Answer to Question #108485 in General Chemistry for Beverlie

Question

1. Pyridine (C5H5N) is a particularly foul-smelling substance used in manufacturing pesticides and plastic resins. Calculate the pH of a 0.145 M solution of pyridine (Kb = 1.4×10-9 ).

Answer 1

C5H5N +H2O <=>HC5H5N⁺ + OH^-

Kb=[HC5H5N+][OH-] / [C5H5N]=1.4*10-9

Let [HC5H5N+]=[OH-]= x, then [C5H5N]=0.145-x

1.4*10-9=x*x/0.145-x;

1.4*10-9*(0.145-x)=x²

x² +1.4*10^-9*x - 2.03*10^-10=0;

x has no solution