Answer to Question #207935 in General Chemistry for Earl

Question

Identify the butter systems below.

1. KH2PO4 / H3PO4

2. NaCIO4 / HCIO4

3. KF / HF

4. KBr / HBr

5. NaCO3/ NaHCO3

Answer 1

1.) KH2PO4 alkaline buffer

H3PO4 acidic buffer hence buffer system.

2.) NaCIO4 / HCIO4 not buffer

3). HF is a weak acid (acidic buffer) and KF is its salt (alkaline buffer).

Hence buffer system.

4.) KBr / HBr

HBr is a strong acid, KBr is the salt of a strong base and strong acid. It can not be a buffer solution. It is a conjugate acid--base pair and a buffer.

5.) NaHCO3 contains a weak acid (HCO3^-) and Na2CO3 is a salt of weak acid. 

Therefore, this is a buffer system.