Chapter 16.5, Problem 1RC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The percentage ionization of given $55.5M$ of water has to be calculated.

Concept Information:

If equilibrium is established between hydronium ions, hydroxide ions and water molecules, an equilibrium law can be written as follows,

  $\begin{array}{c}{K}_a=\frac{\left[H_3{O}^{+}\right]\left[O{H}^{-}\right]}{\left[H_{2}O\right]\left[H_{2}O\right]}\\ K_a\times \left[H_{2}O\right]\left[H_{2}O\right]=\left[H_3{O}^{+}\right]\left[O{H}^{-}\right]\\ K_w=\left[H_3{O}^{+}\right]\left[O{H}^{-}\right]\end{array}$

Ionic product water can also be written as,

  $K_w=\left[H^{+}\right]\left[O{H}^{-}\right]=1.0\times {10}^{-14}$

Percent ionization:

A quantitative measure of the degree of ionization is percent ionization.

Percent ionization of water can be calculated by using the equation,

  $\text{percent}\text{ionization}=\frac{{\text{[H}}^{\text{+}}\text{]}}{{\text{[H}}_2\text{O]}}\times 100\%$