CHEMISTRY 103B, Problem Set 3: 12 Points

Answer Key
Problem 1. (five points) All parts of this problem refer to the reaction involving A3, B2,
C2, and A3BC from the first two problem sets. The equilibrium constant calculated in
problem 2(b) of the second problem set. Assume a constant temperature in all parts of this
problem.
(a) Find [A3] when the equilibrium concentrations of A3BC, B2, and C2 are 0.150 mol/L,
0.0250 mol/L, and 0.0250 mol/L, respectively.

[ A3 BC ]2
[0.150]2
4

1.778

10

[ A3 ]2 [ B2 ][C2 ]
[ A3 ]2 [0.0250][0.0250]

[ A3 ]2

[0.150]2
[1.778 104 ][0.0250][0.0250]

[0.150]2
[ A3 ]
0.0450mol / L
[1.778 104 ][0.0250][0.0250]
(b) A solution was prepared by dissolving A3BC in pure water. When things reached
equilibrium, the concentration of A3BC was 0.300 mol/L. What is the equilibrium
concentration of A3?
The concentrations of A3, B2, and C2 must fit the equilibrium constant expression and
must be 2x, x, and x, respectively because of the balanced equation.

K
x

[ A3 BC ]2
[0.300]2
[0.300]2

1.778 104
[ A3 ]2 [ B2 ][C2 ] [2 x]2 [ x][ x]
4 x4
4

0.3002
0.0335
4(1.778 104 )

[ B2 ] [C2 ] x 0.0335mol / L
[ A3 ] 2 x 0.0670mol / L
(c) More A3BC was added to the solution in part (b) so that the equilibrium concentration
of A3BC became 0.400 mol/L. What is the numerical value of K once equilibrium is
reached again?

K = 1.778 x 104
Only a change in temperature alters an equilibrium constant.
(d) What is the equilibrium concentration of C2 in part (c)?

K
x

[ A3 BC ]2
[0.400]2
[0.400]2

1.778 104
[ A3 ]2 [ B2 ][C2 ] [2 x]2 [ x][ x]
4 x4
4

0.4002
0.0387
4(1.778 104 )

[ B2 ] [C2 ] x 0.0387 mol / L

(e) What is K for the equilibrium 2A3BC

2A3 + B2 + C2?

1
1

5.624 105
4
K 1.778 10

Problem 2. (six points) This problem deals with the behavior of pure neutral water. As
you know, the self-ionization reaction for water is endothermic.
Neutral means [H3O+] = [OH-], not pH = 7.00. The concentrations of hydronium and
hydroxide ions will change with changing temperature.
(a) If pure neutral water is heated from 25 degrees to boiling, the concentration of H3O+
(aq) will increase, decrease, or stay the same (choose one).
(b) If pure neutral water is heated from 25 degrees to boiling, the concentration of OH(aq) will increase, decrease, or stay the same (choose one).
(c) If pure neutral water is heated from 25 degrees to boiling, the magnitude of Kw will

increase, decrease, or stay the same (choose one).

(d) If pure neutral water is heated from 25 degrees to boiling, the pH will increase,

decrease, or stay the same (choose one).

(e) If 75.0 mL of pure neutral water is added to 173.0 mL of pure neutral water, the
concentration of OH-(aq) will increase, decrease, or stay

the same (choose one).

(f) If 75.0 mL of pure neutral water is added to 173.0 mL of pure neutral water, the
magnitude of Kw will increase, decrease, or stay

the same (choose one).

Problem 3. (one point) Which of the following will decrease the concentration of
hydroxide ion when added to pure neutral water? (more than one may be correct)

H3PO4(aq)

HC6H5CO2(aq)

Hydroxide ion concentration will be decreased by

increasing the concentration of hydronium ion (adding
acid).