Chapter 16, Problem 16.151MP

Acid and base behavior can be observed in solvents other than water. One commonly used solvent is dimethhylsulfoxide (DMSO), which can be treated as a monoprotic acid “HSoI.” Just as water can behave either as an acid or a base, so HSoI can behave either as a Bronsted—Lowry acid or base.

(a) The equilibrium constant for self-dissociation of HSoI (call it $K_{HSol}$ ) $1\times {10}^{-35}.$ Write the chemical equation for the sell-dissociation reaction and the corresponding equilibrium equation. (Hint: The equilibrium equation is analogous to the equilibrium equation for in the case of water.)

(b) The weak acid HCN has an acid dissociation constant $K_a=1.3\times {10}^{-13}$ in the solvent HSoJ. If 0.010 mol of NaCN is dissolved in 1.00 L of HSoI, what is the equil ibrium concentration of H₂Sol?