Q43 · Practice questionSimple familiar4 marks
QUESTION 43 (4 marks)
An aqueous mixture contains appreciable ethanoic acid and sodium ethanoate.
a) Explain how it resists a small addition of hydrochloric acid. Include an ionic equation. [3 marks]
b) Explain why repeated large additions of hydrochloric acid eventually produce a substantial pH decrease. [1 marks]
WORKED SOLUTION
4 marksPractice marking scheme
removes most added hydrogen ions; the buffer capacity is finite.
Ethanoate consumes added H⁺, shifting the acid dissociation equilibrium towards undissociated acid and limiting the rise in free hydrogen-ion concentration. Once much of the ethanoate is consumed, further H⁺ is no longer efficiently removed.
- Identifies ethanoate as the species consuming added H⁺. [1 marks]
- Writes the correct ionic equation. [1 marks]
- Explains the small change in free [H⁺]/pH. [1 marks]
- Explains finite capacity through depletion of ethanoate. [1 marks]
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