Although hydrofluoric acid, HF is a weak acid (Ka of HF is 7.1 × 10–4), its strength actually increases with concentration. One major reason for this behavior of HF is the following reaction, HF + F– ⇌ [F—H∙∙∙∙∙F]–            K’ = 5.2 at 25°C which removes F– ions from a solution of HF that contains predominantly the undissociated HF.  Write the chemical equation for the dissociation of HF in water.  Then, calculate the appropriate equilibrium constant to demonstrate, or explain without performing the calculation, the increase in the strength of HF at high HF concentration.  Use Le Chatelier’s principle.  The “∙∙∙∙∙” line in the structure of HF2– represents hydrogen bonding, which in this case its strength is expected to be comparable to the H—F covalent bond!

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Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
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  1. Although hydrofluoric acid, HF is a weak acid (Ka of HF is 7.1 × 10–4), its strength actually increases with concentration. One major reason for this behavior of HF is the following reaction,

HF + F ⇌ [F—H∙∙∙∙∙F]            K’ = 5.2 at 25°C

which removes F ions from a solution of HF that contains predominantly the undissociated HF.  Write the chemical equation for the dissociation of HF in water.  Then, calculate the appropriate equilibrium constant to demonstrate, or explain without performing the calculation, the increase in the strength of HF at high HF concentration.  Use Le Chatelier’s principle.  The “∙∙∙∙∙” line in the structure of HF2 represents hydrogen bonding, which in this case its strength is expected to be comparable to the H—F covalent bond!

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