Answer 11

By equivalence point we mean that situation where all the acid has been neutralized. Thus, the conjugate base has been formed and its concentration is

Moles of HCOO^- = 0.050L x 0.10M = 0.005 moles

The total volume is 0.100L and the concentration [HCOO^-] = 0.050M

The solution, of course, does not exist with no acid, HCOOH, present for that would violate the equilibrium constant expression. So it must be that the conjugate base hydrolyzes to produce some of the acid. To do this calculation we need the K_b for the base and we get it from K_a K_b = K_w.

K_b = 5.61 x 10^-11 M

species          HCOO^-    OH^-     HCOOH  
initial          0.050       0              0
change           -x          x              x
equilibrium      0.050  -x    x              x

[OH^-]^2 = 0.050 x 5.61 x 10^-11 M and [OH^-] = 1.68 x 10^-6 M

pOH = 5.78 and pH = 14 - 5.78 = 8.22

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