the solutions which resist change in pH on dilution or with the addition of small amounts of acid or alkali are called buffer solutions.
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In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) followed by a...
Assertion (A): A solution containing a mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate maintains a constant value of pH on addition of small amounts of acid or alkali.
Reason (R): A solution containing a mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate acts as a buffer solution around pH 4.75.
Explanation:
A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or alkali are added to it. It consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate acid). In the case of acetic acid and sodium acetate, acetic acid is the weak acid and sodium acetate is its conjugate base.
Buffer Action:
When a small amount of acid is added to the buffer solution, it reacts with the conjugate base to form the weak acid. This reaction consumes the added acid and prevents a significant change in the pH of the solution. Similarly, when a small amount of alkali is added to the buffer solution, it reacts with the weak acid to form the conjugate base. This reaction consumes the added alkali and prevents a significant change in the pH of the solution.
pH of the Buffer Solution:
The pH of a buffer solution depends on the pKa of the weak acid. The pKa is the negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant (Ka), which is a measure of the strength of the weak acid. For acetic acid, the pKa is approximately 4.75. This means that at pH 4.75, half of the acetic acid molecules are dissociated into acetate ions and half remain in the undissociated form.
Effect of Acid or Alkali Addition:
When a small amount of acid is added to the acetic acid and sodium acetate buffer solution, it reacts with the acetate ions to form undissociated acetic acid. This reaction consumes the added acid and maintains the pH of the solution at 4.75. Similarly, when a small amount of alkali is added, it reacts with the undissociated acetic acid to form acetate ions. This reaction consumes the added alkali and maintains the pH of the solution at 4.75.
Conclusion:
Hence, the given assertion is true, and the reason is a correct explanation of the assertion. A solution containing a mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate acts as a buffer solution around pH 4.75 and maintains a constant value of pH on addition of small amounts of acid or alkali.
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