Chapter 4: Solution Chemistry and the Hydrosphere

Solutions (homogeneous mixtures)

Solvent: the component of a solution that is present in the largest amount
Solute: any component in a solution besides the solvent (more than one possible)
Aqueous Solutions: liquid water is the solvent (aq)
Dissociation: ionic compounds break up into their component ions in water
Electrolyte
A substance that dissociates into ions when it dissolves, enhancing conductivity of solvent
Strong: dissociates completely into ions when it dissolves in water
Weak: only partly dissociates into ions when it dissolves in water
Nonelectrolyte: does not dissociate into ions ( does not enhance the conductivity of water)
|||Conductivity: Is it a STRONG electrolyte? How many ions?
Dissolved vs. Dissociated: has to dissolve b4 dissociation, but dissociation doesnt have to follow
dissolving
Reactions take place we observe the reaction or we may need additional chemical analysis
Precipitation Rxns a rxn where an insoluble product is formed upon mixing two solutions (double
displacement

or metathesis rxn)

Types of Chemical Equations:

Molecular every molecule is neutral/reactants not written as dissociated
Ionic strong electrolytes written as component ions, spectators included
Net Ionic no spectator ions; describes the actual reaction in the solution
Concentration of a Solute:
Standard Unit: Molarity (M) = moles of solute/liters of solution
Molarity is also know as Molar concentration
Concentration in moles can be denoted by []
Also ppm and ppb: mass/mass * 1,000,000(,000)

ppm=

i.e.

mass
mg of solute
1,000,000=
mass
kg of solvent (NOT SOLUTION )

Double Displacement Rxns some things that can be asked

Write molecular, ionic, and/or net ionic equations (partially insoluble aq. solutions do not dissociate)

Consult solubility table for states & Remember mass balance, charge balance, state symbols
Calculate mass of ppt that forms

Figure out chemical formula of ppt: this is needed to do the stoichiometry correctly

Treat each reactant as limiting; calculate mass of ppt that forms; choose the smaller mass. The
reactant that gives the smaller mass is the limiting reagent; the other is the excess reagent.
Calculate initial moles of each ion
Calculate final concentration (M) of ions
Calculate the moles of ppt

Calculate total volume of solution after mixing

formed
Convert moles of ppt to moles of

Spectator ions: calculate initial moles of each spectator ion, then divide by
excess reagent consumed
Subtract this value from the
total volume
initial moles of excess reagent to
determine how many moles are

Limiting/excess reagent (ion): Final concentration of limiting ion will be zero;

left over
Excess reagent figure out left over moles (original consumed in ppt)
Divide by total volume
details

Dilutions
Many solutions come as concentrated stock solutions
CiVi = CfVf (concentration/vol of solution); i = concentrated stock solution; f = diluted solution
Acid-Base Rxns
The volume of pure
water is the difference
Hydronium ion: exists as, H3O+(aq), but write as, H+(aq), in equations
of the initial and final

Hydronium: an H+ ion plus a water molecule, H2O; the form in which the hydrogen ion is found in an aqueous
solution

volume of solution

Acid (Brnsted-Lowry) a proton donor & Base (Brnsted-Lowry) a proton acceptor

Neutralization rxn: an acid and a base react to form water and a salt (def: product of a neut. rxn)
Strong Acid/Base completely dissociates in aqueous solution
Weak Acid/Base partially dissociates (limited ability to donate protons to/ accept p+ in the
medium)

Monoprotic 1 acidic H+ per acid mole (HCL), Diprotic - 2 acidic H+ per acid mole (H2SO4), Triprotic 3 acidic H+ per acid mole (H3PO4)
Amphiprotic a substance that can behave as either an acid or base
Strong Acids to memorize
All other acids are weak unless otherwise stated
Strong Basses: Group 1 and 2 hydroxides (NaOH, Ca(OH)2, etc.)
Other types of bases besides hydroxide bases: you have seen these in studio

Titration finds out how much of something you have

Commonly used with acids/bases
Analytical method for determining the concentration of a solute in a sample by reacting it with a
standard solution of known concentration
Standard Solution: a solution of known concentration
Titrant: the standard solution added to the sample
Equivalence Point: when youve added enough titrant to react w/ all of the unknown (based on
stoich.)
End Point: end of titration (when just enough titrant is added to cause the indicator to change
color)
Different but the same
Remember: 1OH- for every 1H+
Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) Rxn
Transfer of eo Reduction = gaining of eo Oxidation = losing of eo Oxidation Agent species that oxidizes something else (OA is reduced)
o Reduction Agent species that reduces something else (RA is oxidized)
o LEO (the lion) says GER
Redox
Oxidation Number (O.N.)/State determined by rules
o

Sum of O.N. of each component element must add up to overall charge on molecule/ion
Pure elementsO.N. always 0
FluorineO.N. always-1 (except F2)
OxygenO.N. usually -2
HydrogenO.N usually +1
Chlorine & BromineO.N. usually -1 (not true when combined w/ oxygen or fluorine)
Examples:
Fe2O3 2(3+)+3(2-)=0
Cu(NO3)2 (2+)+2((5+)+3(2-))=0 (5+)+3(2-)=-1
BaSO4 (2+)+(6+)+4(2-)=0
HClO3 (1+)+(5+)+3(2-)=0
CO2 (4+)+2(2-)=0
o

A number based on the number of e- the atom gains/loses when it forms an ion, or that it shares when
it forms a covalent bond with another element

Balancing Redox Reactions (, balance, H2O, H+, e-, combine, base OH-)
Example
1. Identify what is being oxidized, reduced
2+ ( aq ) +Cl 2 (g)
2. Write half reactions
1.
3. Balance everything except hydrogen, oxygen
( aq ) Cu
4. Balance oxygen with liquid water
C u ( s ) +Cl O3
5. Balance hydrogen with protons
( aq ) Cl 2( g)
2+ ( aq )
6. Balance charge with electrons
2.
&

7. Multiply so that when the half reactions are addedCu

together
no
electrons
appear
( s ) Cu
Cl Oin3 the final exn
Clean up equation if necessary (i.e. combine H2O)
If in acidic solution this is the
last
step
8. IF in base add OH- to both sides to remove H+
Clean up equation if necessary
Misc.

Ion Exchange a process by which one ion is displaced by another.

o
Hard water Lab

Saturated Solution a solution that contains the maximum

concentration of a solute possible at a given temperature.
Solubility the maximum amount of a substance that dissolves in a
quantity of solvent at a given temperature.
Supersaturated Solution contains more than the max quantity of
predicted to be soluble in a given volume of solution at a given temp.
Zeolites natural crystalline minerals or synthetic materials with threedimensional networks of channels that contain sodium or other 1+

given
solute

cations