Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A chemist studies the anion share of two phenols at two pH values. Phenol has a pKa of and p-nitrophenol has a pKa of . Find the percentage present as the anion for phenol at pH (dilute sodium hydroxide), phenol at pH (a blood-like buffer) and p-nitrophenol at pH .
For a weak acid HA, and . For HA with a base B: . The share of HA present as the anion is percent.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. Two pKa values and two pH values.
Step 1. Phenol at pH 13.0. .
Step 2. Phenol at pH 7.40. .
Step 3. p-Nitrophenol at pH 7.40. .
Check. Phenol dissolves in dilute sodium hydroxide because it is almost all anion. Near neutral pH it stays almost all neutral. The nitrophenol, a stronger acid, is more than half ionised even near neutral pH.
Answer: , and .
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